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Ruth and Boaz Unite - The Book of Ruth · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself,
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  Speaker 1: lest I mar mine own inheritance. Redeem thou my right
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  Speaker 1: to thyself, for I cannot redeem it. Ruth 4.6 Dear
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  Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, before I begin my day, I want to
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  Speaker 1: first thank you that, through broken situations, you can find
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  Speaker 1: beauty and purpose. What you did with Ruth I believe
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  Speaker 1: you can do with me. Therefore, I thank you in
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  Speaker 1: advance for second chances. I thank you for putting me
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  Speaker 1: in the right situation, at the right place, with kingdom-minded
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  Speaker 1: people who can alter the direction of my life and destiny.
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  Speaker 1: I thank you, like Boaz, you will present people who
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  Speaker 1: will fight on my behalf and intervene when life says
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  Speaker 1: that I should be stuck. With diligence and faithfulness as
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  Speaker 1: my companions, I can rest assured and know that the
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  Speaker 1: day of my deliverance is near. Thank you, Lord, that
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  Speaker 1: you are creating a life for me that I can't
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  Speaker 1: even imagine. Thank you, Lord, that you've sent Jesus into
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  Speaker 1: my life to redeem me and reinstate me to my
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  Speaker 1: position of royalty. Hallelujah. I know you're just getting started, Lord.
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  Speaker 1: and that there's more to come for my life. In Jesus' name, amen.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for
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  Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 2: Ruth and Boaz Unite In our last story, we were
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  Speaker 2: introduced to Naomi and Ruth. Naomi lost everything because of
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  Speaker 2: the death of her husband and two sons, and the
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  Speaker 2: only person to remain faithful to her was Ruth, her daughter-in-law.
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  Speaker 2: Both Ruth and Naomi ventured to Bethlehem, Naomi's hometown. There,
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  Speaker 2: Ruth worked the fields of a kind and noble man
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  Speaker 2: named Boaz. Boaz protected Ruth and showered her with favor.
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  Speaker 2: Now we learn of Ruth and Boaz's connection and romance,
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  Speaker 2: and their relationship begins a bloodline that would change the
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  Speaker 2: world forever, as inspired by the book of Ruth.
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  Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas,
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  Speaker 3: with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast.
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  Speaker 3: In our last episode, we heard how Naomi and Ruth
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  Speaker 3: journeyed from Moab to Bethlehem, Naomi's homeland. Ruth had pledged
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  Speaker 3: her loyalty to her mother-in-law and embraced the God of
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  Speaker 3: Israel as her own God. The two women faced a
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  Speaker 3: difficult life in their new home. Both were widowed, and
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  Speaker 3: they had no children to care for them. They depended
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  Speaker 3: on the gleanings from the fields of harvest, which Ruth
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  Speaker 3: worked hard to collect. It was there in the fields.
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  Speaker 3: that she met a man by the name of Boaz,
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  Speaker 3: who showed her great kindness and mercy, knowing what she
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  Speaker 3: had done for Naomi. Boaz was a God-fearing man who
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  Speaker 3: was wealthy, generous, and protective of Ruth in her vulnerability
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  Speaker 3: as a poor foreigner. And today we'll learn of a
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  Speaker 3: deepening of this relationship and how Boaz and Ruth will
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  Speaker 3: come together to begin a family line that will trace
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  Speaker 3: all the way to the fulfillment of God's promised Redeemer
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  Speaker 3: not just for Israel, but for the whole world. So
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  Speaker 3: let's listen to this beautiful love story.
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  Speaker 2: Ruth worked the fields of Boaz for weeks, and moment
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  Speaker 2: by moment she pined after him. It was not his
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  Speaker 2: wealth or looks, but the kindness and humility he displayed
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  Speaker 2: to all his servants and workers. She spoke often of
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  Speaker 2: him to Naomi, and Naomi's heart grew excited for Ruth.
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  Speaker 2: She watched her sweet daughter smile as she spoke his name,
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  Speaker 2: and welled with excitement before she left to work the fields.
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  Speaker 2: As Ruth was speaking, Naomi interrupted her and said,' Ruth,
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  Speaker 2: you work so hard.' Naomi stopped, wiping away a few tears.
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  Speaker 2: It is my deepest desire for you to find rest
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  Speaker 2: for your heart and hands. You should go to Winnow
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  Speaker 2: Barley tonight with Boaz and the rest of his servants. Then,
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  Speaker 2: after he has ate and drank, you should stay the night,
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  Speaker 2: along with the others in his household. Uncover his feet
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  Speaker 2: when he sleeps. That will wake him up gracefully so
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  Speaker 2: you two can talk in private. I have a feeling
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  Speaker 2: you will know where you stand after that. Ruth did
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  Speaker 2: as Naomi said. She washed her hair and put on
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  Speaker 2: fresh clothes and departed gleefully to the threshing floor, where
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  Speaker 2: people were winnowing the barley. She worked and laughed alongside
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  Speaker 2: Boaz and the rest of the workers. Every once in
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  Speaker 2: a while, Ruth and Boaz would meet each other's eyes
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  Speaker 2: for a brief moment. The entire house ate together afterwards,
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  Speaker 2: and the people began to retreat to their beds to sleep.
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  Speaker 2: Boaz was the last to leave the dining hall. He
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  Speaker 2: stumbled around the candlelit room and rested his eyes on
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  Speaker 2: a heap of grain. Ruth watched from a distance as
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  Speaker 2: Boaz fell into a deep sleep. She gracefully walked over
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  Speaker 2: to the foot of where Boaz lay. Slowly and with
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  Speaker 2: great care, she uncovered the blanket from Boaz's feet. The
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  Speaker 2: slight breeze came in from the window and tickled his toes.
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  Speaker 2: Boaz opened his eyes and sat up immediately. All Boaz
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  Speaker 2: could see was a dark figure laying at his feet.
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  Speaker 2: Ready to draw his sword, he said, Who are you?
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  Speaker 2: I am your servant, Ruth, she whispered. Please spread your
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  Speaker 2: wings over me as a redeemer. Her heart was beating fast,
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  Speaker 2: and her hands sweat slightly out of nervousness. Boaz was
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  Speaker 2: known as a kinsman redeemer. In those days, kinsmen redeemers
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  Speaker 2: could marry a widow in place of a deceased relative
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  Speaker 2: in order to take care of her. Ruth was truly
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  Speaker 2: asking if Boaz would want to marry her. Ruth could
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  Speaker 2: barely see Boaz's smile in the dim candlelight. He sat
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  Speaker 2: up more and leaned over towards her and said, IN
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  Speaker 2: ALL YOUR TIME HERE, YOU HAVE NOT CHASED AFTER ALL
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  Speaker 2: THE YOUNG MEN HERE, WHETHER POOR OR RICH. INSTEAD, YOU
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  Speaker 2: HAVE REMAINED HERE WITH ME, WORKED, AND BEEN PLEASANT COMPANY.
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  Speaker 2: DO NOT FEAR, AND TAKE HEART, BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU
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  Speaker 2: ARE A WORTHY AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. IT COULD NOT BE
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  Speaker 2: SEEN IN THE NIGHT, BUT RUTH WAS BLUSHING. BOEZ TOOK
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  Speaker 2: HER HAND AND SAID, I AM NOT THE ONLY REDEEMER
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  Speaker 2: HERE IN BETHLEHAM. THERE IS ANOTHER THAT LIVES CLOSER TO
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  Speaker 2: YOU THAN I.' Tomorrow morning I will speak with him.
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  Speaker 2: If he does not wish to redeem you, it would
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  Speaker 2: be my absolute pleasure.' The two of them smiled at
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  Speaker 2: each other, with only a dim candle and the crescent
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  Speaker 2: moon shining on their faces. Ruth lay there at his
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  Speaker 2: feet until morning. Boaz sent her off with more barley
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  Speaker 2: for her and Naomi, and then Ruth left early so
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  Speaker 2: nobody would see her, lest Boaz lose his honor. Ruth
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  Speaker 2: rushed home to bring back good reports to Naomi.' The
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  Speaker 2: two women laughed and cried with one another. Naomi took
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  Speaker 2: Ruth by the cheeks and said, Trust me, the man
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  Speaker 2: will not rest until the matter is settled today. And
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  Speaker 2: sure enough, Boaz rushed in the morning to meet with
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  Speaker 2: the other Redeemer. Boaz sat at the gate of the
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  Speaker 2: other Redeemer, waiting for him to come out to meet him.
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  Speaker 2: He thought of Ruth while he waited and watched the sunrise.
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  Speaker 2: She was beautiful, humble, and kind enough to take care
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  Speaker 2: of her mother-in-law when she didn't have to. He sat
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  Speaker 2: and daydreamed, looking blankly in the horizon. The other Redeemer
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  Speaker 2: walked from his home to the gate and sat beside Boaz.
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  Speaker 2: There Boaz spoke of Ruth and Naomi and asked if
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  Speaker 2: the man would want to redeem her for himself. The
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  Speaker 2: man was willing to redeem Naomi and her property, but
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  Speaker 2: unwilling to marry her or Ruth, lest he muddy his
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  Speaker 2: own family inheritance. Therefore, Boaz was given permission to marry
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  Speaker 2: Ruth and redeem her. Boaz did his best to remain
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  Speaker 2: composed and hide his excitement. Very well, I shall redeem her,
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  Speaker 2: Boaz said. The two men laughed, and Boaz and Ruth
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  Speaker 2: began to make arrangements for their wedding. The time had come,
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  Speaker 2: and all of Bethlehem was there to witness the union
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  Speaker 2: of Ruth and her redeemer Boaz. Boaz watched as his
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  Speaker 2: bride Ruth approached the altar. She was beautiful, despite her brokenness.
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  Speaker 2: Ruth looked at her redeemer and groom, Boaz. He was
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  Speaker 2: strong yet gentle, and worthy of her devotion. The two
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  Speaker 2: of them were married and experienced the bliss and unity
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  Speaker 2: of marriage. Together they conceived a child and named him Obed.
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  Speaker 2: He was the father of Jesse, the father of David,
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  Speaker 2: Israel's king. Boaz and Ruth's marriage was but a thread
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  Speaker 2: in the greater tapestry of God's marvelous plan. One day
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  Speaker 2: there would be another wedding of sorts. The imperfect and
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  Speaker 2: broken bride would stand before her strong and gentle Redeemer.
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  Speaker 2: A beautiful picture that reflected a greater truth was unfolding.
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  Speaker 2: A picture of God's love and redemption for his people
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  Speaker 2: and their loving devotion to him in return.
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  Speaker 3: We begin today's story with Ruth working hard in the fields,
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  Speaker 3: cleaning from Boaz's crops to feed herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi.
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  Speaker 3: The kindness of Boaz has moved her and she is drawn,
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  Speaker 3: attracted to this man. Naomi, her mother-in-law, knew her culture
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  Speaker 3: well and understood that Boaz could be a kinsman redeemer
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  Speaker 3: for Ruth, one who married a widow after a relative
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  Speaker 3: had passed on and then cared for her. Ruth was
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  Speaker 3: now so much more than an in-law to Naomi. She
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  Speaker 3: was like a daughter, and Naomi wanted to give her
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  Speaker 3: rest from her labor. So Naomi instructed Ruth to wash
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  Speaker 3: and anoint herself, in other words, make herself presentable, and
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  Speaker 3: then to wear a cloak to hide her appearance. She
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  Speaker 3: was to go to the threshing floor and stay overnight
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  Speaker 3: near Boaz's, so that while he slept she could approach
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  Speaker 3: him and uncover his feet and wake him. This would
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  Speaker 3: provide quiet conversation for the two of them. Ruth did
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  Speaker 3: exactly as she was told, and that night as Boaz slept,
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  Speaker 3: she approached him, uncovered his feet, and laid down. Boaz awoke, startled,
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  Speaker 3: and asked who was sleeping at his feet. I can
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  Speaker 3: only imagine what a surprise this must have been to
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  Speaker 3: find a stranger lying so close. This is a very
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  Speaker 3: unusual approach to courtship, isn't it? Unusual, but very effective.
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  Speaker 3: Ruth made herself known. Then she asked him to spread
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  Speaker 3: his wings over her as her redeemer. The words may
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  Speaker 3: seem odd to you and me, but to Boaz, the
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  Speaker 3: meaning was clear. Ruth was asking him if he would
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  Speaker 3: marry her. Boaz was touched by Ruth's request. He knew
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  Speaker 3: she could have gone after younger men in town, men
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  Speaker 3: who were also wealthy. But she had chosen him, and
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  Speaker 3: he was captivated by her. He wanted to say yes
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  Speaker 3: to this request. But he was also an honorable man
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  Speaker 3: and knew there were other factors in this kinsman-redeemer tradition,
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  Speaker 3: issues involving purchase of the land that belonged to Elimelech,
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  Speaker 3: Naomi's husband. And that opportunity should first be offered to
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  Speaker 3: another potential redeemer who was closer to Naomi's land. Boaz
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  Speaker 3: explained all of this to Ruth. and said he would
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  Speaker 3: love to say yes, but first must speak to the
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  Speaker 3: other man. He promised to do so the next morning,
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  Speaker 3: and if the other man was unable or unwilling, he
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  Speaker 3: would gladly redeem her. Even here we see the kindness
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  Speaker 3: of Boaz. He was telling Ruth that one way or
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  Speaker 3: another he would see to it that she was redeemed.
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  Speaker 3: Ruth returned home excitingly awaiting the outcome. Patiently waiting can
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  Speaker 3: be a difficult task. We all know that. But Ruth
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  Speaker 3: and Naomi did just that, hopeful but not insistent. Then
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  Speaker 3: Boaz finally came with great news. He would be her Redeemer.
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  Speaker 3: The story, which began with three funerals, would end with
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  Speaker 3: a glorious wedding and the birth of a child. Naomi,
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  Speaker 3: the woman who wished to be called bitter, found joy again.
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  Speaker 3: But God's work in her life was a witness to all.
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  Speaker 3: Ruth 4.14 says, Then the women said to Naomi, Blessed
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  Speaker 3: be the Lord who has not left you this day
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  Speaker 3: without a Redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel.
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  Speaker 3: And the child that Boaz and Ruth bore, his name
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  Speaker 3: was Obed, who would be the father of Jesse, the
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  Speaker 3: father of David. David, who would be the great king
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  Speaker 3: of Israel, the man after God's own heart, and the
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  Speaker 3: progenitor of the Messiah who is yet to come. Dear God,
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  Speaker 3: thank you that you have not left us without a Redeemer.
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  Speaker 3: One near to us and dear to us, our Lord
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  Speaker 3: Jesus Christ, thank you for showing this story that we
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  Speaker 3: might see you. Through your son Jesus, you have redeemed
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  Speaker 3: us and bought us out of slavery that we might
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  Speaker 3: know the joy of knowing you and overcome even the
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  Speaker 3: most bitter circumstances of life. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for
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  Speaker 3: being our kinsman redeemer.
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  Speaker 2: Amen.
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  Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
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  Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas, and you can download
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  Speaker 3: the Pray.com app and make prayer the priority of your life.
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  Speaker 3: It is our prayer that you would know Jesus Christ
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  Speaker 3: in a personal way. Jesus and knowing him is the
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  Speaker 3: key to understanding the Bible. Jesus is on every page
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  Speaker 3: in the pathway of Scripture. So I pray that you
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  Speaker 3: would know him and look to him for eternal life.
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  Speaker 3: As we see all of these stories, some of them
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  Speaker 3: very sordid, we realize just how desperately we all need
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  Speaker 3: the Lord. So invite Christ into your life and receive
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  Speaker 3: him as your Lord and Savior. I would also encourage
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  Speaker 3: you to download the Pray.com app and let others know
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  Speaker 3: about this podcast. And if you want more resources on
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  Speaker 3: how to know God and experience his presence in your life,
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  Speaker 3: be sure to visit JackGraham.org. God bless you.
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  Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by MediShare, an innovative health care
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