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Naomi meets Faithful Ruth - The Book of Ruth · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Where thou diest will I die, and there will I
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  Speaker 1: be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also,
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  Speaker 1: if aught but death part thee and me. Ruth 1.17
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  Speaker 1: Dear Lord, with a heart of true devotion, I declare
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  Speaker 1: that no matter what hardships I face, like Ruth and Naomi,
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  Speaker 1: I will not leave your side. as Ruth committed her
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  Speaker 1: life to serving Naomi, I too have made the decision
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  Speaker 1: to follow you, Lord, and to serve you wholeheartedly. I
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  Speaker 1: will not approach my life's purpose with mediocrity and small thinking. Instead,
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  Speaker 1: I will move and do everything with excellence, because I
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  Speaker 1: know that I am serving the King of kings and
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  Speaker 1: the Lord of lords. When I feel tired, Strengthen my
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  Speaker 1: mind and body to complete the task in front of me.
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  Speaker 1: I decree and declare that I will tend to the
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  Speaker 1: opportunities you bring me, God. Like when Ruth attended to
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  Speaker 1: the fields of Boaz, I now know that if I
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  Speaker 1: am faithful to the little Lord, you will bless me
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  Speaker 1: with much. I declare that this is my redeeming season.
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  Speaker 1: I declare that all my losses are turning into gains.
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  Speaker 1: I declare that this is a new season, and change
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  Speaker 1: is all around me. In Jesus' name, amen. Thanks for
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  Speaker 1: making prayer a priority in your life. To hear the
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  Speaker 1: Bible come to life, stay tuned for The Bible in
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  Speaker 1: a Year, brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 2: Naomi meets faithful Ruth. In our last story, we learned
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  Speaker 2: about Israel's corruption. Their lack of guidance and devotion to
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  Speaker 2: God caused a great civil war to break out between
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  Speaker 2: the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel. Blood
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  Speaker 2: was shed, and the people of Israel continued to struggle.
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  Speaker 2: Yet God was faithful to rebuild and to restore Israel.
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  Speaker 2: Now we peer into the lives of Naomi and Ruth,
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  Speaker 2: two women who suffered loss and heartbreak, but found closeness
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  Speaker 2: in each other and the favor of God, inspired by
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  Speaker 2: the book of Ruth.
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  Speaker 3: Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of
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  Speaker 3: the Bible in a Year podcast. In our previous reading,
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  Speaker 3: we heard how civil war erupted in Israel. The tribe
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  Speaker 3: of Benjamin battled the other tribes killing many of their
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  Speaker 3: own fellow Israelites. But in the end, it was they
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  Speaker 3: who fell to the sword and they were nearly wiped out.
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  Speaker 3: God's people drew close to God again, but for just
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  Speaker 3: a little while. Soon they returned to their old ways
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  Speaker 3: of sin and rebellion, and there was great separation between
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  Speaker 3: God and his own people. Today we turn our attention
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  Speaker 3: to a very beautiful story of devotion and love between
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  Speaker 3: two widows. a mother and a daughter-in-law, who are left
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  Speaker 3: alone and hurting. The story of Naomi and Ruth is
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  Speaker 3: touching and inspiring, and we see God's favor poured out
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  Speaker 3: on these two women who loved God and loved each other. Now,
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  Speaker 3: let's listen to today's reading.
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  Speaker 2: It was the era of judges. Great warriors of God
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  Speaker 2: ruled and protected the nation of Israel from evil forces.
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  Speaker 2: Their bravery covered the land, and Israel was safe from harm. However,
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  Speaker 2: A famine blighted the land of Israel. Crops turned to dust,
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  Speaker 2: and the rain ceased to fall for months at a time. Elimelech,
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  Speaker 2: a man from Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah, left
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  Speaker 2: to the country of Moab with his wife Naomi and
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  Speaker 2: his two sons. There they found fertile ground and raised
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  Speaker 2: their family in peace. All was well until Elimelech passed
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  Speaker 2: away and left Naomi alone with her son Malon and Chilion.
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  Speaker 2: Naomi raised her sons in the love of God, and
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  Speaker 2: they grew to be fine young men. They both married
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  Speaker 2: Moabite women, Ruth and Orpha. For ten years, the five
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  Speaker 2: of them lived as a happy family, enjoying the land
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  Speaker 2: and each other's company. However, tragedy knocked on Naomi's door
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  Speaker 2: once again, and her two sons died, just as her
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  Speaker 2: husband had. There, Naomi was left alone with her two daughter-in-laws.
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  Speaker 2: Naomi's grief sunk its roots down deep. Her sons and
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  Speaker 2: her husband had left her, and she felt helpless and alone.
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  Speaker 2: In cries of pain, Naomi called for her two daughter-in-laws, saying,
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  Speaker 2: You should go and return to your mother's house. There
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  Speaker 2: is nothing left for you here but sadness and despair.
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  Speaker 2: Naomi covered her face from them as she wept. She
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  Speaker 2: truly loved her daughters, but knew she could not provide
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  Speaker 2: a life for them. The two girls kissed her and
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  Speaker 2: they all wept. They protested, saying that they would stay
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  Speaker 2: with Naomi. But Naomi shook her head. She wiped a
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  Speaker 2: few tears from her eyes and said, Listen, I cannot
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  Speaker 2: give you sons to marry or food to feed you. Go,
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  Speaker 2: and may God bless you with the same amount he
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  Speaker 2: has cursed me. So Ophah kissed her mother-in-law and departed.
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  Speaker 2: But Ruth clung to her, refusing to leave her side.
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  Speaker 2: Ruth took Naomi's hands and looked her deep in the eyes.
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  Speaker 2: With a gentle voice, Ruth said, Wherever you go, I
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  Speaker 2: will go also. Your people will be my people, your
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  Speaker 2: God will be my God, and wherever you die, so
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  Speaker 2: I will also. Naomi's heart overflowed with gratitude, and the
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  Speaker 2: two women ventured back to Bethlehem to Naomi's family. Ruth
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  Speaker 2: displayed true devotion, friendship, and a willingness to share in
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  Speaker 2: the joys and failures of life with Naomi. When the
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  Speaker 2: two of them arrived at Bethlehem, the whole town stirred
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  Speaker 2: and came out of their homes. Naomi has returned, they shouted.
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  Speaker 2: They were elated to see her once again. Naomi halted
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  Speaker 2: their embrace. Her eyes were swollen from endless tears, and
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  Speaker 2: her back was crooked from carrying a heavy load. Do
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  Speaker 2: not call me Naomi, she said. Call me Mara. For
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  Speaker 2: God has given me only bitterness. I left filled with life,
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  Speaker 2: but now I am emptied. So Naomi and Ruth settled
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  Speaker 2: in a small home together, and the town respected Naomi's
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  Speaker 2: wishes and did not bother her. On the other end
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  Speaker 2: of town lived Boaz. Boaz was a relative of Naomi's husband.
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  Speaker 2: He owned large barley fields and would allow for the
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  Speaker 2: impoverished people in town to glean from his field to
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  Speaker 2: feed their families. So Ruth went to the fields of
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  Speaker 2: Boaz to reap some of the harvest for her and Naomi.
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  Speaker 2: She worked hard in the beating sun, taking no breaks.
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  Speaker 2: Ruth saw it as her responsibility to look after Naomi,
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  Speaker 2: and she did so happily. Boaz entered into the fields
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  Speaker 2: to greet his workers. The Lord be with you, he
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  Speaker 2: told them. His smile was large and genuine. Boaz was
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  Speaker 2: a handsome man, perhaps ten years older than Ruth. He
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  Speaker 2: stood tall and strong, but he was not intimidating or brutish.
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  Speaker 2: He walked the fields, making sure every person had enough
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  Speaker 2: to take home to their families. As he was scanning
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  Speaker 2: the fields, he spotted Ruth on the corner, away from
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  Speaker 2: the other women. He turned to the man in charge
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  Speaker 2: of the reapers and said, Who is that young woman
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  Speaker 2: over there? Ah, yes, that is Ruth, the man said.
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  Speaker 2: She is a young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi.
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  Speaker 2: She asked if she could glean from the fields. and
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  Speaker 2: has not stopped working since sunrise. Boaz looked at her,
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  Speaker 2: concerned that she was working all alone. Boaz turned towards
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  Speaker 2: Ruth and walked down to where she was working. Ruth's
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  Speaker 2: head was down, and her eyes were locked on the
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  Speaker 2: barley stalks. Hello, Boaz said. Ruth looked up, startled. When
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  Speaker 2: she saw it was the man who owned the fields,
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  Speaker 2: she relaxed and smiled. The two locked eyes for a moment.
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  Speaker 2: They looked in silence for only a few seconds, although
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  Speaker 2: it seemed much longer. Boaz shook his head and said,
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  Speaker 2: I wanted to welcome you. Do not glean from any
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  Speaker 2: other field. You can work in mine as long as
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  Speaker 2: you want, but keep close to all the other women
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  Speaker 2: over there. Boaz gestured towards the other women working. I
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  Speaker 2: have ordered the men to not harass you. If they do,
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  Speaker 2: they will have me to deal with. And when you
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  Speaker 2: are thirsty, there are vessels that the young men have
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  Speaker 2: drawn over there. As Boaz continued to speak, tears began
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  Speaker 2: to stream down Ruth's face. Surprised, Boaz stopped talking. Ruth
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  Speaker 2: bowed before Boaz, now sobbing into her hands. Why are
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  Speaker 2: you being so kind to me? she asked. Boaz smiled
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  Speaker 2: and helped her onto her feet. I heard what you
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  Speaker 2: did for your mother-in-law. I was told of your husband
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  Speaker 2: who died, and how you remained with her and take
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  Speaker 2: care of her. I want the Lord to repay you
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  Speaker 2: for all you have done. It is under his wings
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  Speaker 2: you have taken refuge, not mine. Boaz's eyes were kind,
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  Speaker 2: and his voice was warm and welcoming. It drew Ruth
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  Speaker 2: in and comforted her. You have truly comforted me, Ruth said,
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  Speaker 2: wiping her eyes. I am not the only one working here,
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  Speaker 2: but you chose to speak with me. Boaz then invited
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  Speaker 2: her to eat with him and the other servants. Boaz
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  Speaker 2: passed out bread and wine to all his reapers and
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  Speaker 2: saved extra for Ruth to take home for Naomi. He
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  Speaker 2: then instructed the men to allow Ruth to work extra
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  Speaker 2: hours and so her and Naomi may be taken care of.
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  Speaker 2: Ruth continued to watch Boaz from a distance. The way
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  Speaker 2: he cared for every servant, reaper, and worker was astounding.
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  Speaker 2: Ruth did not know it yet, but she was falling
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  Speaker 2: in love with Boaz. Ruth worked until the sun began
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  Speaker 2: to set. She brought home what she had gleaned to
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  Speaker 2: Naomi and gave her the bread and wine saved by Boaz.
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  Speaker 2: The two spoke into the night about Ruth's day. Who
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  Speaker 2: on earth took such great care of you?
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  Speaker 1: Naomi asked.
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  Speaker 2: It was Boaz, Ruth replied, eyes focused on sifting the
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  Speaker 2: grain on the table. Naomi stopped her and turned her around.
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  Speaker 2: Her eyes were lit up like stars. May Boaz be
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  Speaker 2: blessed by God. He is a close relative of ours.
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  Speaker 2: Not only that, but he is a kinsman redeemer, a
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  Speaker 2: chosen man from the family to be our head and guardian,
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  Speaker 2: Ruth smiled. The following weeks, Ruth kept close to the
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  Speaker 2: other women of the field and worked. She labored all
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  Speaker 2: day and talked with Naomi at night. And each day,
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  Speaker 2: Boaz and Ruth would catch small glimpses of one another,
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  Speaker 2: and Ruth felt safe under his care.
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  Speaker 3: Today's story begins with a famine in the land. A
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  Speaker 3: man from Bethlehem in Judea named Elimelech leaves his home
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  Speaker 3: to go to Moab, where he finds fertile fields and
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  Speaker 3: peace And there with his wife Naomi and their children,
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  Speaker 3: he makes a life for his family. But Elimelech eventually dies,
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  Speaker 3: leaving Naomi a widow with two sons. Her sons marry
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  Speaker 3: Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. After ten years, the sons
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  Speaker 3: also die, leaving Naomi without a husband or children to
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  Speaker 3: care for her. She has no one to protect or
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  Speaker 3: provide for her, so she tells her daughters-in-law to return
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  Speaker 3: home so that they could find husbands to care for them.
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  Speaker 3: After an initial protest, Orpah agrees and returns home back
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  Speaker 3: to Moab. But Ruth will not abandon Naomi. She pledges
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  Speaker 3: her allegiance not only to Naomi but to Naomi's God
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  Speaker 3: and her people. It is a beautiful act of friendship
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  Speaker 3: and selflessness, the magnitude of which it is hard for
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  Speaker 3: us to grasp. Moabites were by law excluded from being
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  Speaker 3: a part of God's covenant, God's people. they were to
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  Speaker 3: be rejected. But Ruth confessed the one true God as
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  Speaker 3: her Lord, received his grace, and goes to Bethlehem with Naomi.
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  Speaker 3: Naomi is met with celebration at home, but responds with
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  Speaker 3: a request to change her name to Mara, which means bitter.
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  Speaker 3: Naomi's circumstances had robbed her of joy, so she is bitter.
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  Speaker 3: She blames God for her bitterness, unfortunately. And rather than
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  Speaker 3: look at what she did have, her life, a loyal daughter-in-law,
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  Speaker 3: and a family in Bethlehem, she was only intent on
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  Speaker 3: seeing what she did not have. The two women settled
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  Speaker 3: in a home together. Ruth went across town each day
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  Speaker 3: to the field of a wealthy man by the name
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  Speaker 3: of Boaz who was generous and would allow the poor
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  Speaker 3: to glean from his fields at the time of harvest.
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  Speaker 3: Ruth worked hard and she worked alone. It was a
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  Speaker 3: dangerous thing for her to do, really, She was so
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  Speaker 3: very vulnerable, but she wanted to provide for herself and
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  Speaker 3: her mother-in-law, Naomi. She catches the eye of Boaz, who
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  Speaker 3: asked others who she was. He discovered that she was
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  Speaker 3: the Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi. So he approaches her and
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  Speaker 3: spoke to her, telling her she was welcome to glean,
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  Speaker 3: but to stay close to the other women for her safety.
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  Speaker 3: He also gave orders to his men to leave her alone. Finally,
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  Speaker 3: he told her that should she get thirsty, She should
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  Speaker 3: draw from his well. This moves Ruth to tears, and
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  Speaker 3: she asks why he is being so kind. Boaz tells
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  Speaker 3: Ruth he had heard what she had done for Naomi.
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  Speaker 3: Then he says something very remarkable. He says he wants
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  Speaker 3: the Lord to repay her for all that she has
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  Speaker 3: done and that she would find refuge with the Lord.
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  Speaker 3: Boaz was protecting her, but he wanted to be clear
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  Speaker 3: that it was under God's wing, God's protection, that Ruth
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  Speaker 3: should take refuge. He then invited her to eat with
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  Speaker 3: him in his service and sent her home with extra
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  Speaker 3: food for Naomi. When Naomi hears all that has happened,
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  Speaker 3: she is absolutely thrilled. Her bitterness gives way to hope
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  Speaker 3: and joy, and in Ruth 2.20, she says this, May
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  Speaker 3: he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not
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  Speaker 3: forsaken the living or the dead. Naomi said to her also,
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  Speaker 3: The man is a close relative of ours, one of
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  Speaker 3: our redeemers. Boaz was a kinsman redeemer to Ruth. Soon enough,
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  Speaker 3: Ruth would discover just how true this statement was, and
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  Speaker 3: we'll hear about that the next time. It all happened
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  Speaker 3: in a place called Bethlehem. Dear Lord, thank you for
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  Speaker 3: your faithfulness, that even in our sorrow, our grief, and
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  Speaker 3: our suffering, even when we become bitter and angry, your
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  Speaker 3: grace chases us down. Your grace is always with us.
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  Speaker 3: and your provision and your promises are always true. Thank
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  Speaker 3: you for Jesus, who is our kinsman redeemer. And we
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  Speaker 3: trust you, Lord, to be our savior and our protector.
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  Speaker 3: In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for listening to today's
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  Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas,
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  Speaker 3: and you can download the Pray.com app and make prayer
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  Speaker 3: the priority of your life. It is our prayers that
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  Speaker 3: you would know Jesus Christ in a personal way. Jesus
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  Speaker 3: and knowing him is the key to understanding the Bible.
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  Speaker 3: Jesus is on every page in the pathway of Scripture.
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  Speaker 3: So I pray that you would know him and look
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  Speaker 3: to him for eternal life. As we see all of
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  Speaker 3: these stories, some of them very sordid, we realize just
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  Speaker 3: how desperately we all need the Lord. So invite Christ
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  Speaker 3: into your life and receive him as your Lord and Savior.
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  Speaker 3: I would also encourage you to download the Pray.com app
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  Speaker 3: and let others know about this podcast. And if you
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  Speaker 3: want more resources on how to know God and experience
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  Speaker 3: His presence in your life, be sure to visit JackGraham.org.
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  Speaker 3: God bless you.
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  Speaker 2: This episode is sponsored by MediShare, an innovative healthcare solution
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