Day 20: How can we {discover} streams in the desert?

 

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!  How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!  Romans 11:33 hcsb

{Discover}

What does it mean to discover?

To search out. To seek to find.  I think of Christopher Columbus.  With Thanksgiving coming soon, I think of the Pilgrims.  A people looking for something not known before, not understood before.   

In a legal sense, discovery is researching a situation, the details of a transaction or a business to unearth, bring forth additional information for disclosure in the public arena.  The purpose is to add meaning, clarification, and context for deciding, concluding, or coming to an agreement between two parties or with a third party mediator on a legal matter.

This sense of holding court is what I see as I read and ponder with Holy Spirit as my guide in these first six verses of Ruth 4.  See what you think…

Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. Just then the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, “Come over here and sit down, friend. I want to talk to you.” So they sat down together.  Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses.  And Boaz said to the family redeemer, “You know Naomi, who came back from Moab. She is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.  I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don’t want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you.”

The man replied, “All right, I’ll redeem it.”

Then Boaz told him, “Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.”

“Then I can’t redeem it,” the family redeemer replied, “because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land; I cannot do it.”  Ruth 4:1-6 nlt

I am in awe as I ponder the true meaning of what is being discussed by Boaz and the man who is a nearer kinsman to Naomi and Ruth.  All throughout the book of Ruth I’ve had a feeling of such desperation, the depth of loss and hopelessness for Naomi.  Certainly, Naomi and Ruth both suffered terrible heartbreak and grief through the loss of their husbands.  There’s no denying it!

The agricultural truth of the famine seems an appropriate metaphor for Naomi and Ruth’s lives until they settle back home in Bethlehem.  The famine has ended and the Lord has brought a harvest to feed His people and remind them of His great love and mercy.

And there it is for Naomi and Ruth, too.  As Boaz explained in the public square, the women are not without hope or resources.  Naomi had a piece of land to sell.  She had resources, but Naomi needed someone to speak up for her – to plead her case and to bring the transaction to fulfillment.  Boaz, not the nearest kinsman, was willing to bring the matter into full discovery on Naomi and Ruth’s behalf.

Please don’t misunderstand.  Don’t let the enemy deceive with lies.  There was no amount of property, possessions or money, which would ever replace the lives and relationships lost.  And yet, we see God taking ashes and bringing forth beauty.  He has taken mourning and is bringing into discovery for Naomi and Ruth – JOY.

Ponders:

Then will the lame leap like a deer,
    and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.  Isaiah 35:6-7

I wonder friend, in what wilderness place are you currently traveling, which might cause you to seek God’s face for the discovery of a stream?  In what scorching desert scenery, where bones dry and become weary, do you find yourself wondering if all has been lost?

• I’m there with you.  Walking a dry, wilderness walk on this part of my faith journey, but it is in this very place we are prompted to seek, to search out the Living Water of Jesus.
  • What does your desert wilderness look like?  Will you write about it?  Take a walk with Jesus and tell Him what you see with human, veiled eyes?
  • Will you join me in making Isaiah 35:6-7 our prayer of anticipation – our prayer of hope?  Will we turn our eyes toward the Lord and ask Him to unveil our earthly eyes and see with spirit eyes He is near?
  • Will you join me in asking Holy Spirit to give new discovery today through the Word of God?  Through experiences with people?  Through conversation with Him and listening intently for His loving direction?
  • What have you discovered today?  What unexpected treasure has He unearthed with you today?  Will you share it with us here?

Eyes on Jesus… you’re Shining!

~Lisa