Did you ever stop and consider how many first-generation immigrants are a part of your life? My two neighbors across the street are from Portugal and Brazil. The family up the street who love my dogs are from Ukraine. The crew that put a new roof on my house came from Mexico. Our favorite take-out food is prepared by a family from China. One of my pastors just became a U.S. citizen. He immigrated from England.
The biblical world was a mess when there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).
But then we read about Ruth. She is the Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi, whose life is in shambles after the death of her husband and two sons. When Naomi decides to return to her hometown of Bethlehem, she assumes she’ll be going alone. Ruth won’t stand for that. She is going to be there for Naomi no matter what.
After meeting Ruth in his fields, gleaning barley, Boaz redeems Naomi from homelessness and marries Ruth. Their son is the grandfather of King David. And just like that, God grafts an unlikely immigrant into the family tree of the Messiah, Jesus.
God is skilled at making somebody out of a nobody. When you are feeling insignificant or unnoticed, you can be certain he’s paying attention to your life. When you pray, he listens to you. When you need help, he’s already arranged for assistance. When you spend a moment in his word, he has something to say to you. He created you, he redeemed you, and he takes up residence in your heart. You’re important to God. You are somebody.
Ruth gets an ornament on the Jesse Tree, a walk-on who gets a role in the advent of the Christ.
Waite for it... 