Genealogies are popular today. There are computer programs and websites that help to discover relatives of long ago. The Daughters of the American Revolution and other organizations take great pride in their lineage.
The people whose lives are lived out before us as we read Scriptures are, somehow, not real to us so much of the time. These men and women were born and lived and died, just as we have been born, are living and will some day “˜pass on”™. A question I ask myself, how can I know that the husbands and wives, sons and daughters were “˜real”™, who had hurts and problems, joys and sorrows as I do today? One way is to ask God for the reality of those whose lives are recorded in His word, the Holy Bible. And that is my prayer; will you join me in this prayer?
LORD God of the Bible, Your words are true and the history we read has been lived out. Would You please give me the sense of reality of real people in real time as I read Your word?
I ask this in Jesus”™ name, Amen.

The events in the book of Ruth took place at some point during the time of the judges in Israel. (See Monday, August 11 for this background.)
(NASB) Ruth 1:1-2 “NOW IT came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.
2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.”
***The facts are stated. There was a famine in the town of Bethlehem in Judah. A family emigrated from the west to the east of the Dead Sea. The word “sojourn” is used which implies they did not intend to permanently live in Moab.
In our culture, moving from where we were born is the “˜norm”™ and usually jobs are the driving motivation. What has taken you to where you now live? Was it schooling and you stayed? Was it where the job “˜landed”™ you? Perhaps you moved to be close to family”¦there are many reasons for living where you do today, what is yours?
For this family it was due to famine. It probably wasn”™t an easy decision”¦they left their family and friends with the idea that one day they would return.
Ruth and Boaz as well as their son, grandson, and great grandson are included in the genealogy of Jesus in the book of Matthew.
In fact, Boaz”™ mother is also included in the genealogy! Rahab, who befriended some Israelite spies is also included.
As this history in the book of Ruth unfolds watch how the blessings of God”™s purposes and grace become a part of the genealogy of Christ Jesus.

How will you now pray about the importance of understanding that real people”™s lives are for you to read about, and through them, understand God and His ways?

God takes difficult circumstances and uses them for His glory.
Your circumstances are known by God, are you using them for His glory?