Scriptures: Ruth 1:1-18 & Matthew 1:5-6, 16
Song of Praise: Doxology
Devotion:
Ruth lived during a period in history when Israel had chosen to be disobedient to God's laws.
As a result, a famine swept over the land that God had given to the Israelites. Famine was a promised result of the people's rebellion against God (Deut 28:15-19). Naomi's husband decided they would escape the famine, not by repenting from the sin that angered God, but by fleeing to the foreign city, Moab. Surely, life would be better if they could just escape the famine.
The move to Moab was yet another act of disobedience to God. They abandoned God's inheritance in search for greater feasting among the pagan people of Moab. Naomi and her husband continued on in their disobedience allowing their sons to marry pagan women, something that was expressly forbidden by God.
While living in Moab, the family's disobedience was not blessed, and before long, Naomi had lost her husband and both of her sons.
She now found herself in a foreign land, with no food, and no family, aside from her two daughters-in-law. Naomi realized that the famine she was running from only worsened in Moab. What was this widow supposed to do?
Rumors of restored feasting in her homeland made their way to Naomi's ears, and she decided it was time to go back.
Her daughter-in-law, Ruth, pledged herself to Naomi, and together they made their way back to God's promised land.
The only problem was that they would have to return as beggars. Women were not allowed to own property. Naomi had no husband or sons to reestablish what she had lost when they left the promised land.
As the story continues, Ruth is scouring the fields for scraps of grain when she meets the owner of the field, Boaz. Boaz was kind and very generous with Ruth. His kindness and generosity surprised her. When She returned home from work that day she told Naomi about the generosity of Boaz.
Upon hearing it, Naomi seems to finally understand what God had been up to all along.
Naomi instructs Ruth to present herself to Boaz (albeit in a very odd cultural display) and immediately, Boaz proposes that Ruth become His wife.
Boaz was a distant relative of Naomi, which meant that he could inherit the estate of Ruth's late husband, and was eligible to marry his beloved, Ruth.
Boaz immediately began working to reclaim what Ruth’s family had lost through their continual disobedience so long ago.
Don't you just love happy endings? This is not only a happy ending but the beginning of something great.
After Ruth and Boaz marry, Ruth gave birth to a son, named Obed.
Obed would become the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of King David. We see in Matthew, chapter one, that Jesus was born from the family of King David.
The story of Ruth shows us how rebellion leads only to death and famine, but God mercifully sends His people a kinsman redeemer. Jesus won back what seemed impossibly lost.
Boaz points us to Jesus; the one who would redeem His bride from her rebellion and famine, and grants to her a home and a feast.
Table Talk Questions:
Why were God's people experiencing a famine?
Why was Boaz allowed to redeem Naomi's lost estate?
How did God restore what Naomi had lost? How was Obed a great reminder of God's biggest rescue plan?
Benediction:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
Meal: Sondra's Dos Enchiladas, Rice & Beans, Chips & Salsa, & PB&J Bars
Recipes:
Sondra's Dos Enchiladas
Prep and Cook Time: about and hour
Serves: 6-8
1 package Corn Tortillas
2 big boneless skinless Chicken Breast
1 teaspoon Chilli Powder
1 large Onion, diced
1- 15 ounce can Red Enchilada Sauce
2- 15 ounce cans Green Enchilada Sauce
3-4 cups grated Cheddar/Mozzarella/Pepper Jack cheese mixed
1 teaspoon Cumin
¼ cup Vegetable Oil
Salt and Pepper, to taste
For serving:
Sour Cream
Cilantro
Tomato
Instructions:
Mix together cumin, chilli powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and put on the chicken breast.
Cook chicken in skillet over medium heat with about ¼ Cup oil until done.
Remove chicken from skillet and let cool for shredding later on.
Do not clean skillet.
Use same skillet and cook onions until golden brown
Once onions are done remove and set aside.
Reduce heat to low and pour in 2 cans of green enchilada sauce and 1 can of red enchilada sauces.
Stir mixing all the sauces and seasonings until warm.
In another skillet heat and lightly brown tortillas.
When finished set tortillas aside.
Use a fork to shred chicken.
Pour about 2 cups of sauce into a 9x13 baking dish.
Using a baking sheet or plate, dip tortilla into sauce and lay flat on baking sheet or plate.
Add shredded chicken, cheese mixture, and onion.
Roll tightly and place into a casserole dish with the fold down.
Repeat until the casserole dish is completely full.
Once casserole dish is full pour the remaining sauce on top and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes or until hot and cheese is bubbly.
Let cool for about 10 minutes to firm before serving.
Serve with sides.
Rice & Beans
Prep and Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6
Beans:
2 cans Black Beans, drained
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
½ teaspoon Garlic
½ teaspoon Cumin
Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
½ Lime Squeezed (optional)
Mix everything together in a medium saucepan and cook on medium heat until beans are hot begin to break apart.
Serve warm.
Rice:
1 ½ cup Rice
3 cups Water
1 teaspoon Cumin
½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Salt and Pepper, to taste
½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
Cilantro (optional)
½ Lime squeezed (optional)
Put all together in a medium saucepan cooking on medium to medium-high and allow to simmer until rice is fully cooked.
If needed add more water.
Serve warm.
PB&J Bars:
Prep and Cook Time: 1 hour + 1 hour to cool
Serves:10-12
½ cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla
½ cup Rolled Oats
1 container of fresh Raspberries or Strawberries
¾ cup Brown Sugar
2 cups Flour
½ teaspoon Salt
¾ cup Berry Preserves (corresponding to your fruit choice)
Instructions:
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter, peanut butter, sugar, and vanilla.
Slowly add in flour, salt, and oats. Forming a dough ball.
Press 2 Cups of dough into a greased 9x13 pan. Forming a crust for your bar.
Set aside the rest of the dough to the topping.
Bake for 10 minutes at 375 F
In a bowl, mix together your preserves and fruit.
After the crust has baked for 10 minutes, remove from the oven, add the fruit mixture on top of the crust, sprinkle the remaining dough over the fruit and crust.
Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes.
Serve cool.