Valentines Day All Month ~ Day 2 ~ Provision

February 2, 2014 · Valentines Day All Month ~ Day 2 ~ Provision

Are you married to a Boaz? A man who is a wonderful provider? This is who Boaz was. All through the book of Ruth you see his character. You see amazing character traits that every man should try to emulate, but mostly you see his provision for Naomi and Ruth. I love Boaz. I love his history, which is where his character was really born. Far before the events of the book of Ruth took place, a story was being weaved; a story that is quite silent but also not silent....it just takes some digging and some bible knowledge, but it's there. ....his history began with his mother; the beautiful soul mentioned in Hebrews 11, but found in Joshua....a scarlet cord in her hand...a foreigner....a prostitute. Do you feel the weight of that? His mother....a foreign prostitute....a history no one would really want...a woman no good Israelite would want....except there was this one Israelite who did want this woman named Rahab. Nothing but his name is mentioned in scripture but nothing need be mentioned of him; this man named Salmon. His son Boaz reveals all that Salmon was. Salmon redeemed a prostitute, for his wife. He loved and cherished her; provided for her needs. He washed her stains and made her clean because he rescued her, just as Christ wants to do for you. Are you the Rahab in your marriage relationship? The shameful, rebellious one, whose character and history is very colorful? Her faith took her all the way to Hebrews 11 and Matthew 1...the great great great.....grandmother of our Lord Jesus Christ. His great great great....grandmother??? That is a story only God can weave. A story of grace, forgiveness, redemption. A story like you could have. A story you could have if you have a Salmon in your life and The Lord Jesus in your heart.


Are you the Salmon of your marriage relationship?...not much flare...nothing to really tell about you except your name in a genealogy? Sometimes a name says it all. Sometimes that is all that is needed. Sometimes just your name is mentioned because your story is so special it's reserved for heaven alone. To be told to the Saints....To be told to the curious believers who love a great story....a precious testimony. Are you called to be Salmon? The quiet one who loves, forgives, provides a sacred place of rest and acceptance to the colorful one? To the one no one wants? Will you be the Salmon who becomes such an example to his children that people associate your name with your offspring? Will you raise little Boaz boys and girls, who redeem the foreigners, provide for the widows and even their mother-in-laws...with tangible provision and emotional provision? The beacon babies? Maybe God calls you to raise a Rahab child. You can raise all your children the same and you still might get one or two who despite your care, your prayers, and your teaching, is a Rahab child. This is when it's out of your hands and it's where God weaves the tapestry....the story. The beautiful redemption story. This is where the little Salmon's of the world become the bearers of Christ's image to a dying world. A world that needs their love and care...their forgiveness and acceptance...their grace and affection. These things that Rahabs need to make it to Hebrews 11. If you are a Salmon, keep going, keep digging into God's word and tapping into his power. If you are a Rahab, you have responsibilities, too. Rahab had to change. She had to turn her back on her sinful ways. She had to take every thought captive so she wouldn't live in life-long shame. She couldn't go to the places she used to go. She couldn't see the people she used to see. She couldn't listen to things she used to listen to. After all, she had a little boy now. She had to be an example to Boaz. She had to provide also, but in a different way than her husband. She provided stability, ability to teach from her past mistakes, ability to extend what Salmon had given her, and she taught Boaz gratefulness, contentment, and faith. Her boy grew into such a man that he deserved a whole book of the Bible. In the book of Ruth you see the character traits he learned from his mom and from his dad. Read it with new eyes! No matter if you are the Rahab or the Salmon, or a mixture of the two, make sure you provide well, from what God has given you! References: Joshua 1 and 6 Ruth 1-4 Matthew 1 Hebrews 11