by John O'Malley
“And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it” (Ruth 4:16).
Time must have stood still as this widowed grandmother sat with her grandson. The voices of the women of the city are silent. It is just a grandmother, her grandchild and her daughter-in-love, Ruth. Images of yesterdays begin to fill her mind as she holds the most precious of children, her own grandchild. The moment of this birth represents over a dozen years of labor in Naomi’s life. Scripture gives us this pause in the narrative to consider fully the facets of this moment.
Naomi now held in her hands the heart of her husband and the life of her son. Certainly, tears from the heart were abundant. A sweet innocent child had come to their family by the hand of God. Words would come later. This was a moment for cherishing the scrapbook of the heart.
What a picture we see in our verse today: a woman who thought she would go to her grave alone. She could not provide a child to continue a family name for her husband. The disgrace of their departure and of the deaths in Moab left her defenseless and in despair. Each step home on her sixty-seven mile journey seemed to seal her fate. She was the sole representative of her husband, and she had no way of continuing the family line. No matter what she could do on her own, it would not be enough. Yet, somehow, God took her repentant return and brought redemption and restoration to her life.
These words say it all: “She took the child and laid it in her bosom.” She was able to take the child because the Almighty’s hand had not been fierce against her, but rather faithful to her. Her accusation that He had dealt very bitterly with her was silenced. She learned a valuable lesson in life: the only difference between bitter and better is the letter I.
When she took the child, it spoke volumes to Ruth. Ruth, a Moabite, and Boaz, the son of Rahab the harlot, had been granted a son by God. Racially, the child represented cultures, communities, and conduct— all cause enough to raise walls of prejudice. However, when Naomi took the child, she took all that he was and accepted him because of love. The placement of the baby in her bosom silenced all opposing voices that could be raised. This was a child of grace.
God’s favor had been extended to her. The great lengths God had gone to by moving heaven and earth to bring a son to stand in the family line of Elimelech touched her heart. She placed the baby near her heart and embraced more than just a child; she embraced hope in swaddling clothes and held on to the promise of a bright tomorrow.
Our God has done the same for the family of man today. He saw us in our pitiful state, distant and away from Him. On our own, there was no way we could come to Him, so He came to us. We were marred by our condition, culture, and conduct. He saw our hearts' condition, drew us to Himself, and loved us. We were no prize to Him, yet He chose to love us while we were yet sinners; that is a wonderful gift.
His gift goes beyond a child in a manger. It extends to a cross where your sin payment was made. Redemption comes when the price has been paid. Have you accepted His offer of redemption? If not, do so today. If you have accepted His redemption, then tell someone today!
Think about it...