"And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.” (Ruth 4:9-10)
The story of Ruth and Boaz is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Ruth was a widow, living in a foreign land. Boaz, a relative of her dead husband, purchases the land that once belonged to her (also dead) father-in-law. But he doesn't do it for his own gain--he engages in this business transaction in an effort to redeem the land for his relative, Ruth and her destitute mother-in-law, Naomi. In so doing, they now have the means to provide for themselves. However, there's even more to this transaction. By purchasing the land, he also purchases Ruth, and agrees to take her on as his own wife.
My inner feminist screams that this is disgusting! Women aren't to be purchased like property! However, I must consider the cultural context of the story, and the patriarchal society in which Ruth and Boaz existed. Unmarried, and especially widowed, women had little to no means to provide for themselves, and no opportunity to acquire any. But when Boaz legally redeemed Ruth, he made her his own wife--and as the rest of the story shows--he indeed loved her and cherished her and provided for her.
This story is a picture of what Christ has done for us. We are destitute sinners, with absolutely no means to provide for our salvation. However, Christ purchased us with His blood at the Cross, and took us as His own. He loves and cherishes and cares for us. And even more importantly, His act of redemption provides a way of salvation for us!
What a beautiful story! I decided to journal this in my Bible with a few different stamp sets. I wanted to go all pink, because it's my favorite color, and I wanted to emphasize the personal fact that I AM REDEEMED! For the background, I used the houndstooth-style texture stamp from Texture Tiles 4, which is the Stamp of the Month for October. I used Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Ink, and stamped the background continuously. I also stamped this same pattern in black on some pink cardstock, to cut out a tab and to use for a shirt for my girl, which was the next step.
I used the Girl Power set to create a tag with the top-bun girl. I stamped her with pink glasses to carry the pink theme, and colored her with watercolor pencils. I affixed the tag onto pink cardstock, and tied it off with black checked ribbon. I used double-sided foam tape to give the tag some dimension.
Finally, I used the Hello, My Name Is stamp set to stamp "Redeemed" as my title, and then the following into wordfetti strips: 100%, beyond measure, once & for all, no matter what. I marked off my verses, and then added some journaling, some pink and black paint splatter, and the date.
I love the pink-ness of this page, but I love the reminder even more of how Jesus has 100% redeemed me! He's redeemed you too, friend!
Thanks for hanging out with me today...
Julie
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Texture Tiles 4 |
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