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Ryan Balmer's avatar

I read all of Ruth for the first time recently at the recommendation of a good friend. It was equally inspiring and confusing for me. I was confused about this whole story and what it had to do with Jesus until I got to the very end and read that lineage. Then I was inspired. My family’s a mess, I’m a mess and it’s good to know that Jesus’ was too. None of that mattered though because He redeems us all! Amen to that! I’m praying that God would soften my heart to allow His redeeming over my messes.

Ryan Harris's avatar

Thanks for that perspective. I'm grateful to have you as a friend in this messy life.

Bradley Gray's avatar

Good stuff, Ryan. Thanks for sharing this piece with me. The Ruth narrative is teeming with such good news.

David Elphick's avatar

My adopted mum's name is Barbara so that's a nice connection. She passed away a several years ago. Never said a bad word about anybody so a good thing for my development, even though I do grumble about some people.

Yes the lineage of Jesus is like all of ours, and that gives us all hope.

Thanks for the word study around Boaz.

I hope God kept the flies away though. Being wintery (or autumnal if it was September) weather that might be the case.

One bug bear I have is 'inn' v 'guest room'. Same word. When a very pregnant Mary arrived in Bethlehem, full of families of hers' and Josephs' lineage, she would not have been shunned by them. She was able to be given lodging in the front area of the ground floor, where the animals were kept, of someone's home, because everyone's guest rooms were taken. Small town. Not a lot of houses. The guest room being the second level with the owners family in the ground level.

The stables used in Nativity scenes are not correct. Even the NIV has guest room.

Thanks for your work today.

Blessings. It is Christmas Eve morning here as I tap.

Ryan Harris's avatar

Thank you David. What a blessing your comment is. I pray you have a blessed Christmas.

Ryan Harris's avatar

Thanks Jordan. I look forward to engaging with you here. Thank you for leaving this comment.