“Maybe this time he’ll walk the aisle Lord!”
“I just know this is going to open his eyes!”
“Now he’ll finally surrender!”
Do you spend your time, energy and “wishful thinking” on trying to figure out when your spouse might accept the Lord Jesus as his Savior? Have you made plans, signed him up for a men's retreat, coerced him into attending a visiting pastor’s service, had others call him, or just downright tried to play “Holy Spirit” and shame him into it? You’d better reconsider your ways and let God do what He does best – be Sovereign in all His ways.
Timing is everything. Let’s venture back to the time of Ruth and Naomi who saw firsthand what God’s timing is all about.
The story of Ruth in the Old Testament takes place during the time of the Judges when Israel was disobedient and idolatrous. It was a time of apostasy, moral decay and anarchy. Moab was a nation of people descended from Moab – the grandson of Lot by incest with his eldest daughter. The Moabites played a significant part in seducing the Israelites from their true God to idols and pagan worship. During the famine that occurred in Judah, Elimelech of Bethlehem took his wife and two sons to Moab where there was free travel between the two nations and fertile land to settle.
Elimelech’s two sons married local Moabite women, but soon afterward Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow. Ten years later both sons died – leaving Ruth and her sister-in-law widows also. Naomi planned to return to Judah – the land of her husband’s inheritance. She would once again be among her people during this time of great personal loss. She encouraged her two daughters-in-law to return to their fathers’ homes.
Ruth strongly urged Naomi to let her return with her instead of staying in Moab. She recognized Naomi’s God as the true God of Israel and wanted to reside with her permanently saying, “…your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth recognized God’s love and wisdom in Naomi and desired the same. She had forged a relationship with her mother-in-law during the ten years she was married, and she observed Naomi’s faith and her interaction with Jehovah - the God of Israel.
Spiritually speaking, your husband is being wooed by God’s Spirit in you! He has many opportunities to return to “Moab” (the world’s ways) – but he often feels a “tug” at his heart and desires to be with you – sometimes unaware of God’s perpetually drawing him near. God uses these times to gently bring your husband closer to the things of God and His love.
When Ruth returned to Judah with Naomi she needed to find some means of support for her and her aging mother-in-law. She went out into the fields to glean from the grain that was left behind during harvest. God had guided her into the fields of Boaz – a wealthy landowner that just happened to be a near kinsman of Naomi’s. The passage in Ruth tells us that she lay at the feet of Boaz on his threshing floor (at Naomi’s insistence) in order that he might assume his obligations under the law. It was in effect a marriage proposal extended by Ruth towards a man God had ordained as her “redeemer” or goel. This was all part of what Naomi saw as an opportunity for Ruth to not only gain a husband, but to preserve her own deceased husband’s estate for an heir. After a nearer relative declined the invitation to redeem her according to Hebrew law, Boaz stepped up and did the honorable thing.
In the New Testament Jesus represents our Kinsman Redeemer. The goel is a “close relative” of the one he redeems. He must be able to pay the price of redemption, be willing to redeem, and be free himself. Jesus Christ is our brother – born of the seed of David. He redeems us with his precious blood. He willingly gave up his life for us, and was free from the curse of sin.
Isaiah 63:16 says, “You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.” And Paul tells us in Titus 2:13-14, “…looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Jesus wants to redeem your spouse. Our Lord meets all of the criteria for the goel and gave His life for him. He is willing to fulfill the law of love and preserve his soul for eternity. Jesus loves your mate and wants to see him embrace his destiny in Christ.
After receiving good wishes and blessings from the elders and people at the city gate, Boaz takes Ruth as his wife. Ruth later conceived and bore a son, Obed. In Matthew’s account of the lineage of Jesus, Ruth’s son is the grandfather of King David – a man after God’s own heart. Naomi’s heartache was turned to joy as she held her grandson, and God’s purposes were fulfilled in the birth of the Messiah through this obedient girl from Moab.
Pray for your spouse to have a tender heart and ears to hear the call of Jesus. When he accepts the Lord Jesus as Savior, he will be included in the spiritual lineage of the redeemed! Your mate will have the veil lifted from his eyes and behold his Redeemer.
God’s timing is perfect. Don’t rush it… The fields are ripe for harvest.
Your spouse might still be gleaning in the Master’s field.
Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Nicole. Waiting in anticipation is one of the hardest things to do. One thing is love to do is study Scripture to find great examples of God's perfect timing...
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