May the Lord Make the Woman Who Is Coming to Your House Like Rachel and Leah, the Two Who Built the House of Israel

At first Ruth came into God’s leading through Naomi. She was faithful to her mother-in-law in poverty and in need; she followed her on the long and difficult journey from the land of Moab and was obedient to her in matters great and small.

On that day Ruth stayed quietly at home with her mother-in-law. Boaz, on the other hand, did not rest before he had concluded the matter. But now the moment had come when he could also rest.

We who have believed enter into rest. We cannot rest whenever a work of God is at hand, before the matter has been concluded. But as soon as the Spirit has worked in us to do it, then we can rest in God’s rest. This rest grows deeper and more intense with each work of faith we receive grace to carry out. This is the sure way of sanctification—though little known and esteemed even by believers. As a rule, they know about the forgiveness of sins. Some people, who go a step further, are acquainted with the baptism of the Spirit and adult baptism in water. But the instruction of the Spirit is little known. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is only the beginning. Afterwards, He is to lead us into all truth. He is to work in us to will and to do according to His pleasure. He will thereby lead us into a deeper rest and to greater strength. He will create in us “the man of God,” who will be perfect, fully equipped to do all God’s work.

Naomi had sought a place of rest for Ruth. On that day she found it for Ruth as well as for Boaz. Satan had to flee from this resting place of faith, and God’s pleasure was over it all so that all the elders and all the people had to bless Ruth and say: “May the Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel.”