Ruth Seeks Refuge

2/8/2022

In this week's episode #148, our Heroine seeks refuge in Bethlehem and jumps straight into action to find food for herself and Naomi. Ever been in a difficult situation and find all you can do is take one more step? Ruth took that step and found herself in the field of a kind and generous man who offered to let her stay safely on his land while she gleaned after his servants who were harvesting his fields. Levitical law gave Ruth the right to do what she was doing, but she still asked in humility for the permission to do so. We find that her humility and hard work are rewarded greatly by someone who is a stranger to her.

This man, who owns the land she gleans food from, to help others.
This man, offers more than just physical food, but also protection.
This man invites her to sit and eat at his table.
This man shares a meal of bread and fermented vinegar.
This man gives much more of himself than what is required by law and extends grace.
This man is a picture of what Jesus is, for those who take refuge in Him, our Kinsman Redeemer.

Do you want to be able to understand Revelation Chapter 5? The key lies within the pages of the heart of Ruth. Scripture is filled with metaphors, pictures, and Hebrew prophecies in patterns, that reveal a greater design by our Creator.
Who is this man that Ruth has encountered? Naomi was wondering the same thing when Ruth came home with 30-50 pounds of grain after one day's gleaning. I imagine Naomi sitting, listening to Ruth tell her story of the day's events, while waiting for the bottom line. Ruth shared her tale of the day and not till the very last word did Ruth reveal a bombshell.
At this point Boaz knows, Naomi knows, but Ruth is still left in the dark. If you have listened in to the Podcast you would know what this bombshell is.

Have you ben keeping up with the worksheets? Have you at least printed them out for future reference? I make them a smiple black and white download so it doesn't use alot of ink. Today's Worksheet for Week 5 will be at the bottom of this post.

As for last week's Worksheet, I shared about making some bread for a neighbor or friend or family, so I decided to take some time last Saturday when we were under a few inches of "snow cone" type ice crystals, to bake some Stollen. Stollen is a German Christmas Bread that contains fruit and nuts and maziparn, an almond paste. I usually make it for Christmas, but it's was in the 70's here in Arkansas this past Christmas and the last thing I wanted to do was turn on the oven with a houseful. In fact, we turned on the airconditioner for a few hours just so it would remind us of cold winters back in North Idaho.
So I took advantage of the cold snap to bake using the oven. I took pictures of my endeavour to show you how it turned out, but here is the Link with instructions and the recipe for German Christmas Bread. I also made some White Chocolate Lavender Scones, and Sourdough Cranberry Pecan Scones. It was all to share at a Party, so there were plenty of people to enjoy the charchuterie Board with slices and dried fruit. I did change the recipe a little. I used rum extract and hot water to soak the fruit and nuts, instead of actual rum. The Stollen also keeps well, if wrapped, in the freezer for those Moments with Moni and and impromptu Kaffee Klatsch at the Table. There is always room at God's Table.