Elul thoughts - Day 1: Ruth 1, John 1

August 9, 2021                                                                                      1 Elul 5781

Reading: Ruth 1 and John 1

It's Who You Follow

Ruth followed after Naomi -even though it didn't look like a wise choice to make.
Naomi had nothing left to offer this young woman. But Ruth loved her. So, even though she was going into “enemy” territory, with no promise or hope of benefit, because she loved Naomi, she went.

The last verse of Ruth 1 says that this was at the beginning of the Barley harvest. So, this was the season of Passover – the season of the counting of the Omer. And, by her choice, Ruth, by following after Naomi, is walking to her redemption. Just as Israel did when they left Egypt, following after Moses.

John tells us, In the beginning was the WORD! And the Word came to live among us. In this Word is life and light. This light and life was hidden in flesh, the flesh of a Man, revealed to John by the Spirit and revealed to us by the testimony of the Baptizer.

The Apostle John tells us that in the Fullness of this Word made flesh, we find grace upon grace.
Torah came through Moses. The teachings of God came through his prophet and now the fulfillment of the Grace and Truth seen in the teachings, come to us through Messiah. And WE follow Messiah.

As the Israelites followed Moses into the unknown and received the covenant with their Redeemer,
As Ruth followed Naomi into the unknown, and received the covenant with her redeemer,
So we follow Messiah into the unknown and receive the covenant with our redeemer.

He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him. But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:11-12 TLV)