One day, author Kathy Howard discovered a yellowed letter, written by her great-great-grandmother to her son Howell in 1914. One paragraph brought Kathy to tears: “Oh, how much I do pray for you every single morning and night. I pray mightily to the Lord that you Howell and your children may be convicted and converted and sanctified. Never a day do I miss. May God hear and answer my prayers.” This letter inspired Kathy to write her own devotional book, Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith.

The conclusion to the book of Ruth conveys a similar sentiment. In its simple genealogical form, it zooms out to provide context for the personal narrative of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. It reveals who came before and who would follow. This genealogy begins with Perez. In 4:12, the legal assembly prayed that the Lord would bless Boaz with a family line as significant as Perez. Naming him at the beginning demonstrates how that prayer was answered, and the providence of God displayed. The genealogy names ten men in the family line, moving from Perez to Boaz and ending with David.

This genealogy, along with the more abbreviated one in verse 17, elevates this family’s story to a national level. The significance of the birth of Obed is magnified, and the hesed shown by Ruth and Boaz and Naomi is multiplied. Their love and loyalty to one another had ramifications not only for them but also for generations to come.

Similarly, God’s hesed love was providentially extended beyond their family, to the entire nation ruled by King David, and ultimately to the entire world with the birth of God’s own Son. Even in the dark days of the judges (1:1), a line was preserved that would produce the Savior and Redeemer of a lost humanity.

One day, author Kathy Howard discovered a yellowed letter, written by her great-great-grandmother to her son Howell in 1914. One paragraph brought Kathy to tears: &ldquo;Oh, how much I do pray for you every single morning and night. I pray mightily to the Lord that you Howell and your children may be convicted and converted and sanctified. Never a day do I miss. May God hear and answer my prayers.&rdquo; This letter inspired Kathy to write her own devotional book, Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith.
The conclusion to the book of Ruth conveys a similar sentiment. In its simple genealogical form, it zooms out to provide context for the personal narrative of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. It reveals who came before and who would follow. This genealogy begins with Perez. In 4:12, the legal assembly prayed that the Lord would bless Boaz with a family line as significant as Perez. Naming him at the beginning demonstrates how that prayer was answered, and the providence of God displayed. The genealogy names ten men in the family line, moving from Perez to Boaz and ending with David.
This genealogy, along with the more abbreviated one in verse 17, elevates this family&rsquo;s story to a national level. The significance of the birth of Obed is magnified, and the hesed shown by Ruth and Boaz and Naomi is multiplied. Their love and loyalty to one another had ramifications not only for them but also for generations to come.
Similarly, God&rsquo;s hesed love was providentially extended beyond their family, to the entire nation ruled by King David, and ultimately to the entire world with the birth of God&rsquo;s own Son. Even in the dark days of the judges (1:1), a line was preserved that would produce the Savior and Redeemer of a lost humanity.

Today in the Word is a daily audio devotional available via podcast. Today in the Word features solid biblical content and study that models the mission and values of Moody Bible Institute.

Today in the Word Devotional

For Generations

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/a8cdbf10-d816-4c77-9e79-aa1c012547e1/clips/0e0826b8-175a-492d-9d61-b4160130e668/transcript