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THE BLESSING OF THE HOME (14)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Ruth 4:11-22

Exodus 2:1-10

 

“…take this child away,

and nurse it…”

 

THE BLESSING OF THE HOME (14)
 
What great honour was given to Naomi by Ruth. As we read this account, the attention was not on Ruth as the mother who had delivered the baby boy. The women who came to visit blessed Naomi, spoke of the child and of Naomi. What a blessing it was for Naomi to have a daughter-in-law such as Ruth, and a kinsman such as Boaz; for they were people who clave to the LORD and His Word. Their allegiance and obedience to God’s Word restored hope and joy to Naomi.
 
“And Naomi took the child … and became nurse unto it” (Ruth 4:16). The Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, makes mention of nursing mothers and nursing relationships. From Sarah in her old age nursing Isaac (Gen 21:7-8) to Jochebed being the nursing mother to Moses on behalf of Pharaoh’s daughter (Exod 2:8-9), children were nursed, either by their birth mothers, or by an assigned nursing mother. Nursing was the basis for a strong and unbreakable loving relationship, as was seen when it was used figuratively by God Himself (Isa 49:15), and by Paul to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 2:7-8). The birth of a son brought with it the prospect of a flourishing family. The responsibility of nursing and raising the child was a duty that Naomi took upon herself. She did not look at it as a burden, or some form of trouble. To Naomi, the child was to be “restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age,” but for the child to be able to fulfil his God-given duty, he must first be raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
 
From Naomi, we learn the blessings and joys of parenting that would follow responsible parenting. Those who have expectations of their children and hope that they will be responsible as they mature, must take up the responsibilities, fulfil the duties and build the relationship with their children. When our children are under our care, we ought to instruct and “train up a child in the way he should go” if we hope and expect that when we are aged and they are mature, they will “learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents.”
 
THOUGHT: (Read Deuteronomy 6:5-9.)

PRAYER: Father, grant us the joy of having children walk in Thy truth.

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