TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 3:1-24
The serpent deceived me, and I ate. - Genesis 3:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Too Late the Phalarope, by Alan Paton, depicts many ways in which relationships can be torn apart. The first one comes from the opening lines of the novel, which show how the walls that blockade communication tend to destroy us rather than protect: “Perhaps I could have saved him, with only a word, two words, out of my mouth. Perhaps I could have saved us all. But I never spoke them.”

Of all the lessons about the Fall of Man in Genesis 3, of which there are many, the one that speaks the loudest about Adam and Eve's relationship is what is not said. In fact, in all of Scripture there isn't a scratch of recorded dialogue between Adam and Eve. Adam made general statements and spoke to God, Eve did the same and conversed with the serpent—but the Bible doesn't mention a single conversation or even a quote directed from one to the other. Certainly they spoke to each other at some point during the many centuries they spent together, but the biblical evidence may suggest that their communication level was sorely lacking. Two observations show us that Adam probably told Eve about God's command against eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. First, only Adam was present when God gave that commandment (Gen. 2:16-18). Second, Eve failed to recall the commandment as God stated it. She added to it, saying they were forbidden to touch it. She removed the word freely from her description of what they could eat. She changed the construction of how God had stated the penalty for sin. Through this failure to communicate as a couple, obedience lost its value in Eve's eyes. She succumbed to the serpent's lies and her desire for the one fruit she could not have.

Adam took the fruit without a word. Suddenly, the dynamic in Eden changed. God became an object of fear. Adam and Eve sought cover. The accusations flew. God's penalty fell on them and their heirs and all creation with them. Why? Because Adam and Eve functioned as two isolated individuals, each vulnerable to sin. Their lack of communication kept them apart from each other and from God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Even without a prior inclination to sin, Adam and Eve's love story went horribly wrong because they each operated as if they were alone. Communication in several key areas can help guard us from deception and temptation. It begins with knowing God's Word and uniting with Him in prayer. We can't expect to stay true to God without talking to Him. We also need other people we can trust—share the lessons you learn from the Word, voice your problems, and strengthen each other with wisdom.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 11:29-12:20
If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
Abraham and Sarah, or Abram and Sarai as they were known when this story began, were far from the typical love story. We don't learn whether they fell in love or were arranged to be married. The significant part of their story took place entirely after they became husband and wife, after the infatuation of their new life together, and well after they had settled down as a family in Ur. No, the wonder of Abram and Sarai's love story was not in how they got together, but how they stayed together on an unprecedented journey of faith.

We can easily forget that Abram didn't go alone. The obedience of following God toward an invisible destination was a cooperative effort, and only Sarai and Abram could have truly comprehended how illogical it seemed. Sarai was barren (11:29), but God was going to make Abram into a great nation? That initial departure required unimaginable faith on both of their parts. They were obviously wealthy, as indicated by their accompanying entourage, but they were choosing to follow God as nomads to a place He had not yet disclosed (12:2). That they embarked together is a testament to their love.

When the Lord did give Abram the general idea of the land he would inherit, Abram paid homage to God (12:8, 9). At this point, Abram and Sarai showed what it really means to be united with each other and with God. But they weren't perfect.

In the three-pronged relationship of Abram, Sarai, and the Lord, Abram wavered first. His faith was strong enough to propel him into an unknown future. But the dangers posed by the Egyptians activated his imagination and fear while shrinking his faith. But Sarai was just as important to God's plan as Abram was, and He remained true to the couple. He freed Sarai from the household of Pharaoh and spared Abram any punishment for his deceptive dealings with the Egyptians. Instead, Abram and Sarai were blessed with gifts of livestock and servants he had received in exchange for Sarai. Despite their own failings, the provisions of God continued to flow—their love depended not on their own strength but on God's power.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Scripture makes a clear distinction between Abram and Sarai's own schemes and God's plans. When they got creative and tried to do things their own way, they faced problems. But when they followed God, He blessed them beyond measure. If you're having trouble in any relationship, bring God into the conversation. Try to align both sides of a conflict, decision, or disagreement with God's Word. There is no relationship or situation that can't be improved by consulting your Heavenly Father.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 17:1-22; 18:1-15
Is anything too hard for the Lord? - Genesis 18:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Vizzini, the ruthless assassin in William Goldman's The Princess Bride, thought it inconceivable that his boat could be followed. It was inconceivable that his pursuer would draw nearer to them. The thought that their masked adversary could scale the Cliffs of Insanity? Also inconceivable. After hearing him exclaim, “Inconceivable!” about a dozen times to describe events that had indeed happened, his partner Inigo retorted, “You keep using that word! I don't think it means what you think it does.”

Abraham and Sarah each had a similar moment when they viewed the promise of God as absolutely, totally, and in all other ways, inconceivable. The suggestion that Sarah would give birth was laughable. Their reactions are ironic; they had redirected their entire lives on the belief that God would make a great nation out of the descendants of Abraham—yet they both laughed at the idea now that Sarah approached 90 and Abraham neared 100.

But God spoke of this son as if his birth were a foregone conclusion. He instituted the covenant of circumcision before Isaac was even conceived, providing yet another display of Abraham's faith that God would provide. Prior to the birth of Isaac, all males in Abraham's growing house of servants were required to observe the circumcision, as would all of Abraham's descendants. But at this point, Abraham had one descendant, Ishmael, and he had been ruled out as the child of the covenant. Even Abraham's new name, which means “father of many” illustrated the miracle that would soon transpire in the lives of Abraham and Sarah.

Sarah's reaction informs us that the doubtfulness of her conception was two-sided—thirteen years removed from fathering Ishmael, Abraham had grown too old to become a father again (18:12). She laughed because the prediction seemed impossible. But for Sarah and Abraham's love to be truly complete and for their story to be verified as something much more than just human coincidence, God needed to show His power in a manner that bore His signature. He gave Abraham and Sarah the impossible!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As Abraham and Sarah knew all too well, only God can create a new life. We might accept the birth of a child as just a part of nature, but each life is the handiwork of God. In the same way, we often think human relationships and love are just natural byproducts of people who follow the right formula or advice. But every relationship needs God to truly succeed. There is no area of life in which we don't need God. Take time to pray for your relationships, especially today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 24:1-67
So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said. - Genesis 24:58
TODAY IN THE WORD
Even when brides and grooms hope otherwise, the saying is true: “You don't marry a person, you marry a family.” The imprint of the spouse's family cannot be erased. As author Paul Ruff states, marriage “comes with a set of habits—ways of thinking, eating, sleeping, celebrating, being humorous, and relating—that was cultivated for years in his/her family. Marriage is the merging, and at times the collision, of two cultures.”

Abraham understood this when he appointed a servant to find Isaac a spouse. He did not want Isaac to incorporate the customs and beliefs of the Canaanites by taking a bride from that land. Neither did he want Isaac to abandon the call God had given him. In that sense, whomever married Isaac would marry into a divine plan to bless the entire world. This wasn't just matchmaking for the sake of true love, this arrangement would impact the future of the world.

And it was an arrangement that had God's fingerprints all over it. It began with faithful allegiance to God on the part of Abraham and his servant. Notice how his entire selection process is based in a prayer and dependent on God's guidance for success. The criteria in the servant's prayer also prized the values of service, humility, and hospitality over physical attributes or wealth— and his prayer was answered before it was finished (v. 15)!

Throughout the entire process, everyone honored God in their conduct and showed respect and love for each other—it is amazing how much love and care surrounded Rebekah and Isaac before they had even met! In Western cultures, arranged marriages are often perceived as cold and impersonal, but nothing could be further from the truth in this case. Not surprisingly, Isaac and Rebekah were in love from the moment they laid eyes on each other. Their love story was based in the love of others and a love for God from the very beginning—they couldn't have received a better wedding gift from families that loved them and loved God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The events of today's passage are probably the closest any family could ever come to getting it right. We've seen in our study so far, as we will in the coming days, that these weren't perfect people. But they achieved an ideal result by not being themselves. Everyone in this account put God's glory and plans ahead of their own preferences and agendas. Can you do that today? If so, you shouldn't be surprised to experience an increase in joy, love, and kindness and a sharp drop in anger, bitterness, and conflict.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 25:19-28
Isaac . . . loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. - Genesis 25:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
The nation of Namibia in southern Africa would welcome just about any boost to their economy; its unemployment rate approaches 40 percent, and over 50 percent of its population lives on $2 a day or less. But the industry with the greatest potential for growth also poses the greatest risk: uranium mining. Industry executives believe Namibia could be the world's leading exporter of a thriving alternative energy source, but critics worry the mining of radioactive material is threatening the lives of its people.

If not properly controlled, the things we think are beneficial can wind up destroying us. Sadly, that became the case with what had been one of the Bible's noblest families of faith. We studied yesterday how the events leading up to the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah had been ideal. The beginning of their life together was no different. Isaac's prayer on behalf of his wife is both touching and inspiring. His prayer was answered twenty years after their marriage (vv. 20, 26). Even as Rebekah became concerned about her pregnancy, she consulted the Lord in a manner consistent with the family's impeccable history of divine dependence (v. 22). The healthy birth of twin boys was a fulfillment of their desires as parents as well as God's promise to make a great nation out of Abraham through Isaac (18:19).

If the love story of Isaac and Rebekah ended there, they would have stood out as one of the great examples of a marriage that honored God. But the births of Jacob and Esau were followed by a direct reversal of everything we've read about the family. The turnaround is marked very succinctly in v. 28, but the favoritism behind the subtle statement sent shock waves through Israel's future generations. The family that once epitomized selfless love and faithful allegiance to God now had a new hallmark—division. The lopsided love served up by Isaac and Rebekah intensified the rivalry between Jacob and Esau and cramped each family member's ability to serve God's purposes above their own. In his twin sons, Isaac received what he had asked of God, but he let go of what he previously had: a heart of worship for God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Relationships are God's gift to us. But when we elevate any relationship—even a spouse or a child—above our relationship with God, we begin serving a master other than our true Lord and King. Righteous love can so easily be twisted into sinful favoritism. Think of those you love most in this world. Do you love anyone so much that it would cause you to sin against God or against another person? Ask God for help in honestly evaluating your feelings and adjusting your attitude as necessary.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 29:1-14
If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some people wouldn't notice any difference between the coral snake, the scarlet kingsnake, and the Mexican milk snake. All three have stripes of reddish orange, yellow, and black. But apart from appearance, the coral snake bears one important difference—a potentially lethal neurotoxin. Of course, most people want nothing to do with any snakes, regardless of their venom or lack thereof. But for snake enthusiasts (or natural predators), failure to recognize the difference can be fatal.

Jacob and Rachel's love story had a beginning that resembled Isaac and Rebekah's. It may have appeared that similar criteria were used in the search. Just as Abraham had commissioned his servant to do, Jacob also left Canaan, and he returned to the land where his mother had been found. And like Abraham's servant, Jacob found a bride among family at yet another source for water—and he was received with joy by Laban (v. 13; cf. 24:50). As his father had done, Jacob felt love at first sight immediately after meeting Rachel. But the circumstances surrounding Jacob's search were nothing close to the scenario that transpired when his mother had been handpicked by God.

Abraham sought a wife who would strengthen Isaac's allegiance to God. That very wife, Rebekah, sent her son back to that land out of cowardly, deceptive motives (27:41-46). Isaac stayed as a nomad in Canaan, the land of the covenant, to avoid being ensnared by the family wealth Abraham had left behind. Jacob, however, left the Promised Land and became bound to the service of Laban.

On the surface, today's reading might look like our study on Isaac and Rebekah. The subtle but crucial difference was the self-serving attitude that drove Jacob to find his bride. There was jubilation and courtesy and romance. But there wasn't a drop of professed interest in what would bring God glory. The motions may have resembled a proper search for a wife, but Jacob's heart was not inclined toward the Lord. That difference would prove to be toxic.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Mimicking the behavior of a follower of Christ doesn't change a person's spiritual state. We can do things that look like love, but if our motives are selfish—or if we ignore God's direction in our lives—our actions are empty. If you have been harboring hostility toward others or subtly disobeying His commandment to love while presenting a superficially sweet exterior, ask God to change your heart today. Ask His Spirit to create in you a wellspring of genuine love for others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 29:15-30
He loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. - Genesis 29:30
TODAY IN THE WORD
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “Everyone who enjoys thinks that the principal thing to the tree is the fruit, but in point of fact the principal thing to it is the seed.—Herein lies the difference between them that create and them that enjoy.” When we think only of what we can take from this world, we ignore the responsibility to make a positive contribution. In our greed, the seed we unwittingly sow bears a fruit we'd rather not reap.

Jacob's history of selfish deceit—and his parents' practice of unfair favoritism—bore fruit in kind. Notice how his perspective changed as he went from being the deceiver to being the deceived. A parallel runs between Jacob's attitude toward Rachel and Esau's hunger in chapter 25. Just as Esau was willing to mortgage his future birthright in exchange for a meal he could enjoy immediately, Jacob found it easy to exchange seven years of his life for Rachel's hand in marriage (v. 20). Esau's lust for food might seem a bit crude compared to Jacob's romantic love. But both desires made the respective brothers susceptible to trickery and completely oblivious to God's plan. Jacob gave up 14 years of his life in subservience to Laban, because of his desire for Rachel.

The effects of Jacob's shortsightedness extended far beyond the fourteen years under Laban. Two weddings in two weeks to two sisters does not make a healthy family (vv. 27-28)! Although examples of polygamy abound, nowhere in the Bible does God condone it. Of all the cases, this may have been the one most plagued by complications at the outset. Jacob never intended to marry Leah, and therefore he always favored her sister.

In the years to come, when Leah bore more children than Rachel, the imbalance of favor and fortune caused the jealousy and infighting to become a family tradition, reaching its pinnacle when Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery. When Jacob later mourned the apparent loss of his favorite son, he reaped the tragic fruit of the seeds of division, jealousy, and favoritism (Gen. 37:35).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If there is something you desire more than to follow Christ and to grow to be like Him, that desire will produce an unhealthy imbalance in your life. If allowed to linger and take root, the longings that turn us away from God produce long-term consequences that harm us, those who love us, and those who inherit the problems caused by our sin. Sow the seeds of praise for your Lord and Savior, today. Devote your heart wholly to Him—doing so will help diminish your desire for all else.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 32:1-35
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self. - Exodus 32:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
By the time news of Britney Spears' first wedding broke, the marriage was already over. The controversial pop star's weekend marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander in 2004 lasted only 55 hours before it was annulled. The impulsive fling became another punch line in a long history of abbreviated celebrity unions.

We have come to expect fleeting commitment from celebrities—but a similar display committed in unison by the people of God came as more of a shock. After the grand celebration that commemorated God's covenant with Israel and Israel's pledge of obedience to all God had commanded, Moses went up to Mount Sinai for forty days. Six weeks was all it took for the Israelites to abandon God and invent their own idol, thanks to Aaron's wavering leadership in Moses' absence. The love story of God and the nation of Israel was turbulent, right from the start.

In the chapters between yesterday and today's study, the narrative focused on Moses' experience on the mountain. In this, the first report of the people's activities in his absence, Israel wasted no time in breaking the first three commandments (Ex. 20:3-7). They placed a false god before the one true God (v. 1); they fashioned a graven image of a calf for worship (v. 4); and they ascribed the name of the Lord to this calf they had constructed (v. 5) after attributing their deliverance to it (v. 4).

God was prepared to annul this marriage, so to speak, threatening to destroy the entire nation and begin afresh with Moses (v. 10). The intercession of Moses tells us something powerful about the love story between God and His people—it is sustained by God's grace and mercy and perpetuated by His faithfulness. Moses pleaded with God to remember His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This was in order to show that Israel was not saved by their own virtue, but by the promise God had given to their forefathers. Unlike fleeting love, God remembers His vows and His love abides the most blatant sins.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God made His promise to Abraham and his descendants, He already knew what wickedness those descendants would pursue. He knew what sins you would commit as well. God's wrath demands a punishment for all wrongdoing committed by those who are created in His image. But God loved the world so much, He gave His only Son so that Israel, you, and anyone who believed in Him could be saved. Remember today that God didn't choose perfect people. He chose to perfect people.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 24:1-25:8
Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. - Exodus 25:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Launched in 1999, the Covenant Marriage Movement is a collaborative effort among many churches, ministries, and organizations to promote strong marriages. Its fundamental belief is that a marriage is more than a contractual obligation. As a sample covenant marriage ceremony reads, “God intends for your marriage to be a covenant relationship that reflects the relationship of Christ and the Church. Your covenant marriage will become a testimony to others of God's unconditional love for them.”

As you read today's passage, you may have noticed a ceremonious atmosphere reminiscent of a wedding. Up to this point, we've focused on the love stories of men and women, but today's passage marks a culmination of God's love for Israel in a covenant—not just with one man as with Abraham, but with an entire people.

Moses told them the law of the Lord in a way similar to the charge to a bride or groom, and they responded in kind—everything Moses said, they vowed to do. After recording the law in written form and constructing an altar, Moses read the Book of the Covenant. Again the people stated their intentions to live up to their end of the binding agreement. Then, in one of the more difficult biblical passages, God presented His glory for Moses and the elders of Israel to see in a gesture resembling the unveiling of a bride. This incident is difficult to interpret in concert with the encounter to follow, when Moses was prevented from seeing God's face lest he die (33:20). We don't know the full extent of what these men were allowed to see, though some suggest it was a partial display of glory or a glimpse of the preincarnate Christ. The text appears clear that they did see the Lord and enjoy a meal in celebration of the covenant (24:10, 11).

We can see at least one more extension of the marriage analogy here as the Lord made provisions to live among His people (25:8) furnished by gifts given willingly from His people. He presented Himself to Israel and gave them a permanent reminder of His presence.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you ever stop to realize that your relationships are bigger than just a private connection between two people? Your marriage and even your friendships with fellow believers are reflections of the love we have as a gift from God. Too often we regard our lives as if we live in a vacuum, separated from God. But His covenant is meant to unite us with Him, and human love is a reflection and extension of divine love. As you connect with friends and family, consider how your love expresses God's glory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 14:1-20
And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him. - Judges 13:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Joseph's brothers sold him to Midianite merchants, there was nothing good about their actions. Nevertheless, God redeemed those actions to save many lives. As Joseph would later tell his brothers after they were reunited, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” (Gen. 50:20).

Understanding how God uses the wicked actions of men to achieve His holy purposes can be both comforting and confusing. We know that God can use the worst circumstances for good, but many people wonder if God is actually justifying sin in the process. God never justifies sin, He works through imperfect people. Samson's life is a dramatic example of imperfection. He served God mightily and led Israel with legendary exploits of power against the Philistines. He was set apart to God according to the Nazirite restrictions (13:5), but he violated that law by touching the lion's carcass (cf. Num. 6:6). Yet, as today's key verse and passage indicate, the Spirit of God was active in Samson—to what degree we can't precisely know.

Another short-lived love story began with what appeared to be a promising start. Samson's plans to marry a Philistine woman were actually of God—His intention was not to give Samson true love, but rather to spur conflict with the Philistines to begin Israel's deliverance from their oppression (v. 4, cf. 13:5). The conflict was imminent. True love was not.

What doomed this relationship? Samson and his bride-to-be were not unified in their dedication to God. Samson's entire life was to be consecrated for God's service, while his bride remained loyal to the Philistines. Her betrayal in order to win a bet helped the cause of God and hurt the Philistines, and it also nullified Samson's marriage. The Philistines lost thirty men when the Holy Spirit empowered Samson to slaughter them, and Samson's would-be wife married his best man instead.

As this failed attempt at a union shows, it isn't enough for one partner to have a relationship with God. A couple must be united in love and in mutual dedication to the Lord for ideal love to reign.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God uses fallen people to accomplish His ends—what other kind of people are there? It's a reality of living in a sinful world. A converse of that reality is true as well: people who serve God's purposes cannot escape the collateral damage sin causes. Samson's marriage failed before it began because of his wife's sinful allegiance to her people. When sin causes you to suffer, will you stay true to God or multiply sin to ease the pain? Seek the Lord's help for the strength and courage to follow Him no matter what.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 16:4-19
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. - Exodus 15:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dumbo believed he possessed a magic feather that gave him the power of flight. So when Dumbo lost the feather during a free-fall, his friend Timothy Q. Mouse had to convince him that the feather wasn't really magic at all, just a psychological trick to make him believe he really could go airborne.

The idea of Samson's hair being the source of his superhuman strength seems no more likely than a single feather putting an elephant in flight. To ascribe his power to his hair alone ignores the fact that his displays of strength were typically attributed to the power of the Spirit (14:6, 19; 15:14). But his hair must have had some connection to his strength, if only that it represented his consecration to the Lord (Num. 6:7). One of the things that makes interpreting this passage difficult is that almost every single verse is riddled with the characters' deception, lies, and trickery!

To call Samson and Delilah's relationship a love story stretches the term. She sold Samson out to the leaders of the Philistines, plotting a way to discover the secret of his strength. We should note that their curiosity about his strength indicates that Samson was probably not a towering figure with gigantic muscles (as he is usually depicted), for then the source of his strength would have been no secret. He must have appeared ordinary, and his enemies wanted to know what made him extraordinary.

After meeting Delilah, Samson acted with little regard for his relationship with God and little respect for Delilah. He treated her requests as a game of cat and mouse. He may not have realized the extent of her treachery, since the text tells us only that men were repeatedly hidden in their room (vv. 9, 12); they likely remained in hiding when he easily broke free from what bound him. But when Samson finally gave in and told Delilah about the command that his head remain unshaven, he practically invited her to cut it, forsaking his commitment to God. His love for Delilah was as spiritually lopsided as his first marriage, except this time, he abandoned the influence of the Spirit and deservedly lost his strength.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe with Paul that “the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3)? Do you look to Him for strength? It is impossible to live the life God desires for us without His strength, but we are often guilty of a sin like Samson's. We betray our commitment to God to satisfy our own desires or to comply with people who have no heart for Him. Profess to God your commitment to serve only Him and relinquish your hold on all else.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ruth 1:1-18
Your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons. - Ruth 4:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
We've all been in a sort of “nice conflict” in which two or more people profess their desire to do the nice thing. It can be anything from back-and-forth exchanges of “after you” at a doorway to a mild argument over who will get the honor of paying the check at a restaurant. At some point, most of these kindhearted disputes end with someone saying, “I insist.”

Ruth insisted. Naomi did her best to persuade both her daughters-in-law to stay in their native land of Moab, but Ruth refused. She pledged to remain with Naomi for the rest of both their lives. Ruth didn't even give a reason for her insistence, she was simply adamant that she would go no matter what. As we shift gears from some of the Bible's more negative examples of love stories to a book that epitomizes godly love, it's interesting to note that the word love appears only once in the entire book—in today's verse, which describes Ruth's love for Naomi. Perhaps the secret of Ruth's love was that there was no reason. It was unconditional love in its purest form. That love eventually bore fruit in a man after God's own heart, King David, Ruth's great-grandson.

The road to Ruth's decision wasn't paved with happiness. The circumstances leading up to her pledge of undying commitment were excruciating, especially for Naomi. She lost both of her sons and her husband within the course of ten years. She held out no hope for remarriage, and she carried no illusions about her ability to provide for Ruth. Naomi made a compelling argument that Ruth had nothing to gain from being connected to her. But Ruth was not interested in meeting her own desires.

Ruth's argument was even more convincing. She essentially claimed the role of being Naomi's shadow for the rest of time. Having lost a husband herself, Ruth showed no ill will to the God of Israel. Quite the opposite, she pledged her allegiance to Him and called on His name to punish her if she ever wavered from her commitment.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Love like Ruth's is rare and desirable. Typical emotional love is often fickle and fraught with selfishness, but Ruth's was selfless and willful. There are times when loving certain people comes easily. Other times, we need to decide to love in spite of our feelings. Make the decision today to love someone who is not always lovable. Love that is rooted in determination of the will and commitment to the Lord can weather any storm. If there is anyone who has shown you that kind of love, thank them for that priceless gift.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ruth 4:1-22
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. - 2 John 6
TODAY IN THE WORD
One popular dramatic technique for creating a sense of romantic tension involves placing two characters in a social or religious system of rules that prohibit them from being together. You can undoubtedly see it employed by more than a few television shows and movies available for viewing on this day that is considered a celebration of romance. By defying the oppressive system that threatens to keep the two apart, the love intensifies as the rules are shattered.

By that standard, Ruth and Boaz's love story is a bit ho-hum. Ruth and Boaz each followed the rules of the culture explicitly. They offended no one. They deceived no one. They broke no social codes. Theirs was a nice story, and despite the lack of scandal, it's possibly the most enthralling love story in the Bible.

Today's passage begins with Boaz doing due diligence in extending the responsibilities and opportunities of kinsman-redeemer to the nearest eligible relative. Boaz loved Ruth and wanted to marry her as kinsman-redeemer. But rather than hide the matter, he dealt with it immediately and directly. Boaz presented the kinsman-redeemer, unnamed in the story, with the option of purchasing Naomi's land and acquiring Ruth's hand in marriage, and the man balked at the prospect of including Ruth in the acquisition.

With that, Boaz had the right to pursue marriage to Ruth. Boaz retained his integrity and his allegiance to God. Had the couple skirted the rules and put their own interests ahead of their responsibility to honor God, they would have cheapened their love. Instead, they preserved it with honor and glory to God.

Boaz and Ruth's love for each other affected generations in both directions—Naomi received honor beyond measure with a new grandson and a restoration of family. The generations to come received a king in David, and the world was given the King of Kings in his descendant, Jesus Christ. In those days when everyone did as they saw fit (1:1; Judg. 21:25), at least one family loved and obeyed faithfully.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Not everything done “in the name of love” is automatically justifiable, even on Valentine's Day. If you want to show meaningful love to someone today, do so within God's guidelines. You could show love to a superior in the form of respect and compliant service. You could show love to coworkers by refraining from inappropriate flirtation. You could love someone who is suffering by praying for them and writing a note of encouragement. It might not be the stuff greeting cards are made of, but obedience honors God!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 18:20-30
I will give her to him . . . so that she may be a snare to him. - 1 Samuel 18:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
John McCain's opponents called him a carpetbagger in 1982 when he first ran for Congress in Arizona, a state in which he had lived for a relatively short time. The move backfired when the former Vietnam prisoner of war gave his response. “We in the military service tend to move a lot,” McCain told one critic. “I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and living and spending my entire life in a nice place like the First District of Arizona, but I was doing other things. As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi.” He's served in Congress (and resided in Arizona) ever since.

King Saul's attempt at ending David's popularity (and life) in Israel had similarly unintended results. David had experienced sudden popularity, but he had yet to ascend to a status worthy of marrying into the royal family (v. 23). Saul tried to use David's lowly social standing (and the affection of his own daughter) as a means to ensnare David into an impossible situation. But Saul's definition of impossible—killing one hundred enemy soldiers as a substitute for a dowry—proved a trifle for David and his men. In fact, they defeated double the necessary number in less time than was given (vv. 26, 27), and David married Michal.

Thanks to Saul's plotting and the Lord's power and protection, David became increasingly famous as a war hero and a part of the royal family. Those should have been good things in the eyes of the king of Israel, but Saul instead grew ever jealous and fearful of David's rise in the kingdom. Here was a godly man, a courageous warrior, and a humble servant who should have enjoyed a fulfilling relationship with his wife and her royal family. Saul's selfish hatred made David his enemy for life.

Once again in the history of Israel, jealousy caused division and discord among the forefathers and leaders of the land. We will study it further in tomorrow's study, but the biggest enemy to Israel's prosperity was not any armed opponent, but rather the sinful failures that plagued their personal relationships.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
David's humility in the wake of his military success teaches a valuable lesson to anyone who serves the Lord. Success in ministry often results in praise from others within the church, but we should never allow the accolades to inflate our pride. Never consider yourself to be on higher ground than those who have accomplished less or are less known. Like David, we should be hesitant to accept a higher status but eager to accept a challenge to do more for God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 11:1-27
At the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab. - 2 Samuel 11:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
The hypocenter is a point under the earth's surface where the energy of an earthquake is released. The vibrations of large quakes can be felt over a thousand miles away and about 50 feet above the hypocenter; all the crumbling buildings, tidal waves, fractured pavement, and other destruction can be traced to a single geological point.

Like a seismic quake with aftershocks that devastated the face of the nation, many of the significant disturbances in David's reign as king of Israel can be traced back to David's tragic sin of multiplying wives, most notably his adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband. It is without question the low point of David's reign. In fact, 1 Kings 15:5 lists that transgression as the lone blemish on David's record. From that moment on, he would never again enjoy peace as king.

What a change had transpired in David since he was the young man who didn't feel worthy to be the king's son-in-law! Here, he felt arrogant enough to sleep with the wife of one of his mighty men (23:39), and then manipulate him with a series of ploys designed to fool Uriah and conceal David's sin. As David engaged in selfish conduct, Uriah was the one who acted honorably and selflessly.

What David felt for Bathsheba can hardly be described as love. Their so-called love story began as lust, moved to adultery, twisted into deceit, and boiled over into murder. Most telling is David's reaction to the husband's death. She mourned, the king reacted with cold indifference. His concern was for Joab, the man who executed David's plans to have Uriah killed in battle (vv. 15-16, 25). He showed disdain for both Uriah and the feelings of his widow! How greatly and disturbingly sin transformed David during this account!

The departure from God's plans and God's ways completely altered David's character. His life was marked by consistent dependence on God, but this chapter in David's life was a devastating aberration. It shows us that even a godly man is only as strong as His allegiance to the Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Outside of God's will, no one can prosper. Many Bible commentators believe that David's downfall began when he stayed home from battle. Now, there's nothing wrong with anyone taking a vacation from a job, but we must never take a break from our responsibilities to God and our pursuit of His will. Following Christ is not a part-time position. When we step out of a mindset of active obedience, we step into trouble. Pray for the Lord's strength to help you stay the course around the clock and throughout the week.