Grace Exhibited

God sees the people in the land.
The man and the wife at his right hand.

The lads they bore, the little boys

That gave the family so much joy!

God sees the problem, how big it was.

It didn’t occur to Him- naught ever does.

He knew these problems would come to them,

But none of it was too big for Him!

God sees their parting, their decision,

But He would be their sole provision.

In danger though they choose to go,

He’d guard their sojourn to and fro.

He works then to eliminate

The things that keep them from going straight

And give them hope from information,

That God will still be their salvation!

From lip and literature and life,

They learn `tis gone, the famine strife,

And with steadfast, determined heart,

Return to the land whence they did part!

Persuasion then of reasoning strong,

And Orpah decided she didn’t belong.

But Ruth has seen the grace of God,

And she must go where He hath trod!

Oh, call me not Naomi sweet,

For God with bitterness did meet

And trouble which I cannot endure.

His testimony against me is sure!

The Almighty hath afflicted, torn

Such grievous troubles I have borne.

Elimelech died in the prime of life,

The loving man who called me wife!

Such accusations did she fling,

At God who homeward her did bring!

Though bitter in her verbal attack,

God only sees she DID come back!

And she has brought this Moabite,

But God through her will set things right,

For, oh, he has a bigger plan,

To wed her to another man!

From every corner of his field,

They left some of the bounteous yield,

That she her mother and she may feed.

By grace, he’d meet her every need!

Though alienated from her kind,

God brings her back at barley time.

To glean “by hap” in Boaz’ place,

That he may thus exhibit grace!

From, Grace Exhibited, by Pastor Craig Burcham, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Holts Summit, Missouri. pleasantridgebc.com. This is the first message in a series of four.