Ruth

Before I did the asparagus, I tied up an interview with Barry Webb on the book of Ruth, which could equally be called the book of Naomi.

Naomi comes back to Israel complaining that she went away full, but now she has returned empty. The only way she can really think like this is if she imagines Ruth to be a liability, which is unkind, to say the least.

By the end of the book Ruth has placed a baby in Naomi's lap. It is left to the women of Bethlehem to bless God. And in so doing, their blessing gently reminds Naomi that she is indeed full. And she is full, because God has made it so. And she is full, with a son who will become the ancestor of David, of Christ.

How good is our redeemer!