Kids Say the Craziest Things
• A group of 7-10 year olds was asked a variety of questions about
marriage
• One of the questions was “How do you decide who to marry?”
• Ten-year old Alan said, “You got to find somebody who likes
the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that
you like sports, and should keep the chips and dips coming.”
• Nine-year old Kristen answered, “No person really decides
before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God
decides it all way before and you get to find out later who
you’re stuck with!”
• Another question was: “Is it better to be single or married?”
• Ten-year old Anita said, “It’s better for girls to be single but
not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them”
Kids Say the Craziest Things
• It kind of makes you wonder where these children
picked up their perspectives on marriage, doesn’t it?
• I chuckled at Kristen’s notion that God decides it and
you’re stuck with it!
• When a child says that, it’s funny
• Unfortunately, there are far too many adults that
cling to the same way of thinking …
• A good dose of the book of Ruth offers all of us
plenty of hope and help
Romance?
•
•
•
•
•
•
It’s been 11 weeks of going through the book of Ruth … someone
came up to me and said with some disappointment that there does
not seem to be much romance in the book
Instead, Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz seemed to more concerned about
survival and duty … there is a measure of truth to this observation
Because of all that has happened so far, we want Ruth and Boaz to
be together, not Ruth and the other kinsman
But the way Boaz acted indicated that he wanted to marry Ruth for
more than duty … he had nothing but praise for her and readily
agreed to a marriage proposal after being awkwardly awakened in
the middle of the night
Furthermore, Naomi’s comment about
Boaz’s impatience in Ruth 3:18 arouses
curiosity … is it only because of duty that
Boaz “will not rest until the matter is
settled today?”
Boaz very well may have been a bachelor
who found true love later in life
Whose Agenda?
• The book may do nothing more than hint at the
romance between Boaz and Ruth, but it clearly
trumpets covenant faithfulness
• Above all, Boaz was a man of faith and integrity
• He cared about keeping God’s instruction because he
knew that this was the avenue of ministering to real
people with real needs and so advancing God’s
redemptive plan through his life
• Here is where this story speaks to you and me:
– Do we see the situation of our lives as opportunities to
glorify God by ministering to others?
– Or do we view our situations in terms of other agendas?
– Whose kingdom are we building?
• Ruth 4 asks if we love God enough to put ourselves at
His disposal by loving our neighbor
The Romance of Redemption
Ruth 4:1-12
• Through the actions of Boaz
we see four characteristics
of true love:
 True love takes action
(vv. 1-4)
 True love is willing to
pay the price (vv. 5-6)
 True love is willing to be
accountable (vv. 7-10)
 True love receives God’s
blessings (vv. 11-12)
Ruth 4:1-4
1Now
Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there.
And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by.
So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned
aside and sat down. 2And he took ten men of the elders of the
city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3Then he said
to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country
of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our
relative Elimelech. 4So I thought I would tell you of it and say,
‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence
of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But
if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one
besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I
will redeem it.”
Where does Boaz go the next morning? Why?
The City Gates
• In the ancient Near East, the city gate was not only the point of entry
into town and the most logical place to look for fellow villagers
coming and going, it was also the heart of the community
• The gate was the seat of government and the site where legal
transactions, judicial proceedings, and other important official
business was conducted (cf. Gen 19:1,9; 23:10,18; 34:20,24; 2 Sam
15:2-6; Prov 22:22; Amos 5:10,12,15)
• The city gates also served as a platform for
local dignitaries, a pulpit for prophetic
messages, and the hub of local gossip for
the entire village
• Whenever you hear of someone being
praised in the gates (like the legendary
woman of Proverbs 31), the entire
community from the top down was
honoring them
• It’s comparable to a NYC ticker tape parade
for a national hero or having your name
emblazoned on a star inlaid on the sidewalk
of Hollywood and Vine
• Praise in the gates is high honor indeed
Ruth 4:1-4
1Now
Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there.
And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by.
So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned
aside and sat down. 2And he took ten men of the elders of the
city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3Then he said
to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country
of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our
relative Elimelech. 4So I thought I would tell you of it and say,
‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence
of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But
if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one
besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I
will redeem it.”
Boaz
took
three
provide
• The
first
thing
westeps
learnto
about
trueredemption:
love from Boaz is that it takes action
He3:18
made
contact
with
the
(v. 1)
Who
is this
nearer
redeemer?
How
is he
identified?
• 11.John
– “Dear
children,
letnearer
us not redeemer
love
with
words
or tongue but
2. actions
He recruited
elders (v. 2)
with
and truth.”
3. He
nearerthrough
kinsman
Naomi’s landhe(vv.
3-4a)
• What
didinformed
Boaz do the
to follow
onabout
the commitment
made
to
Ruth? What specific actions did he take?
“Friend” (peloni almoni)?
• According to the ESV (and NIV) translation of verse 1, Boaz addressed the
nearer go’el as “friend”
• The expression Boaz used is peloni almoni, a phrase that is an example of a
wordplay termed farrago
– This is a wordplay in which unrelated and perhaps even meaningless rhyming
wordsof
areRuth
combined
to produce
a new idiom
• The writer
substituted
the phrase
peloni almoni for a particular
– English examples include: “hodge-podge,” “helter-skelter,” “heebie-jeebies,”
reason
and “hocus-pocus”
•• Based
on what
you know
aboutin:the nearer redeemer, why would the author
The same
expression
is used
labeled
him21:2
with– the
equivalent
of John
Doe? “The king has charged me
– 1 Sam
“AndHebrew
David said
to Ahimelech
the priest,
• The narrator
is underscoring
this manofin
order
to about
create
with a matter
and said to the
me, namelessness
‘Let no one knowofanything
the
matter
I send you, impression
and with which
charged you.’
I have made
a less which
than favorable
andI have
is prompting
the audience
to an
suspect a
appointment with the young men for such and such a place.”
pejorative
purpose in the choice of the expression
– 2 Kings 6:8 – “Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took
• To translate
assaying,
“friend”
to obscure
narrator’s
counselthe
withexpression
his servants,
“Atissuch
and such the
a place
shall be my camp.”
purposeful
ofdoes
the man’s
name
– When omission
the narrator
not wish
to give the name of the place the translation
“such and such a place” is appropriate
• Commentators suggest best translation here (Ruth 4:1) is “Mr. So-and-So”
• Note that this phrase originates with the narrator, not with Boaz; since the
other go’el was a relative, Boaz would have known him and addressed him
by his actual name
Ruth 4:1-4
1Now
Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there.
And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by.
So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned
aside and sat down. 2And he took ten men of the elders of the
city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3Then he said
to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country
of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our
relative Elimelech. 4So I thought I would tell you of it and say,
‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence
of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But
if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one
besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I
will redeem it.”
••
•
•
•
•
•
•
Boaz
“took
ten first
men,”
actively
sought
so that
legal “And
Note
the isprovidence
ofheGod
once
again
“Andout
behold”
(literally
Ruth 4:3
the
mention
of land
that…them
Naomi
wanted
redeemed
proceedings
couldthe
start
just
suggests
in the
that any
at just
the right
Whythen”)
do youstrongly
think
writer of
RuthHebrew
postponed
reference
to
Jewish
authorities
citenow?
thatthe
“ten”
were
to be present for the recital of
moment
along
just
right
person
Elimelech’s
landcomes
until
the
marriage
benediction
thushidden
it may
be
that
Boaz
was
This
isdo
notyou
coincidence
but–happened
the
of YHWH
atpast
work
What
suppose had
tohand
theassumed
land
in the
that
preparing
athe
marriage
ceremony
Having
nearer
redeemer
does
Boaz now wait until ten
resultedcalled
infor
Naomi’s
present
requestover,
for its
redemption?
Thus,
took
to ensure
duly
eldersBoaz
of the
citycare
chance
to passa by
onconstituted
their way tolegal
the forum
fields?would be
present
the
civil proceedings he wished to set in motion
Why didto
henotarize
need ten
elders?
Naomi’s Land
• The text is not describing an outright sale of the land by Naomi
• Instead, this refers to a transaction in which only the right use of the land is
being transferred for a stipulated value (paid completely at the beginning
of the deal) for a stipulated period of time
• Thus, Naomi is selling the usufruct -- the potential fruit and produce from
the harvests
• Naomi must have inherited rights to the field of Elimelech when he died
and produced no male heirs
• Given the particulars, it appears that Elimelech sold the usufruct of his land
before he and his family emigrated to Moab, and the field since then has
been in the possession of others
• Since Naomi has no means to
repurchase the field, she transfers
this obligation/right to her nearest
kinsman
• Now Naomi through Boaz is calling
on the nearer kinsman to repurchase
the field from its present possessor …
the land is in need of redemption
Ruth 4:1-4
1Now
Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold,
the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn
aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2And
he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So
they sat down. 3Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come
back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that
belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4So I thought I would tell you of it
and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence
of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you
will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to
redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
• It is natural to do what is good for yourself
••• Nothing
Mr.So-and-So
So-and-So
wrongassessed
said
withhe
being
would
businessman
initially redeem
who’s
the
got
land
a nose
because
for ahe
good
wasdeal
abe
Mr.
theasituation,
decided
the
land
purchase
would
• Nothing
goodfor
businessman
wrong
with
buying
land
(it’sredeem
produce)
from a widow
good
him,
and
said,
“Sure,
I
will
it”
did
Boaz
urge
the
nearer
go’el
to do?
••• Nothing
It’sdid
aWhat
good
wrong
deal
with
tonaturally
get
making
this piece
thehim,
most
of
property
oflike
God-given
back
opportunities
the family
He
what
came
to
just
we
so in
easily
do
How
did
thedo
latter
initially
respond?
Why?
••• But
land
contrast
means
more
crops;
see
more
crops
the two
mean
men
more
who
money;
were qualified
more
to
ItMore
is what
love
to
do
what
isyou
good
forbetween
others
money
mean
this
property?
more
What
do
foryou
the
good
about
their of
actions?
• redeem
Boaz
took
steps
to dopotential
what
would
beobserve
in thelife
best
interest
Ruth, a family
that had no male descendant, and a nation whose God received honor
when its citizens did the loving thing by obeying the laws He gave them
• Love focuses outward; love thinks about what is good for the other person
and does that
Ruth 4:5-6
5Then
Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand
of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the
Faced
this economic
andofethical
dead, in order
to with
perpetuate
the name
the dead in his
6Then which
dilemma,
COA does
he choose?
inheritance.”
the redeemer
said,
“I cannot redeem it for
myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of
redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
•• Mr.
So-and-So
is faced
with
four
courses
of actions about
(COAs): the price of
What
does Boaz
tell
the
nearer
redeemer
1. redemption?
While not legally
bound,
he could
accept moral
responsibility for Elimelech’s
How
is this
a surprise
to him?
estate, redeem the field, marry Ruth, and ensure the well-being of Naomi, the
• What
horns of dilemma does this latter go’el find himself on?
senior widow. This would be the honorable COA.
2.
3.
4.
He could redeem the field and pledge to marry Ruth but then renege on the
pledge after the transaction was complete. By doing this, he would jeopardize
his reputation and standing in the community.
He could reject the offer, thereby ceding the rights to the land and the
responsibility of raising up the name of the deceased to Boaz. This COA would
not necessarily be irresponsible since Boaz has declared his intent.
He could accept responsibility of a go’el & redeem the field but reject the
responsibility of a levir and cede Boaz the moral obligation and/or right to
marry Ruth. This would lose him respect/honor in community and prove
costly in future if Boaz produced heir thru Ruth who could claim back the land.
Ruth 4:5-6
5Then
Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand
of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the
dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his
inheritance.” 6Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for
myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of
redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
• Although Boaz had a strong desire to marry Ruth, he gave the
• In what ways do the actions of Mr. So-and-So parallel those of
unnamed kinsman-redeemer every opportunity to redeem the
Orpah in Ruth 1?
land and acquire Naomi and Ruth.
• In what ways do you think Boaz’s approach to the situation
• What price of true love was Boaz willing to pay?
would have affected his future marital relationship to Ruth?
••
•
•
•
Note
contrastto(once
again) between
these
two
redeemers
Boaz’sthe
approach
the negotiations
would
have
given
him
Mr.
So-and-So
was
to take,
butwas
Boaz
was will
willing
give
confidence
that
hiswilling
marriage
to Ruth
God’s
for to
their
Mr.
livesSo-and-So was concerned about himself and endangering
his
estate,
but Boaz
selfless
concerned
about the
When
believers
trustwas
God
by notand
trying
to manipulate
the care
affairs
of
of two
life, widows
they experience the peace of God that continues to
• Mr.
So-and-So
didGod
the logical
thing, their
but Boaz
assure
them that
has directed
stepsdid the loving thing
I am So-and-So
• All of us are tempted to think and act like
Mr. So-and-So
• We size up a situation and figure out what is
best for us
• We play it safe to protect our own interests
and agendas
• We do not seek first the kingdom of God
(Matt 6:33) …
• Instead, we are more concerned about “all these things” that
God promises to add; such an approach to life does not honor
God
• The anonymity of Mr. So-and-So is telling – there is no future in
a life devoted to self and playing it safe
• Here was a man who had an opportunity to redeem a
desperate situation; but he thought only of himself and so has
been forgotten
Ruth 4:7-10
7Now
this was the custom in former times in Israel
concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a
transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the
other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8So when
the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his
sandal. 9Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You
are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of
Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to
Chilion and to Mahlon. 10Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of
Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to
perpetuate the name of the dead in his
inheritance, that the name of the dead may
not be cut off from among his brothers and
from the gate of his native place. You are
witnesses this day.”
What
two
public
Boaz
1.Whereas
He promised
tocommitments
be ainformation
good
to Ruth
gavehusband
updid
hisdoes
right
What
bitMr.
of So-and-So
cultural
make
to show
that
his
true
love
was of the
2.to
He
promised
to
maintain
the
name
redemption,
what
Boaz
the
author
give
us
indid
verse
7?do?
accountable?
dead whom was this said?
Before
Ruth 4:11-12
11Then
all the people who were at the gate and the
elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the
woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and
Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you
act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem,
12and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom
Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the
LORD will give you by this young woman.”
•• True
love
God’s
blessing
Although
we
tend and
to consider
our had
intimate
a
Who
werereceives
Rachel
Leah?
How
they relationships
“built up the house
1. of
The
people
asked
the Lord
to bless
11a)
private
matter,
the story
of Ruth
andRuth
Boaz(v.
demonstrates
some
Israel?”
2.
the
to relationships
blessmean
Boazwhen
(v.to
11b)
ofThe
thepeople
benefits
of allowing
our
unfold
and take
• What
did
the asked
people
of Lord
Bethlehem
they prayed
3. that
Thethe
people
Lord
to bless
their
offspring
(v. Leah?
12)
shape
openly
in
thethe
larger
community
of faith
LORDasked
would
make
Ruth
to be
like
Rachel and
Whatdo
threefold
blessing/benediction
didRuth
Boaztoand
Ruth
• How
you think
it might have blessed
know
that the
receivecommunity
from their community
they
moved into
committed
Jewish
was prayingasthis
particular
benediction?
relationship with each other?
Ruth 4:11-12
11Then
all the people who were at the gate and the
elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the
woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and
Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you
act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem,
12and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom
Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the
LORD will give you by this young woman.”
Why do you think the people of Bethlehem drew attention to
Now
consider
the
part
the
witnesses’
three-fold
•such
Consider
the in
second
part
ofofof
the
witnesses’
benediction
a scandal
thefinal
history
Judah
as the birth
of Perez(v.
as11b)
blessing
the
offspringpray
of Ruth
and Boaz (v. 12)
•something
What
didon
the
for Boaz?
to
bewitnesses
emulated?
Whathad
is the
connection
theupbirth
of Perez
tofor
Judah
• How
Boaz
already inbetween
part lived
to their
hopes
him?
•There
rabbinic
hermeneutical
principle
of
“from
to of
lesser”
andisTamar
the hoped-for
offspringpoint
from
thegreater
marriage
• How
did
theand
people’s
second blessing
forward
to David?
•The
reader
Boaz
andcannot
Ruth? help but think that if God had given immoral
To
Christ?
Judah a double blessing in the birth of twins and if Judah flourished
through Perez, how much brighter are the prospects for a couple of
integrity like Boaz and Ruth
The Romance of Redemption
Ruth 4:1-12
• Through the actions of Boaz
we see four characteristics
of true love:
 True love takes action
(vv. 1-4)
 True love is willing to
pay the price (vv. 5-6)
 True love is willing to be
accountable (vv. 7-10)
 True love receives God’s
blessings (vv. 11-12)
Case Study: Kim, a single young woman
• Scenario: Kim has met “Mr. Right.” That’s what she has
been telling your small bible study for the past two weeks.
She met Larry just four months ago at the school where
they both teach. Kim, who became a believer 3 years ago
while in college, is a 23 year old, first year elementary
school teacher. Larry, age 24 and also in his first year of
teaching, is an only child who still lives at home. Kim says
she “led him to the Lord” shortly after they met.
“When’s the wedding?” someone asks Kim just before the beginning of
this week’s small bible study.
“Three weeks from Saturday!” she responds. “We’re going to have a
quaint ceremony at Larry’s parent’s lodge. You’re all invited.”
“Whoa! Three weeks?” someone in the crowd chimes in – it was more of
a statement than a question. “That’s pretty quick romance, isn’t it?”
Kim insists it’s because “God brought us together” and “It was love at
first sight” and “We just know we’re right for each other.”
• No one says anything else about the wedding until the bible study ends.
As people are leaving, Kim approaches you (the study leader) and asks,
“Can I ask you something? Why do I get the feeling that not everybody
here is as excited as I am about me getting married? I want to know.”
Case Study: Kim, a single young woman
Kim’s view of love seems more influenced
by Hollywood than the Bible. How so?
• In a typical Hollywood movie, “love” occurs within a 2-hr
block of time. Two characters meet, get to know each other
a little bit (maybe), begin to have feelings for each other,
and then boldly assert they can’t live without each other.
• “Love” is not the best term to describe such instant attraction
• The notion of “falling in love” certainly falls far short of the biblical
concept of love
• As demonstrated by Boaz in Ruth 4, true love exhibits some very tangible
characteristics:
 it takes action (Boaz initiated the redemption payment)
 it is willing to pay the necessary price (Boaz calculated and delighted
in paying the cost of redemption)
 it is willing to be accountable (Boaz made a public commitment)
 and consequently it received God’s blessing
Case Study: Kim, a single young woman
Kim’s view of love seems more influenced
by Hollywood than the Bible. How so?
• The idea that one can “fall in love” guts love of its
volitional depth
• Emotions are wonderful but they must flow out of a
person’s volition and action, as God Himself exemplified,
“For God so loved the world the He gave His one and only
Son” (John 3:16)
• Biblically understood, love is fundamentally a decision to take sacrificial
action to meet the needs of another person motivated by a desire to
please God
• When Kim says it was “love at first sight,” what she means is that she felt
an immediate attraction to Larry when she met him … her understanding
is feeling-based
• The truth about feelings is that they can leave just as quickly as they came
• True love, however, is unchanging. “It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Cor 13:7-8)
Case Study: Kim, a single young woman
What are some questions that Kim may
need to address?
• For Kim, the will of God is a personal, individual matter,
something God makes known to me
• The Scriptures caution against this and emphasize the
importance of seeking godly counsel
• Here are a few questions Kim ought to consider (and we might encourage
her to explore) as she seeks to discern God’s purposes for her life:
 What insight does Proverbs 15:22 (“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but
with many advisors they succeed”) give concerning decision making?
 Does my understanding of love square with the Bible’s explanation
(for instance, 1 Cor 13 and 1 John 4:7-21)?
 Do I have a biblical basis for concluding that the wedding is truly the
will of God?
 Why did I become upset when I sensed that others didn’t seem to
share my excitement about my wedding plans?
Case Study: Kim, a single young woman
If you were the group leader Kim approaches, how would
you respond to her?
How might you use the story of Ruth in the conversation?
• It’s vital to remember that a true friend doesn’t merely
tell you what you want to hear (that’s flattery), but what
you need to hear in order to please God
• Furthermore, a mark of maturity in the Body of Christ, is when we learn
to “speak the truth in love” with one another (Eph 4:15)
• In this scenario, Kim has opened the door by asking for honest input
• For starters, I would thank her for coming to me, communicate my
appreciation for her as a sister in Christ, and express my intent to seek
the glory of our Savior and her good in this important decision
• I would emphasize that marriage is a wonderful gift given by our gracious
and good God, and that by His design it is a picture of Christ’s
relationship with His bride, the Church (Eph 5:23, 25)
• This truth underscores the importance of exercising great discernment
before entering marriage, since marriage isn’t just about me, but is an
opportunity to exalt Christ
Case Study: Kim, a single young woman
If you were the group leader Kim approaches, how would
you respond to her?
How might you use the story of Ruth in the conversation?
• I would remind Kim that God in His wisdom has
given us wonderful examples in His word of how real
people honored Him in the past as they considered
marriage
• I would encourage her to read the book of Ruth, asking her to pay
particular attention to what we learn about love from the actions
of Ruth and Boaz
As demonstrated
by Boaz
in Ruth
truewife
love and
exhibits
somelike
veryto
tangible
• •I would
then let her
know
that4,my
I could
meet
characteristics:
with
her soon to discuss what she gleaned from reading Ruth as
 it takes action (Boaz initiated the redemption payment)
wellasitpray
with her as she seeks God’s good purposes for her life
is willing to pay the necessary price (Boaz calculated and delighted in
paying the cost of redemption)
 it is willing to be accountable (Boaz made a public commitment)
 and consequently it received God’s blessing