Unexpected Doors

Based on Ruth 3-4, Galatians 1

With God, it's a good idea to expect the unexpected! We can always expect God to do good things, but we never know exactly HOW He will do them. With both Ruth and Paul, God opened some unexpected doors so they could be a part of His plan!

"And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."
Ruth 3:10‭-‬11

As we read previously, Boaz was a near kinsman to Naomi. Ruth worked in his field & was able to supply food for her & her mother-in-law. This wasn't the only purpose of this God-ordained connection-the relationship between Ruth & Boaz was about to get a lot more serious! Being a near kinsman, Boaz could marry Ruth and restore a child to the family Naomi lost in order to continue the family name. However, there was a kinsman closer in line than Boaz, but Boaz' love for Ruth allowed him to push for that position as kinsman redeemer:

"Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day."
Ruth 4:10

The original kinsman already had an inheritance, so Boaz claimed Ruth as his wife. Ruth was a Moabitess, and there was a nearer kinsman before Boaz...God was certainly using these two in an unexpected way! It wasn't exactly custom. It wasn't exactly tradition. But it was a part of God's plan:

"And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David." Ruth 4:22

Boaz and Ruth had a little family with a son named Obed, and this line would continue to the birth of King David, and Jesus also came through this line as well! This may have been an unexpected door opening to us, but it certainly opens our eyes to the fact that God has a way to include us all in His plan...we just have to step through the door when it's presented to us!

Paul was originally a man who persecuted the church in an extreme way, and he was also a devout Jew of practice, custom & tradition. For these 2 reasons, it would be highly unlikely to us that Paul would be someone God would use to spread the Gospel & message of salvation-but look out! God always makes a way!

"For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers." Galatians 1:13‭-‬14

"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"
Galatians 1:15‭-‬16

God separated Paul for this special work, even from the beginning. Even beyond the traditions of his fathers. Even before all the terrible things he did. Paul was always meant to do the work of The Lord-as are we! It doesn't matter where we've come from-God knows where He wants us to go! In our eyes, Ruth and Paul were unexpected candidates for God to use. But these 2 were willing souls who made changes & sacrifices in order to fulfill their callings. Let's walk through the unexpected doors of God and do the same!