Remove a shoe and God's Plan
Matthew 22:23-32
23 That same day, some Tz’dukim (Sadducees) came to him. They are the ones who say there is no such thing as resurrection, so they put to him a sh’eilah (test): 24 “Rabbi, Moshe said, ‘If a man dies childless, his brother must marry his widow and have children to preserve the man’s family line.’ 25 There were seven brothers. The first one married and then died; and since he had no children, he left his widow to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second brother, and the third, and finally to all seven. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 Now in the Resurrection — of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all married her.”
29 Yeshua answered them, “The reason you go astray is that you are ignorant both of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and of the power of God. 30 For in the Resurrection, neither men nor women will marry; rather, they will be like angels in heaven. 31 And as for whether the dead are resurrected, haven’t you read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz’chak and the God of Ya‘akov’? He is God not of the dead but of the living!”
Resurrection... Did you know the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection? And yet, what question did they ask Jesus? They asked Him about the resurrection?
People today will still do this. They "don't believe in God," but will still ask a question about Who He is and what someone thinks of Him.
People have an inner desire to know someone bigger than themselves, or want a desire to know what will happen when they die. I truly believe it is there. People might say they don't care, or are fine just living life and not knowing anything... but I believe He has placed within us all a simple need for Someone who loves us.
I am going to include some verses from Deuteronomy 25:
5 “If brothers live together, and one of them dies childless, his widow is not to marry someone unrelated to him; her husband’s brother is to go to her and perform the duty of a brother-in-law by marrying her. 6 The first child she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be eliminated from Isra’el. 7 If the man does not wish to marry his brother’s widow, then his brother’s widow is to go up to the gate, to the leaders, and say, ‘My brother-in-law refuses to raise up for his brother a name in Isra’el; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother for me.’ 8 The leaders of his town are to summon him and speak to him. If, on appearing before them, he continues to say, ‘I don’t want to marry her,’ 9 then his brother’s widow is to approach him in the presence of the leaders, pull his sandal off his foot, spit in his face and say, ‘This is what is done to the man who refuses to build up his brother’s family.’ 10 From that time on, his family is to be known in Isra’el as ‘the family of the man who had his sandal pulled off.’
I am choosing to show these verses because this is what happened with Ruth and Boaz. Ruth had a relative of her late husband that was closer to her and should have married her. That relative chose not to, the sandal duty was performed, and Boaz became the Kinsmen Redeemer. We know that from this line we received our Messiah.
The tradition is not one I understand and in my quick study I did not find a thorough reason why it is performed. I do know that the city gates are important. Shoes are as well. I want to do more research to understand why it is done.
What I can say, in the situation with Ruth, God worked things for His glory and good. The line of the Father was allowed to come exactly as He intended and planned. He truly is the God of the LIVING
Exodus 3:6
6 I am the God of your father,” he continued, “the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz’chak and the God of Ya‘akov.” Moshe covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
God is WHO He said He is. No one can trick Him or destroy Him. Don't question Him. Simply trust Him and believe in Him.
Love and blessings,
Rose
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