Ruth 2:10-12 KJV
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

With the knowledge of the shadow of God is not God but those who follow or mimick the ways of God, to a point a person coming into a group of people who will shadow a person, protect a person under their wings. A haven of sorts in whom a person can trust and know their allies in regard to obeying God. Israel was often seen in scripture as light before the exile, or a type of shepherd, or angel wings. Maybe more of a protector, much like government should be, but not always. Sometimes even on the law being above the men in government it becomes what it should not be because they trust not in the law but a brotherhood that will protect even if a law is broken. That when the law becomes useless in our world. The law that holds its people accountable to it, also are shadows of that law and are protects of those under the wings/ministers of those laws.

Ruth had come from the land of Moab under the protection of her mother inlaw into the land of Israel. The laws of Israel not only her protector, but a shadow of the Almighty God that Ruth came to trust in because of the shadowing of her mother inlaw. Ruth would find that Boaz was also shadowing her to protect her not because she was kin to him, but because of the kindness she show her mother inlaw.

Where can we go from God's Spirit who shadows us, who hovers over God's people. In the morning God's Spirit is still here. Where can one go from God's presence. Cain would say the land of Nod. However it more then that, God's wings and sheltering arms is there in the storm of life, and in the struggles of life, hoping to make life better for each of us. In the darkness of the night, the shadowing of God is still light. As a mother or father tucks their children into bed, is not godly parents sheltering their children from harm and the evil of the world. In the dark children are no longer afraid of the monster in the closet, or under bed, because of warmth of being tucked in. The cosy feeling of knowing you are safe and sound and even protected.

God wants to shelter us in his wings, in the shadow of those wings, of people that will protect us in the storm. Our first protector upon salvation in Christ Jesus is the Holy Spirit, he seals us by the authority of God that we are his child by faith in Christ Jesus. Then the Holy Spirit comes to be comforter and guide. The Holy Spirit being the Spirit of God. The people that God often puts in our life are often our protectors as well if they are brothers and sisters in Christ. God's wings covering us, and the shadow under those wings are with us in unity of faith.

Ruth found protection by faith in God and through her mother inlaw, Boaz and Israel. A picture of gosslings climbing on to their mother goose's back and hiding in the wing of safety is only a small glimpse of nature depiction or metaphor of our Heavenly Father tender embrace. Even in darkness of evil or being in the enemy pathway, God's shadow and his power covers us. Whether we see the grave, or live to tell about God's power working and moving in our life, in times of fear, and sorrow. Ruth knew God's power of comfort as she travel and settle in Israel.

As believers we know we need God's shadowing and protection. It is easy to get with the wrong crowd, to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet God's protection is still there, for God is in control. Joseph no doubt wonder about God's protection has he was locked in a Jail cell in Genesis, but soon he became trusted even among the guards and inmates. His being in jail only got him exalted to the throne room. Joseph story found starting at the end of Genesis and flipping back a few chapters or a little more. Yet it not hard to find. Who will go digging this morning, looking to see God's protection in Joseph life, shadowing him despite he surrounded by people not so intuned to God.

The shadowing of God is not always the calm sweet story of Ruth and Naomi. Neither is it the sweet story of Mary becoming pregnant by the shadowing of the Holy Spirit. I be writing on that tomorrow.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for your shadowing. Lord thank you for people you put in my life that desire to protect me. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Psalm 139:7-12 KJV
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.