Ruth 2: God's Providence through People
Ruth: From Ruin to Redeemed • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction: Have you ever heard the phrase “God sighting”. I had a “God-sighting”. I saw Him working in ways that were powerful— and even surprising.
God’s providence is a difficult topic to wrap our heads around.
The mystery of providence defies our attempt to tame it by reason. I do not mean it is illogical; I mean that we do not know enough about it to be able to unpack it.
D. A. Carson
Most of the time, we cannot see/understand God’s work— his providence, until it’s already past— we see it at the end.
According to the Lexham Survey of Theology, providence is the governing power of God that oversees His creation and works out His plans for it. What this means is that after creating the world, God continues to interact with His creation and govern it. He didn’t just wind it up and let it go. He continues to be intimately involved with His creation.
This word providence is related to the word provision as well. God exerts His providence by offering provisions for His people. He sovereignly rules over the earth as He works out His plans.
The difficult theology of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility leaves us in awe of how God works in our world and yet still has made man with the ability to make decisions. God values your freedom.
Prior to the book of Ruth we have seen God redeem countless people from Adam and Eve to choosing the man Abraham. From choosing the deceptive Jacob to choosing the murderous tempered Moses. God has been intimately involved in bringing His plan of redemption to fruition.
All of these people would go on to play a role in the coming of the Messiah. Some directly and some indirectly.
Today we are going to see another situation in which God’s providence and sovereignty are clearly seen as He begins to unfold His plan. In this second chapter of Ruth--we will see God providentially working in the people to bring about changes and set up a wonderful future for Naomi, Ruth, and the entire nation of Israel.
Remember what time of year it was?— Do you remember? The barley harvest! Yes. Harvesting is a busy time, with lots of work, but also lots of joy and thankfulness in the air. Especially after so many years of famine.
Today we are going to look at three ways God’s providence is shown in not only this wonderful chapter, but also in our own lives. The first is...
I. God’s work often happens through people.
I. God’s work often happens through people.
1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”
In verse 1 we are given a glimpse into the providence of God. Here we see that the author of the book gives us a heads up about a relative of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband. This man’s name is Boaz and he is referred to as a worthy man. At this point in the account this statement seems positive but we aren’t told exactly how this is going to play out to help Naomi and Ruth.
In verse two we are shown even further the humility and resourcefulness of Ruth. She tells Naomi that she will go and glean in the fields. These ladies had a lot of needs at this point. Acceptance, love, kindness - but the most pressing physical need for them was food. Ruth takes initiative and offers to go and gather some food.
Ruth bravely works to help provide for herself and Naomi.
We don’t know why Naomi doesn’t go with her. She may have been too tired from the journey as she would have been older than Ruth. She may have been paralyzed by her depression. We are not sure. But what we know is that she approves of Ruth going out. This could have been quite the dangerous trip for Ruth. She could have been assaulted or even killed as a supposed enemy of Israel. Despite the dangers ahead, Ruth goes in faith to glean.
Gleaning was something reserved for the poor, the widows, and foreigners. It wasn’t easy, and there was no glory or admiration in it— It’s what poor people did. Yet she humbles herself and takes initiative to go out and seek food for them. The author wants us to know how God is using this difficult work of gleaning to bring about His plan - so much so that we see this word glean some 12 times in this chapter alone! He also wants us to remember the physical manifestation of His providence in the person of Boaz whose name is mentioned 10 times in this chapter!
In this same verse we also see Ruth’s trust in God’s provisions. She doesn’t say that she is going to go and glean wherever there is the most grain - or wherever the easiest job of gleaning is - she states that she will glean in the field in which she finds favor. She is seeking God’s favor through God’s people. This is more of a prayer than anything else. She is lifting up her petition to God - that He show her favor in the field in which she gleans.
3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
Ruth 2:3 (ESV)
3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.
She set out and she happens to come to a part of the field belonging to Boaz. I love this word “happened” here. It is a word that means more of a roll of the dice. Why would the author use this term? Wouldn’t it seem to undermine God’s providence and sovereignty? Not at all. Instead, it shows that everything is in God’s hands and under His sovereign control. Even the things that seem to be by chance.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
The lot was a form of “rolling the dice” per se. God is sovereign over all. It is not by chance that Ruth ends up in the field of Boaz. It is being divinely and sovereignly orchestrated.
4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!” “The Lord bless you!” they answered.
5 Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?”
Boaz notices Ruth working in his field.
Obviously we see a man who has a good relationship with his workers. He seems to have quite the gift of leadership as we see the respect he is shown by his workers as well.
And like any good leader, Boaz notices something different after he greets his workers. He notices a foreign woman gleaning. He inquires about her and he is told of her diligence and that she came with Naomi.
Ruth 2:6
6 The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi.
7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”
At this point the situation could go one of two ways. He could respond harshly and with judgment - like many in Israel may have done. This was a woman from Moab. She was a foreigner, and someone who is looked down on. Or he could respond graciously.
Ruth followed the customs and rules of the Hebrews, particularly found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy: (she probably learned these customs from Naomi!
9 “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.
8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me.
Boaz starts off calling her daughter. This is a remarkable thing because it is a familial term. It is a term of protection and love. Despite their ethnic differences, he wants to make sure she knows he will protect and provide for her.
9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”
Boaz offers hospitality and protection for Ruth while she works.
This is reinforced in verse 9 where he lets her know that he has even told the young men not to touch her. Not only were they not to touch or harm her - they were to give her water to drink!
Most of us today don’t see how much favor that is being shown here. Ruth and Naomi both are in a very vulnerable position. In a world where women would usually draw water for the men, Boaz let Ruth know that the men would draw water for her. He was showing her great honor here.
Who do we know in our lives right now who need this type of hospitality and protection? Would you serve in the Boaz role for them?
10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”
Ruth obviously realizes that the way she is being treated by Boaz isn’t what she would have expected. She falls to her face in humility and thankfulness and reminds him of her foreign status as a Moabite. Yet he speaks kindly, respectfully, tenderly, and even admirably to her. He speaks of all he knows about her and is appreciative of her love for Naomi and even more so - for her love for God.
He even prays a blessing over her from Yahweh! His prayerful blessing asks for both blessings and protection as he uses the blessing of being under the wings of God which is a beautiful picture of being intimately close with God so that He is covering her. This idea of being under the shadow or shelter of God’s wings is seen at least 6 times in the Psalms with one example being Psalm 91:4
Ruth 2:11
11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.
12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
We see in verse 13 that Ruth is comforted and encouraged by Boaz’ kind words.
Ruth 2:13
13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”
Do you see God orchestrating this interaction so far? Ruth chooses to take a risk to provide food and care for Naomi—She has “happened” to go to a certain field that belonged to Naomi’s relative. She “happened” to find favor from this man despite the fact that many in Israel would have shunned or even assaulted her.
Ruth serves Naomi, Boaz serves Ruth because of that,— and we sense that God is partnering with people to accomplish His plans.
I want to remind us today that the same God working these things then is the same God sovereignly orchestrating things in the world today. God’s providence is seen throughout each of our lives my friends. Sometimes we are in a season like Naomi had in chapter 1. Sometimes life is difficult. In difficult times we may think God doesn’t even seem to be present much less be sovereign and providential. But trust me, God is always sovereignly working. We know that in the lives of his sons and daughters, He is working out everything for their good.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Note the phrase all things. Not just some things. God takes everything in our lives and uses it for good. Even the bad stuff.
II. God’s work is often very personal. (14-16)
II. God’s work is often very personal. (14-16)
14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.
Up to this point we see that God has given provision for food for Ruth and Naomi. Ruth has also been provided with protection from Boaz. She has much to be thankful for thus far. Yet verses 14-16 personally demonstrate an even greater favor being bestowed upon her. This isn’t just about having her physical needs of hunger and protection met, this is about having a family now. He invites her to the table to eat bread with the workers and him.
Boaz gives Ruth more than food, he offers her an identity.
This entire interchange shows us something special about Boaz. First, we see him eating with his hired workers. This shows Boaz’ humility and kindness. He didn’t separate himself from the “lowly” servants and workers. He embraced them as family and ate with them. This in itself was a grand thing to see. But to invite a foreign woman - especially a Moabite - to dine with his workers and him was a whole different level. This was highly irregular to say the least. This type of hospitality went far beyond what would be expected. He even encourages her to dip her bread in the wine - showing that he didn’t see her as an unclean foreigner - but instead as a fellow adopted Israelite.
Boaz recognizes her character.
We have seen two examples of humility back to back. The humility of Ruth as we ended the last section and the humility of Boaz in verse 14.
Humility means to have a modest view of one’s own importance. What does God think about humility? In a culture in which we live today that glorifies pride - how do we understand humility in relation to God?
4 Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself… It is thinking of yourself less!” - Rick Warren, pastor and author of Purpose-Driven Life
15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”
Boaz continues to be the personal demonstration of God’s plan in Ruth and Naomi’s life as he tells the young men to not only to leave her to work-- but he also tells them to throw some bundles of barley that they have already harvested out for her to glean!
God’s provision is playing out in people-- now even more personally demonstrated, by meeting the exact need that these people had.
III. God’s work is powerfully proven (17-23)
III. God’s work is powerfully proven (17-23)
17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.
After working all day she beats out what she had gleaned. This was another difficult job and she does it after working all day. She goes to the threshing floor and beats the barley so that the edible barley is removed from the straw in which it is attached. (See picture)
Barley
After finishing, she has around an ephah of barley. Many historians tell us that this is around 3/5 of a bushel. I’m not sure that is incredibly beneficial for your understanding of measurements. Do any of you use a bushel as a measuring device in your home? But I will go ahead and let you know that this is actually around 5 and a half gallons.
WE don’t know exactly how long this barley would last but it was likely closer to a little over a week’s worth of food for the two women. Yet this was still an amazing amount of barley - not to mention the leftover food she took home as well! We see Ruth’s strong work ethic further as she carries this home. This barley would have weighed over 30 lbs!
Ruth collects over thirty pounds of barley for herself and Naomi.
19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!” Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.
We see in verse 19 that when Ruth arrives, it is obvious that Naomi is overwhelmed by what she sees - Ruth carrying all of this barley as well as some leftover food. She hits her with rapid fire questions and a statement of exclamation. It is obvious that this starving woman, Naomi, is super pumped that God has shown them favor!
Ruth is only able to get out the name Boaz and Naomi is at it again:
20 “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”
Naomi is overjoyed, and states that Boaz is a family redeemer.
You can hear the excitement in her voice. She ends verse 20 with a statement that he is one of our redeemers. This seems like a really important fact that we need to study further. And we are definitely going to do that! Just not right now! You will have to wait until next week to get those details!
Who is showing the hesed love of God now? Boaz. To both the living people— like Ruth and Naomi, but also to the dead husbands including Elimelech, Mahlon, and Kilion.
21 Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’ ” 22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.”
The last few verses show that Ruth will continue working and gleaning in the field of Boaz throughout the harvest. He gives her a job, food security for both of them— and protection while they do it. Verse 23 likely spans around 6-7 weeks which would be around late April to early June per our calendar today. If she was able to collect 1 weeks work of food per day— and worked the 50 or so days during the harvest. She just collected enough food to feed them both for the whole year.
At the end of chapter 1, we were given some hope that Naomi could once again be consistent with her names meaning. We see an incredible shift of Naomi’s mood at the end of chapter 2. She has gone from bitter (Mara) to pleasant again. We are seeing hope arise in her heart as she sees her relative Boaz showing favor to both Ruth and her. Her excitement is clearly shown through her explanation in verse 20. She now knows that God has not forgotten her. She again has hope for the future. She has seen the providence of God powerfully proven and confirmed through His provisions.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Friends, someone needs to hear this today— our God never leaves us or forsakes us. We go through trials in this life, but His providence, sovereignty and loving plans are always at work in our lives as children of God. I pray that this wonderful example of providence today increases your faith in our Savior. I pray that you know that He is there every step of the way.
Believers - God is sovereignly orchestrating things to work out for our good. In His sovereign work, He often uses people to personally demonstrate His provisions in our lives.
It happens through people— to us and through us.
It happens in the most personal ways— specific to our needs.
It will always be powerfully proven— God surprises us, we may not be able to see it until the end.
If you’ve had a “God-sighting” lately— share that with someone. How is God working all things together for your good today?