God's Gracious Care shown in Ruth' Story

Introduction

My wife likes the details of a story / I have learned to love the details of this story

The book of Ruth and Judges talk about the same time in history. While man is going crazy, God is working His redemptive plan!

There are a few characters you need to know about; Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz.

But this story, as all stories worth telling, our about our gracious God.

God’s shows us His love through His plans for our lives. v.1-3

God shows us His loves through the grace shown to us by others. 4-16

God’s grace for today gives us hope for the future v. 17–23

1. God’s shows us His love through His plans for our lives.

Ruth 2:1–3 “1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.”

Ruth was in a hopeless situation. (Pretend like you don't know the ending for a second)

She was a moabites. 2:1,6

She would live of the left overs of the fields. Deut.

She couldn’t do anything to change her future. She had to wait. 3:18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

She “happened” to go to Boaz portion of the field.

Story is being told from the perspective we can see through Ruth of Naomi’s eyes.

This is not God saying “I didn’t have anything to do with that”

Ruth knew nothing of the field. She did not know the information v.1 provided for us. She learns that in v.20

Boaz is the son of Rahab, from Jerico. Matthew 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Next time you are with family and you don't think God can use your family. Remember what God did here.

God is allowing Rahab into the lineage of Christ and King David. Amazing what the faith of one person can do for a family tree.

God is in the details.

There is a mystery here beyond our full comprehension. The Bible teaches that the Lord’s sovereign plan incorporates the willing choices of men and women for which they are accountable.

Ruth chose to go to the field but she certainly didn’t know what would happen next v.4 And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem,

2. God shows us His loves through the grace shown to us by others. 4-16

Boaz does more than fulfill the law, he extends grace! (Some called him Mr. Right)

Boaz was a relative v. 1—the significance of this will become clear in Ruth 3. As a relative of Naomi he had responsibility to care for needy members of the family.

Boaz was a man of standing v. 1—a man of resources able to meet the needs of the two women.

Boaz was godly v. 4—he recognized in the big decisions and in in his daily life.

It seems clear that Boaz had stayed in Bethlehem during the time of famine, while others, like Elimelech, left.

Here is what he said to his reapers v. 4 And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.

Boaz was obedient v. 6–7—obedient to the law of the Lord, which said, When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. Deut. 24:19

Boaz was welcoming (vv. 8, 14)—hospitable to an alien. Not treating Ruth as a foreigner, Boaz called her ‘My daughter’, a warm term. Then, at mealtime, he invited her to eat with him, sharing his food with her.

Boaz was sensitive (vv. 8–9)—considerate of Ruth’s needs, he told her to stay with his servant girls.

Boaz provided for Ruth (vv. 9–10)—giving her protection, by telling his men not to touch her. He supplied water, telling her she could drink from the water jars his men had filled.

Ruth found GRACE in the eyes of Boaz.

Ruth 2:10 “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?”

Boaz was gracious (vv. 14–16)—to the point of overload.

When it came to lunchtime he asked Ruth to eat with him and his men. He shared bread and wine with her. She took a bushel of corn home with her.

Boaz told them to leave “handfuls of purpose for her”

She took home nearly a bushel of barley. v.7

I think it must have been exciting for ol’ Boaz when He realized he got to represent Jesus role in redemption through his life.

He just went to work like any other day.

He just did what he knew to be right even though it would cost him something.

Boaz was placed their to show God’s lavish love and kindness towards Ruth.

Boaz could be trusted. Ruth 3:18 “18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.”

When there was nothing else Ruth could do she trusted the gracious nature of Boaz.

Faith makes us recognize we are helpless but doesn't leave us hopeless!

Jesus fulfills the law but does so much more for us.

Jesus left heaven and became our relative, as he took on human flesh.

As the God-man Jesus was and is a man of standing, worthy and with all the resources of God at his disposal.

Jesus in his humanity, he was the most godly man that has ever lived. With Jesus there was no division between the sacred and the secular.

Jesus was obedient. In his humanity, he lived in perfect submission to the law of the Lord, in a way no one has before or since.

Jesus was welcoming of all who took refuge in him. Wherever they were from, whatever their background, he welcomed all who came to him.

Jesus was sensitive, dealing with each person personally and graciously—the widow, the prostitute, the distraught parent, the tax collector, even his mother, as he hung dying on the cross.

Through Jesus death on the cross, he provided protection from the wrath of God against sin for all who take refuge in him.

Jesus is gracious beyond measure. There is nothing stingy about the generosity of the Lord Jesus.

3. God’s grace for today gives us hope for the future v. 17–23

Grace exceeds

Boaz didn’t need a manual on the book of Deut to know how to treat Ruth. Grace is a law unto itself!

Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it! Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Jesus not only fulfills the law on our behalf but exceeds it! Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Because of God’s grace we have hope today, tomorrow, and in the world to come!

Naomi is given hope.

Ruth 2:19 “19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.”

When others hear of God’s grace towards us it causes them to be reminded our God is not dead.

Boaz shows grace, Ruth tells of this grace, and God is worshipped through a grieving widow who is fighting bitterness!

Namoi didn’t know how it would all work out but she was reminded that their is a God who has “not left off his kindness”

Conclusion

Maybe you cannot see down the road and you wonder what God will do with the mess of your life.. but can you not look to the grace He has already shown you to be reminder to you that He is gracious and kind.

We cannot be Jesus in the story - but we could be Boaz in the way we extend grace. We could be like Ruth in the way we tell of it, we could be like Naomi and let our hard hearts melt when we hear about it.

What a wonderful plan of redemption!

Look at the details of you life. Think about how God has guided your small steps and led you to where you are today.

At times we get led to a field, in a strange land, but it is there that God is going to show us something. His grace towards us!

Your story is no less wonderful!