1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:03,080 Please turn your Bible to the book of Ruth. 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:07,680 If you didn't bring a Bible, there's some in the back. 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,720 Just raise your hand. Somebody will bring you a Bible 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,520 right now that'll serve you. You can follow along. 5 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,320 And if you didn't bring a Bible and you don't own one, feel free 6 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:18,320 to keep that Bible. It's our gift to you. 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,320 Ruth is near the beginning of the Bible, just after the book 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,240 of Judges. If you're not familiar with the 9 00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:27,200 Bible at all, the big numbers, those are the chapters. 10 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,960 The little numbers, those are the verses we're going to be in 11 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:35,960 Ruth chapter 2. As I read Ruth chapter 2, hear 12 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:42,560 the word of the Lord. Now Naomi had a relative of her 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,200 husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name 14 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,640 was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to 15 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:54,280 Naomi, Let me go to the field, and glean among the ears of 16 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,880 grain after him, in whose sight I shall find favor. 17 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,120 And she said to her, Go my daughter. 18 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,000 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the 19 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,640 reapers. And she happened to come to the 20 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,960 part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of 21 00:01:10,960 --> 00:01:15,080 Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from 22 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,480 Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, The 23 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,200 Lord be with you. And they answered, The Lord 24 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,520 bless you. Then Boaz said to his young man, 25 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,960 Who is in charge of the reapers, Whose young woman is this? 26 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,560 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, 27 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,320 She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from 28 00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:37,760 the country of Moab. She said, please let me glean 29 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,040 and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. 30 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:43,320 So she came, and she has continued from early morning 31 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:45,720 until now, except for a short rest. 32 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:53,000 Then Boaz said to Ruth, Now listen, my daughter, do not go 33 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,560 to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close 34 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,720 to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field 35 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:01,680 that they are reaping, and go after them. 36 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,640 Have I not charged the young man not to touch you? 37 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:09,039 And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the 38 00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:14,080 young man have drawn. Then she fell on her face, 39 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:18,560 bowing to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favor 40 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,880 in your eyes that you should take notice of me, since I am a 41 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,400 foreigner? But Boa Boa has answered her. 42 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,360 All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of 43 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,760 your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your 44 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:39,320 father and mother and your native land and came to a people 45 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,960 that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you 46 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,760 have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord the God of 47 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,000 Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. 48 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:58,440 Then she said, I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord, for 49 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:03,400 you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I 50 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:08,680 am not one of your servants. And that meal time Boaz said to 51 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:13,280 her, Come here and eat some bread, and dream dip your morsel 52 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,040 in the wine. So she sat beside the reapers, 53 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:21,120 and he passed to her roasted grain, and she ate until she was 54 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,120 satisfied, and she had some leftover. 55 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:27,120 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young man, 56 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:31,840 saying, let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach 57 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:36,480 her, and also pull out some of the bundles for her, and leave 58 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,160 it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her. 59 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,720 So she gleaned in the field until evening. 60 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,160 Then she beat out what she had gleaned and it was about an IFA 61 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:51,080 of barley and she took it up and went into the city. 62 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:54,600 Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. 63 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,400 She also brought out and gave her what food she had leftover 64 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,280 after being satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to 65 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,400 her, where did you glean today and where have you worked? 66 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,040 Blessed be the man who took notice of you. 67 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,040 So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and 68 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:18,920 said, The man's name with whom I work today is Boaz. 69 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:22,360 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, May he be 70 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,080 blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the 71 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:31,160 living or the dead. Naomi also said to her, The man 72 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,720 is a close relative of ours, one of our Redeemers. 73 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:39,720 And Ruth the Moabite said, Besides, he said to me, You 74 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,240 shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my 75 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,920 harvest. And Naomi said to Ruth, her 76 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:50,000 daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that you go out with 77 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,040 his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted. 78 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:59,000 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until 79 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,560 the end of the barley and wheat harvest, and she lived with her 80 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:08,560 mother-in-law. Friends, notice how Chapter 2 81 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:13,560 ends with the end of the barley and wheat harvest. 82 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,720 Do you remember how Chapter 1 ended with the beginning of the 83 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,800 barley harvest? The harvest took place over 7 84 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:26,240 weeks, meaning chapter 2 takes place over about 50 days. 85 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:31,160 But if you were listening carefully, the author's focus is 86 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,600 really just on one of those 50 days. 87 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,560 The author gives us the time stamps. 88 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,840 Verse 7, early morning meal time in the afternoon. 89 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:45,200 Verse 14, evening. Verse 17. 90 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:56,960 One day, 24 hours, 1440 minutes, 86,400 seconds. 91 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:02,080 We rarely tend to think much about what can happen in a 92 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:06,880 single day, but in a single day, and more specifically in a 93 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:12,800 single encounter, Naomi and Ruth's destitute lives are going 94 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:18,320 to be reversed drastically. Chapter 2 is there fresh start. 95 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:25,680 Perhaps you're waiting for a fresh start today, wishing for 96 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:30,080 the day when you'll wake up and things will be different. 97 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:37,520 Patiently plotting until your fortunes finally turn, hoping 98 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,960 that one day soon you'll finally catch your break. 99 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:47,280 Friends, Chapter 2 of Ruth is here to tell us as we wait. 100 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:53,360 Take refuge in the God of subtle Providence. 101 00:06:54,440 --> 00:07:00,600 Take refuge in the God of subtle Providence. 102 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:04,280 The story unfolds in three scenes, so we're going to work 103 00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:06,200 through the passage with three points. 104 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:12,800 First point, seeking favor verses 1 to 3.2, finding 105 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:21,200 kindness versus 4 to 17 and .3 seeing Providence versus 18 to 106 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,840 23. So seeking favor, finding 107 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:28,200 kindness, seeing Providence, scene one, we'll start there 108 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:37,040 seeking favor. Before jumping into the story, 109 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,760 the author offers us an introduction to a new character 110 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:43,960 just for the reader. Look at verse one. 111 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:49,680 Now, Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the 112 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,960 clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 113 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:59,400 The author says meet Boaz and he tells us two things about Boaz. 114 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:01,440 One, he's a relative of Elimelech. 115 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,680 They're from the same clan. The clan was larger than just 116 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:08,440 your immediate family. Two, he's a worthy man. 117 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,000 Now, depending on the context, this could mean that he's 118 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,000 respectable. A man of moral courage. 119 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,280 Kids, you could think of a knight in shining armor. 120 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,560 A man of courage. That could be what it means. 121 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:27,000 It could also mean that he's wealthy, a man of high standing 122 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,360 in society. Shortly we're going to see that 123 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,400 Boaz is actually both. The author tells us this about 124 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:39,280 Boaz, and then he just drops it, leaves it aside, and moves on. 125 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,799 He's setting us, the readers, up. 126 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,040 He's taking us behind the scenes. 127 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:49,560 Next we hear a short conversation between Ruth and 128 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:54,120 Naomi, verse 2. And Ruth the Moabite said to 129 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:58,320 Naomi, Let me go to the field, and glean among the ears of 130 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:02,240 grain after him, and whose sight I shall find favor. 131 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:10,200 And she said to her, Go, my daughter, have you ever started 132 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,600 the day not knowing where your next meal was going to come 133 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,000 from? Walk a mile with me. 134 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,600 And Ruth and Naomi's shoes. They have no husbands, they have 135 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,320 no protection, they have no provision. 136 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:29,520 They are poor widows who've returned to Bethlehem for Ruth. 137 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,840 Bethlehem is a foreign nation. It's a strange land. 138 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:39,040 How do widows survive? In ancient Israel, according to 139 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:43,240 the law of the land, the Lord provided a kind of work welfare 140 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,320 program for the destitute. You could see this in Leviticus 141 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:52,320 2322, which says when you reap the harvest of your land, you 142 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,840 shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you 143 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:58,800 gather the gleanings after your harvest. 144 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,880 You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner. 145 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:08,880 I am the Lord your God. Again, Deuteronomy 24, verse 20 146 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:13,920 specifies this was primarily for the sojourner, the fatherless, 147 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:19,360 the widow, meaning that if you owned land, you couldn't reap 148 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,160 right up to the edges. You need to leave the edges open 149 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,600 for those who were less fortunate than you. 150 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,120 And even when you were gleaning, if some accidentally fell on the 151 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,680 ground, you could not pick it up. 152 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,120 You had to leave it for the poor and for the destitute. 153 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:39,400 Now obviously this is bad business practice if your bottom 154 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,680 line is making as much money as you can. 155 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:49,760 But God's covenant people, Israel, were commanded to be 156 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:55,080 generous, to overflow with generosity because they served a 157 00:10:55,080 --> 00:11:00,800 generous God. So Ruth departs Naomi to go 158 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:06,120 gleaning. She's seeking favor, and almost 159 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,280 immediately, it seems, at least the author wants us readers to 160 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,880 know that she finds it. Verse 3. 161 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:20,560 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the 162 00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:27,640 Reapers, and she happened. She happened to come to the part 163 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:32,120 of the field belonging to Boaz. What are the odds? 164 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:37,640 What are the odds that Ruth would wander onto Boaz's field? 165 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,680 In ancient Israel, the land was carefully divided in many 166 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:42,560 sections. It was owned by different 167 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:44,560 people. You wouldn't know whose land 168 00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:46,520 you're on. It was divided by landmarks. 169 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:50,040 But there were no signs saying Boaz's field. 170 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,640 What a coincidence. It's as if the author is telling 171 00:11:53,640 --> 00:12:00,360 us, the reader, as if by chance, or as luck would have it. 172 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:04,200 But Christian, you know there's no such thing as luck. 173 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,120 There is, however, such a thing as grace. 174 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:12,080 The very thing that Ruth went looking for. 175 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:16,960 Someone we see behind the scenes, is directing Ruth's 176 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:21,760 steps. Remember, Ruth does not yet know 177 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:26,960 who Boaz is, but we do. Ruth does not yet see the 178 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,480 sovereign plan of the Lord at work, but the author is telling 179 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:34,200 us to see it. The author is letting us in on 180 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:39,000 the secret, the subtle Providence of God working for 181 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:43,280 her good. Perhaps you've said or wondered, 182 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:49,200 maybe even this week, but I don't see God at work in my 183 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,800 life. Friends, God does not just work 184 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,760 9:00 to 5:00. Perhaps you've said or thought, 185 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,800 but I don't sense that he's doing anything. 186 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,200 Friends, God does most of his important work behind the 187 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:12,480 scenes, hidden from human eyes. There's a story in First Kings 188 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:19,200 22 where King Ahab disguises himself in battle because God's 189 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,800 foretold to him that he's going to die in battle. 190 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,960 He thinks, well, if I wear disguise, a little costume, a 191 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:30,160 mask, maybe I can hide from God's providential hand. 192 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:35,440 But the story goes that a man at random pulls a bow, shoots an 193 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:39,880 arrow and hits him right between the armor and he dies. 194 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:45,960 What are the odds nothing random happens in life? 195 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,880 Years ago I was visiting a friend's church in Fayetteville, 196 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:55,080 AR and you would not believe who just happened to be saving me a 197 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,680 seat. Hannah Abraham. 198 00:13:57,680 --> 00:14:01,800 Back then she was Hannah Holden. It just happened that she was 199 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:06,720 the one saving my seat. We were reunited after a year or 200 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:08,920 so apart. You know, if you've been a 201 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:14,800 Christian long enough, you can look back and know God often 202 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:20,680 works in mysterious ways that we couldn't imagine or fathom at 203 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,600 the time. It takes time. 204 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,520 Sometimes we will only learn what God was doing in eternity. 205 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:33,720 That's why we're called to walk by faith. faith in God believes 206 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:39,320 He's working when we cannot see that He is working. faith in God 207 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:43,280 believes that nothing just happens. 208 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:48,400 Faith in God trusts that God is at work in ways that were 209 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,800 completely oblivious to and in ways that we couldn't even 210 00:14:52,800 --> 00:15:00,280 comprehend if He told us. faith in God takes risks, like Ruth, 211 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,400 who was taking a risk to find some favor. 212 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,560 In verses 4 to 17. Ruth finds what she's looking 213 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,080 for. Scene 2. 214 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:21,920 Finding kindness, verses 4 to 17, this is the day where 215 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,880 something wonderful happens to Ruth. 216 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:29,040 She finds favor. She's showered with kindness. 217 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,680 This is the day that changes everything for Ruth. 218 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,480 And look who it all begins with in verse 4. 219 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,280 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. 220 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,080 And he said to the reapers, the Lord be with you. 221 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:45,720 And they answered, the Lord bless you. 222 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:51,000 Don't miss the surprise the author wants us to feel by the 223 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,880 word. Behold, see, look who turns up. 224 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,960 It's Boaz from Bethlehem with a blessing. 225 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,240 Notice how Boaz treats his employees. 226 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,680 He blesses them and they return the blessing. 227 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,720 This is ordinary godliness in days of godlessness. 228 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:14,040 This is the time of the judges. But there is at least one 229 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:18,760 community that's walking by faith with the Lord. 2 230 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,240 conversations following verses 5 to 13. 231 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,800 In the first conversation, Boaz asked the man in charge of the 232 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,520 reapers. Whose young woman is this? 233 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,520 That's a question that reveals character. 234 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:38,680 Boaz cares. He's the kind of man who is 235 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,760 kind. He's concerned for the welfare 236 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,440 of a stranger. It's also a question that 237 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,960 reveals Ruth's condition. Whose young woman is this? 238 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:53,400 Well, what's the answer? No one's. 239 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:56,880 She has no husband. She has no father. 240 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,600 She has no one to care for her. She is known to protect her. 241 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,880 In fact, she's the one responsible to protect and 242 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:08,520 provide for her mother-in-law for Naomi and the head reapers. 243 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,119 Answer also reveals Ruth's character. 244 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:15,280 Notice what he says. She humbly requested to glean 245 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:20,680 after the reapers and she's been hard at work since working from 246 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:26,040 early morning until now. Then in the next conversation, 247 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,400 Boaz talks directly with Ruth. Verse 8. 248 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,640 He respects Ruth by calling her my daughter. 249 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,960 Boaz is older, it seems, than Ruth. 250 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:38,760 There's a bunch of young men there. 251 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:43,760 He's one of the older men. In verse 9, he protects Ruth by 252 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,600 urging her to stay in his field and charging the men not to 253 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,440 bother her. In verse 9, he also provides for 254 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:51,920 Ruth with plenty of water to drink. 255 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:57,120 All of this is a kindness because Boaz goes above and 256 00:17:57,120 --> 00:18:03,280 beyond the letter of the law. He is by law required to let her 257 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,920 glean, but he is not required to do everything else that he does 258 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,560 for her. This is remarkable generosity 259 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:15,120 and care. This is a sign that Ruth has 260 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:22,640 found favor, such favor that in verse 10 she falls on her face. 261 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:28,880 She asks why? Why have I found favor in your 262 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,280 eyes? That you should take notice of 263 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:38,200 me, since I am a foreigner? Do you know what it's like to be 264 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:42,680 a foreigner in a strange land? Ruth is a Moabite. 265 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,800 The author will not let us forget that either. 266 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,960 Look how many times he repeats it. 267 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,520 Three times. Verse one, Verse 5, Verse 21. 268 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,440 She underscores it here. I am a foreigner. 269 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,640 Moab was an enemy of Israel. Just imagine how Ruth could have 270 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:04,240 fared in the fields in the days when the judges ruled. 271 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:09,480 What could have become of Ruth? Years ago, Han and I were 272 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:14,240 grabbing Chai at Uncle T in Dubai Little Chai shop. 273 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,640 They had a lot of Indian snacks. We were there with our housemate 274 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,760 Chichi, who was from Nigeria. And there on the cash register, 275 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:29,120 there was a sign hiring young Filipino or Indian cashiers. 276 00:19:30,120 --> 00:19:32,400 And I saw the sign. I'm standing there with my 277 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:36,120 Nigerian friend, and I'm like, seriously? 278 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,640 So when I asked the cashier, we start talking, I said, so you're 279 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,920 saying that Chichi here could not apply for a job here? 280 00:19:43,120 --> 00:19:47,200 And he just smiles. Yeah, it's exactly what we're 281 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,320 saying. You know, imagine how that would 282 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,840 go in the United States. Discrimination written in the 283 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:54,520 laws of the land. That was fine. 284 00:19:54,520 --> 00:20:00,520 You could do that there, you know, for Ruth, who's holding 285 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:02,640 this Moabite passport in Bethlehem. 286 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:04,360 Sure, there's the laws of the land. 287 00:20:04,360 --> 00:20:07,560 There are provisions for foreigners, but it's the days of 288 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,840 the judges. Not everyone's following the law 289 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,400 of the land. And Ruth understood this. 290 00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:17,720 She understood that she did not deserve to be treated with this 291 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:20,280 kindness. She knew that this was not 292 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,360 normally how foreigners were treated. 293 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:27,360 And so she was amazed. She was amazed by Grace. 294 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,920 Now look at how Boaz responds in verse 11. 295 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:38,280 He responds to Ruth's question by recounting Ruth's godliness, 296 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:39,760 which he'd heard through the Grapevine. 297 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,920 Verse 11. All that you have done for your 298 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:48,320 mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told 299 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,320 to me. And how you left your father and 300 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,840 your mother and your native land and came to a people that did, 301 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:59,400 you did not know before, wrote Boaz. 302 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:03,480 Excuse me? Boaz recounts Ruth's actions. 303 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:06,800 It's as if she's like Abraham back in Genesis 12. 304 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,840 She's left it all behind. She's left behind her homeland, 305 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,840 left behind her Gods left behind her people, left behind her 306 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:17,880 father's household. She's left it all for the 307 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,240 promised land. It is her works that Boaz points 308 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,440 to which reveals who her faith is. 309 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:30,000 In Boaz goes on verse 12, the Lord repay you for what you have 310 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:35,440 done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord the God of 311 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:40,760 Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. 312 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:48,240 Ruth left it all behind, not just for the land, not just for 313 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:53,640 Naomi, but for the Lord. She's taken refuge under the 314 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:59,040 wings of the God of Israel. Now think back just to Matthew 315 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,120 6, which was read in the earlier in the service. 316 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:03,400 Birds. Look at the birds. 317 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,720 What do they teach us? Well, one, they teach us that as 318 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:12,280 God provides for them, which He does every day, He sustains 319 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,200 their life. He's going to provide for us. 320 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:17,120 That's one thing we're supposed to learn from birds. 321 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,680 There's apparently a second thing that Boaz points out, 322 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:27,040 which is that as a mother hen protects her little young by 323 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:32,000 snuggling them up close, keeping them tight and protects them, 324 00:22:32,360 --> 00:22:38,320 we're supposed to understand that God loves and cares and 325 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,600 protects for and provides for his people. 326 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,160 That's the picture. It's a beautiful picture, a 327 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,760 mother hen hiding her young under her wings. 328 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:53,000 A mother hen is a picture of the Lord as a protector, A refuge, a 329 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,880 shield for his people. The baby bird hiding is a 330 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,120 picture of finding protection, taking refuge. 331 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,400 It's a picture of finding safety and security. 332 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,160 In describing Israel's deliverance from Egypt, the Lord 333 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:13,160 said in Exodus 19, I bore you on eagle's wings and brought you to 334 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:16,840 myself. Israel, you could say sword out 335 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,640 of slavery in Egypt on eagle's wings. 336 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,800 And later, as we read in Psalm 91, the writer uses the same 337 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:25,520 picture of the Lord protecting his people. 338 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:30,320 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you 339 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:35,840 will find refuge. In Psalm 63 seven, Ruth's great 340 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:41,520 grandson, King David says of the Lord in the shadow of your wings 341 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:48,680 I will sing for joy. God is a refuge for his people 342 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:53,520 by faith. Ruth risked it all for the God 343 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:58,960 of Israel and Boaz prays that the Lord, the God of Israel, her 344 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:03,760 refuge would repay her and reward her abundantly. 345 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:07,000 Those words bring comfort to Ruth. 346 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:13,080 She says verse 13. I have found favor, my Lord, for 347 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:17,800 you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I 348 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,640 am not one of your servants. She's saying, I don't know you, 349 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,520 you don't know me, yet you're showing me such favor. 350 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,520 It's favor greater than she expected. 351 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:33,360 It's a great comfort to her, and yet there's more to come. 352 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:38,040 Look at verse 14. By the time lunch rolls around, 353 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,760 Boaz's generosity almost becomes comical. 354 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:45,600 He invites Ruth over for a meal. This is not a private date, but 355 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:49,320 it is a gesture of inclusion into the larger community. 356 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:54,320 She eats until she's satisfied She even has leftovers. 357 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:59,640 Then Boaz even tells the gleaners the Reapers to allow 358 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,040 Ruth to glean among the sheaves. Not after the Reapers. 359 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:07,520 And he tells them, pull out some of what you've gathered and 360 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,600 leave it out for her. I mean, this is ridiculous. 361 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:15,680 Hey, Reapers, take some of the big bundles, pull some stocks 362 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,120 out and leave it for Ruth. You can almost imagine these 363 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:20,040 young men. Hey, Ruth, over here. 364 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,400 Left some for you over here. Hey, over here. 365 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:23,960 There's some more over here for you. 366 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:29,760 It's abundant kindness. It's extravagant generosity. 367 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:36,480 So much so that by the evening, Ruth had gleaned an EFA of 368 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,720 barley. Now that might not strike you. 369 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:43,520 It did not strike me immediately because I did not know what an 370 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:47,160 EFA of barley was. It's about 5 gallons of barley. 371 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:52,720 It's about 30 lbs of barley. It's a lot of barley. 372 00:25:53,120 --> 00:25:56,800 It's enough to make about 50 small loaves of bread. 373 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:02,240 Meaning, Ruth is going home, back to the city of Bethlehem 374 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,240 full. She's just eaten a meal. 375 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:10,400 She's satisfied with leftovers and enough barley to make bread 376 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,920 for a couple weeks. She was seeking favor, and she 377 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:20,920 found it abundantly unceasing. Favor in Boaz. 378 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,520 Believer. Does Boaz remind you of anyone? 379 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:34,360 In Boaz we get a taste, a little picture of the kindness of Jesus 380 00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:37,400 Christ. Jesus came to bless us. 381 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:41,560 If you've believed in Jesus, you have every spiritual blessing in 382 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,800 the heavenly places. He came to give us grace. 383 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,680 If you've believed in Jesus, you don't get what you deserve. 384 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:50,720 You get what you could never earn. 385 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:55,200 Marvelous grace. Jesus came to protect us and to 386 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,800 provide for us. If you've trusted in Jesus, he's 387 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:03,280 your advocate before the Father. He himself is your refuge from 388 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,000 God's wrath. For he died on the cross and 389 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:10,480 rose again, and all who are destitute and downcast are 390 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:15,280 invited to take refuge under his wings. 391 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:19,960 Sinners do not deserve this lavish generosity. 392 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:24,840 We deserve death and hell and eternal judgement. 393 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,440 Sinners could never earn this love. 394 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,560 We can only receive it with the empty hands of faith. 395 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:37,720 Faith that makes us fall on our face and marvel at Christ's 396 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:39,160 mercy. Friend, if you're not a 397 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:43,360 Christian, follow in Ruse footsteps. 398 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:47,760 Turn from your sins, count the cost, forsake the world. 399 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,040 Jesus himself offers you living water. 400 00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:54,320 If you believe in Him, He says you'll never thirst again. 401 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,040 He offers you in Himself eternal life. 402 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:00,520 If you've trusted in Him, you have a seat at His table 403 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:04,440 forever. Jesus offers you Himself, no 404 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:08,480 matter where you're from. The blessing of Abraham that was 405 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,880 promised to bless all the nations comes to you through the 406 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:19,720 blood of Jesus Christ who makes Gentiles like U.S., citizens of 407 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:24,320 heaven like Ruth, Brothers and sisters. 408 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:28,840 Ruth is a model of receiving grace. 409 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:35,000 Boaz is a model of giving grace. Their character reflect 410 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,280 reflected beautifully the Lord that we serve. 411 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:41,680 Here's a couple things we can learn from Boaz and Ruth. 412 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:46,880 Two things. One, from Boaz and Ruth we can 413 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:50,720 learn how we should love God and love our neighbor. 414 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,560 Loving God in the Scriptures looks like loving our neighbor. 415 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:01,040 When we've grasped the immensity of God's grace to us in Christ, 416 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,960 that grace will overflow in our kindness to others. 417 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:06,160 Or you could put it the other way. 418 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:11,840 Our generosity actually reveals our grasp of God's lavish 419 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:16,720 generosity to us. Like the days of Judges, we live 420 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,760 in days of moral and spiritual decline. 421 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,080 We live in a world where everyone does what's right in 422 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:26,160 their own eyes, a world where the vulnerable and the desperate 423 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:31,040 are in need of favor from God's new covenant people, the church. 424 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:35,800 And Christ gathers up the destitute and the vulnerable 425 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:40,280 who've taken refuge in him. And he intends for his body, the 426 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:45,760 church, to be the place where they are protected from harm and 427 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:48,760 provided for. Which is why in the New 428 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:52,600 Testament, we're commanded as Christians to care for the 429 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:56,960 orphans and widows in our midst. It's why the very first church, 430 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,680 the first church in Jerusalem, it was said, Luke says, that 431 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:03,360 there was not a needy person among them. 432 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:08,320 Can you imagine the generosity? It's why Paul commands us 433 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:12,720 contribute to the needs of the Saints and seek to show 434 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:16,600 hospitality. Brothers and sisters, when you 435 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:21,800 open up your home, when you share a meal, when you share the 436 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,440 goods that God's given you with your brothers and sisters in 437 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:30,760 need, you reflect beautifully the generosity of our good God. 438 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:35,480 When you give to the Benevolence Fund, which is for those in need 439 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:40,800 in the church, you reflect the beauty of the generosity of God. 440 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:47,720 When you just sign up for a meal train, when you bear the burdens 441 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:51,400 of your brothers and sisters in this church, you're revealing 442 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:57,480 that you do believe that God is generous and kind and gracious 443 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,920 to His people. The second thing, from Boaz and 444 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:09,000 Ruth, we also see a pattern of godly masculinity and godly 445 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:12,880 femininity. 2 questions. What is a man? 446 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,440 What is a woman? Friends, these are not trick 447 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:19,840 questions. The world treats them like that, 448 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,280 though. The world fills our imaginations 449 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:24,840 with what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman. 450 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:28,760 The world throws those categories into a blender, chops 451 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:32,000 them up, and then offers them back to us, which brings chaos 452 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:37,440 and confusion and heartache. There needs to be clarity when 453 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:40,280 we think about what it needs means to be a man and what it 454 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:43,120 means to be a woman. And Boaz and Ruth can offer us 455 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:45,800 that. Men look to Boaz as a model of 456 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:48,840 manhood. He cares and respects. 457 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:55,360 He protects and provides. Boaz immediately notices Ruth in 458 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,280 need. Brothers, be on the lookout for 459 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:01,040 those in the church who are struggling in need of help. 460 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,160 Boaz respectfully addresses Ruth. 461 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:08,440 Brothers, honor the women in the church by how you speak to them. 462 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,480 Boaz goes out of his way to offer protection and prevention. 463 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:16,720 Brothers, use the strength God's given you to help the weak and 464 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:21,480 the vulnerable and the helpless. Boaz is the exact opposite of a 465 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:25,040 domineering man who crushes those under his authority. 466 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:30,400 He is the exact opposite of a passive man who exasperates 467 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:33,880 those under his authority. He is the kind of man that you 468 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:39,760 can flourish under and grow, a man you should aspire to be. 469 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:44,800 Ladies look to Ruth as a model of womanhood. 470 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:48,280 She is hard working, humble and deferential. 471 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:52,320 See her in the field, working hard all morning except for a 472 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,800 short rest. See her humbly bowing down to 473 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:59,480 Boaz, amazed at his kindness. See her deferential demeanor as 474 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:03,680 she puts herself in dependence upon the overseers of the field 475 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:08,800 who allow her to work. See her godliness in action, for 476 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:14,560 everyone in Bethlehem knew that the Ruth of Moabite belonged to 477 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:18,160 the God of Israel. Everyone was talking about it. 478 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:24,040 Ladies, let your hard work and your humble posture reveal your 479 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:29,200 heavenly citizenship. Brothers and sisters, character 480 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:33,040 like this. It is not formed in a moment. 481 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:40,560 It's cultivated over a lifetime of quiet and often unseen 482 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:47,160 obedience to God. It takes an iceberg hundreds of 483 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:54,360 years to form, and 80 to 90% of that iceberg is submerged under 484 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,640 the water, invisible to your eyes. 485 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:01,720 It's floating beneath the surface, those years of 486 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:07,400 formation. Your character is cultivated day 487 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:13,600 by day, decade over decade. What kind of man, what kind of 488 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:16,760 woman? Are you brothers and sisters 489 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:21,520 becoming friend? Are you seeking favor today? 490 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,159 Are you searching for some grace? 491 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:28,600 Are you hoping for a fresh start? 492 00:34:29,159 --> 00:34:33,280 The church is to be the place where people can have a fresh 493 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:37,600 start and a new beginning, a place where people can learn to 494 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:42,520 see God rightly and love one another generously. 495 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:47,159 Friends turn with me to the final scene of chapter 2, Scene 496 00:34:47,159 --> 00:34:51,760 3, Seeing Providence. Ruth returns from the field of 497 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:58,080 the city, from Boaz to Naomi. She returns with a bag of barley 498 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,960 and with leftovers. It's so much barley that when 499 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:07,520 Ruth sees it, she can tell that Ruth's found favor and she wants 500 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:11,480 to know the source. She asked verse 19, Where did 501 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:14,360 you glean today and where have you worked? 502 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:17,520 Blessed be the man who took notice of you. 503 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:21,880 So Ruth tells her mother-in-law. And I love how the author leaves 504 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:25,880 us in suspense. The man's name with whom I work 505 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:29,680 today is Boaz. Boaz. 506 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:34,000 Now remember, Ruth does not yet know the significance of Boaz. 507 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:38,640 Remember that too. Naomi, back in chapter 1 ended 508 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:42,360 the chapter by lamenting to the Lord who she said brought her 509 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:48,840 back from to Bethlehem empty. But now listen to Naomi in verse 510 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:52,640 20. May he be blessed by the Lord, 511 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:57,080 whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead. 512 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:04,040 And Naomi adds, the man is a close relative of ours, one of 513 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:10,680 our redeemers. Naomi's lament turns to praise. 514 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:13,520 What brings this smile to her face? 515 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:18,480 What helps her see God's Providence, which is so subtle 516 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:22,320 at work? Well friends, it all started 517 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,480 with a bag of barley and some leftovers. 518 00:36:26,720 --> 00:36:32,400 Seriously, leftovers. I wonder here who loves 519 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:35,640 leftovers? Just one person. 520 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:38,720 I'd love to meet you at the back door afterwards and shake your 521 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:42,160 hand. Kids, what's your response when 522 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:46,240 your parents say for dinner we're having leftovers? 523 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:50,600 Usually not very good. You usually don't have a happy 524 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:52,320 heart. That was me growing up as a kid, 525 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,960 I must confess, I did not have a happy heart when my mom said 526 00:36:55,960 --> 00:36:58,720 we're having leftovers. You can try to get creative with 527 00:36:58,720 --> 00:37:02,680 leftovers, you know, combine them, put them in a casserole, 528 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:04,840 you know, put them in a tortilla or tacos. 529 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,040 They're the same thing. They're still leftovers. 530 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:13,240 But today as an adult, I have learned to live with leftovers. 531 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:18,480 Naomi, on the other hand, learn to love leftovers. 532 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:23,440 Leftovers. They were an edible expression 533 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:25,960 of the kindness of God towards her. 534 00:37:26,240 --> 00:37:31,720 She who claimed a return from Moab empty was filled by the 535 00:37:31,720 --> 00:37:36,960 generosity of Boaz. She who did not realize that God 536 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:42,000 was working behind the scenes, tasted the generosity of God in 537 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:45,200 a meal. But Boaz provision for Ruth and 538 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:50,160 Naomi was more than a meal. It would even last longer than a 539 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:52,480 few weeks worth of barley in her bag. 540 00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:59,120 Look at verse 21, Ruth tells Naomi, Besides, he said to me, 541 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:04,200 you shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all 542 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:09,000 my harvest, all the harvest they're going to be provided 543 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,560 for. And Naomi responds, It is good, 544 00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:15,440 my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in 545 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:17,800 another field you'd be assaulted. 546 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:24,720 Do you see the Lord's provision? Do you see his protection in 547 00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:27,720 Boaz? Not all is well in Israel. 548 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:29,640 These are the days of the judges. 549 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:33,560 In another field, Ruth could be assaulted and exploited. 550 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:40,400 But not all of Israel is unwell. Boaz will protect her. 551 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:48,600 Boaz will provide for her. Ruth was seeking favor, and in a 552 00:38:48,600 --> 00:38:55,240 single day, she and Naomi find generosity that will sustain 553 00:38:55,240 --> 00:39:01,440 them for months. How can we, like Naomi, learn to 554 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:08,800 see God's subtle Providence. Learn to count your blessings, 555 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:13,560 even little things like leftovers, and then trace them 556 00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:17,440 back to their source. Learn to be patient in your 557 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:24,520 trials, trusting that though you cannot see it, God is at work. 558 00:39:24,920 --> 00:39:32,720 Learn to be surprised, knowing that God is up to something good 559 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:36,320 for you. Friends, God is so gracious with 560 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,600 his gifts. He's not stingy. 561 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:44,160 He fed his people in the wilderness until they wanted no 562 00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:48,120 more. He fed Ruth and Naomi until they 563 00:39:48,120 --> 00:39:52,080 were satisfied. He fed the 5000 in the New 564 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:56,520 Testament such that there were 12 baskets of leftovers. 565 00:39:56,680 --> 00:40:02,800 He is able to do for you far more abundantly than all that 566 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:06,560 you ask or can even imagine. Let's pray. 567 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:23,440 Father, you are a kind, a gracious, A generous God. 568 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:29,760 We pray for us that we learn to spot your subtle Providence in 569 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:35,760 our lives, knowing that you are working all things for our good. 570 00:40:36,360 --> 00:40:39,920 Lord, help us take refuge in you today. 571 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:42,000 We pray in Jesus name, Amen.