RUTH 2:1-3
FORTUNATE FOREIGNER FINDS
FUTURE FULFILLMENT
I. FAMILY: RUTH 2:1
A. Fortune.
B. Famous.
C. Forlorn.
II. FOREIGNER: RUTH 2:2
A. Fervor.
B. Fearless.
C. Favor.
III. FORTUITOUS: RUTH 2:3
A. Finding.
B. Foreordained.
C. Future.
INTRODUCTION: Once settled in Bethlehem, the two women, Naomi and Ruth, have to support themselves in some manner. It is interesting to look at these three verses for things not stated. Ruth-obviously the younger, picks up the slack of making a living for the two while Naomi must be too old to venture forth and seek a living. Time has done its duty to these two women and the dire need of earning a living now falls upon the only one who can be gainfully employed: Ruth.
We can also infer in these verses that there must not have been any type of social support for people in the situation in which these two women now exist. One other thing we can infer is that these women must be living in some type of an enclosure, a house or maybe even a tent, and the semblance of a home structured living is now taking shape. Perhaps the women were recipients of others’ generosity upon their arrival, but now it was time to fend for themselves. These things are not stated in the text but they do set the stage for that which is about to unfold.
There might be one more implied note from these verses and that is Ruth has been able to learn the Jewish language sufficiently to feel confident enough to seek work in Bethlehem. While in Moab, she did learn much of the Jewish language from Naomi and her in-laws, but now this aspect of vocalization takes on a more serious tone-life and death-bread winning work or starvation. With all of these things, Ruth rises to the situation and begins her role of breadwinner for the two. Unbeknown to her and to Naomi is the fact that this FORTUNATE FOREIGNER FINDS her FUTURE FULFILLMENT when she goes to work earning a living.
In these three verses, I see where the FAMILY of Naomi, Boaz in particular, enters the picture for the betterment of all concerned. I also note the FOREIGNER, Ruth of Moab, who makes an ideal daughter-in-law and begins to work in a man’s field, not realizing that God directed her to work in this particular field. Then, I see how FORTUITOUS Ruth’s work was for all of the personages in these verses. Naomi might have thought differently, but God was at work behind the scenes in her life as well as in the lives of Ruth and Boaz. May we remember that God is still at work in the lives of those who love and serve Him-even when it looks differently.
I. FAMILY: The first thing I note about this verse is Boaz. He is introduced to us here for the first time, but it will not be the last. We are introduced to him because he will eventually play a critical role in the lives of Ruth, Naomi, King David and then Christ, Himself.
As I study the Scriptures, I cannot help but notice that this man is a Man of Fortune. We get this picture of him as the book unfolds, and now we see where he owns a field where he has to hire workers and where eventually Ruth comes to work.
Not only is this man a man of means, but also as being such, he is a Famous man. Usually fortune brings fame and notoriety and in this instance-it is no different. He is well known in the community as we see later in the book of Ruth, and for now, he is well known because he is mentioned as being related to Naomi’s former husband. He is well known.
Lastly, I see where this Famous man of Fortune was Forlorn-he was not married. He had wealth and fame, but he had no family. Regardless of the money and the stature he enjoyed in this community, he had to go home alone every night and he had no one to carry on his name. Money does not buy everything.
Thus, we come to the end of the first verse of chapter two where we meet Boaz for the first time. He was rich, famous and alone. The latter part of his life was due to undergo a transformation very quickly as we look at verse two in this same chapter.
II. FOREIGNER: The next thing I notice concerning these verses is that it highlights a Moabite who is now living in Israel.
Regarding Ruth, I have to say that this foreign woman has a great Fervor for work and for helping the family.
Evidently, Naomi is now at the age where she cannot work as she used to do and if there is going to be food on the table it is up to Ruth to supply the means to gain the food. From what I read in the Bible, Ruth seemed to be anxious to work and do her part to help. She serves as a role model for all members of a family who need each other to make a living for the unit. She was ready and willing to venture forth to try to seek work. She was not slack; she seemed to relish the task of helping Naomi and herself. She had great Fervor for work.
Not only was she anxious and ready to go to work, she seemed to be Fearless. Remember, she was the stranger in Israel and she was a woman. Yet, she braved all odds and set her mind to overcome all obstacles in order to make a living for herself and her mother-in-law. I cannot help but think that she must have had some trepidation about seeking employment, yet this did not deter her. She bravely faced the world and decided that it was up to her-regardless of what she might face-to make a living. We need more Ruths in our society and in our churches. She was Fearless in the face of some great obstacles. We need Christians to be fearless now in the face of encroaching secularism and light living in our churches. We need Fearless people to bravely stand and say, “Thus saith the Lord…”
Then, I see where her Fervor and Fearlessness gained Favor with Naomi. What a woman of sterling qualities as this Ruth seemed to be! She was a boon to Naomi. How could Naomi say no to such a determined woman, as was this Ruth? Naomi had to be proud of her, knowing what could take place out in the fields. Naomi gave Ruth her Favor and told her to go, knowing that Ruth would not let evil talk and leering males seduce her to do wrong. Naomi knew that Ruth would be able to maintain her modesty regardless of where she was. We need to take a page from Naomi’s book and look around us. Can we be like Ruth? Can we raise our children in this world with such principles? Can we look at our Salvation in Christ with such a blessing? Can we earn the trust of our Savior when we go out into the world? Can He know that we will be true to Him and not compromise our standards and beliefs in Him for the tawdry appeal of this wicked world? Can He tell us to, “Go” knowing that we will be true to Him when we rub elbows with the world? Naomi knew that Ruth would go and return safely, keeping her modesty and her integrity and therefore without reserve, Naomi granted Ruth her Favor. We need more Naomis and Ruths in our churches.
III. FORTUITOUS: God does nothing by mistake. He makes His will to be done either by those who want to do it or by others who may not know that, they are working out God’s plan. In this instance with Ruth, she had no idea that what she was doing was doing God’s will. Later, she saw what that plan was and rejoiced, but at the time, she did not know of it.
Here I see that Ruth was very “fortunate” to find and work in Boaz’s field. Why did she choose this one field? Was she rejected by other employers who had sufficient working people to do the job at hand? Yet she went out to work and her Finding the right field in which to work was more than just plain luck-it was God directing all events for her and to give His Son a human lineage that was traceable all the way back to Abraham. We might think that God is not aware of the events in our lives, but nothing catches Him off guard.
Next, I notice that God Foreordained this whole episode. The whole chain of events from Naomi going into Moab and then returning as she did was all overshadowed by God and as sure as He was kind enough to let Naomi go into Moab, He was kind enough to take home to him her husband and her two sons. All of these events were under the wise foreknowledge of a good God.
Finally, I see why this was so FORTUITOUS for Ruth. It was God’s way of preparing to give her Future happiness beyond her wildest dream: a rich husband and a son. This son would produce a son who would also father a future king of Israel, David, and who would give a human lineage to the Son of God.
Ruth’s nighttime was about to give way to a glorious sunrise and she was not aware of it until much later. God has a way of storing up His blessings and surprises for His people as the days unfold into years and into decades.
When Ruth left home that morning to go to find a job for her and Naomi, she had no idea of how the day would end. She went and did what she set out to do and along the way, God smiled on her and gave her more than just a job. He does things like this to those who publicly declare that He is their God.
