God’s Hand at Work
Ruth Chapter Two
I. Introduction
Someone has said that the book of Ruth begins with the death of a husband and ends with the birth of a baby. It is true that the book begins with sorrow and ends with joy!
What got Ruth from sorrow to joy? Last week, we saw Ruth’s commitment. She stayed with her mother in law Naomi even when there was no apparent benefit to her.
In chapter one the hand of God was at work in Ruth’s life but it was unseen and unrealized. God’s hand was guiding events in her life but she couldn’t know it at the time. However in chapter two it becomes obvious that this is a God thing. Things happen that are so “coincidental” that we must be convinced that God is up to something.
The key here is this: If you ever expect to move into the full realization of God’s plan for your life, you must continue to be faithful and to do what is right even when God’s hand is unseen. If you remain faithful when His hand is unseen, you will one day see His mighty hand at work in very visible ways!
II. The Providence of God
A. God’s law provided for the poor.
1. The law of the harvest
Lev 19:9-10
9’When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Deut 24:19-20
19 "When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
2. The Law of the Kinsmen Redeemer
Lev 25:47-55
47’Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, 48 after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself. 50 Thus he shall reckon with him who bought him: The price of his release shall be according to the number of years, from the year that he was sold to him until the Year of Jubilee; it shall be according to the time of a hired servant for him. 51 If there are still many years remaining, according to them he shall repay the price of his redemption from the money with which he was bought. 52 And if there remain but a few years until the Year of Jubilee, then he shall reckon with him, and according to his years he shall repay him the price of his redemption. 53 He shall be with him as a yearly hired servant, and he shall not rule with rigor over him in your sight. 54 And if he is not redeemed in these years, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee — he and his children with him.
Basically this means that Boaz could buy back the family property that had been lost in the time of poverty when they departed for Moab. The property would have been given up when they left. Also note that the wife of the deceased also went with the property.
B. God’s hand brought Ruth to Boaz- vs. 2-3
The NKJV says that “she happened to come” to Boaz’s field. This is one of those times when it looks like coincidence, but it is really the hand of God at work!
Don’t ignore coincidence!
C. God’s hand brought Boaz to Ruth- vs. 4-5
It was important to meet Boaz, because he was the kinsman redeemer for Ruth! Ruth is a type of the church and Boaz is a type of Jesus Christ!
God can bring you together with the one he has for you!
III. The Diligence of Ruth
A. She wanted to work- vs. 2
Latin Proverb-“Providence assists not the idle.”
B. She stayed where she belonged- vs. 8
C. She stood by Naomi-vs. 11
IV. The Re-emergence of Naomi
A. She recognized God’s hand at work-vs. 20
B. She began to praise God- vs. 20
C. She admonished Ruth- vs. 22
V. Conclusion
Boomer the dog lived for 18 years. He was part Chihuahua and part Pomeranian. His owner Gerald Harris used to brag about how Boomer obeyed every command to the hilt. To demonstrate this he told Boomer to sit and not move until told to move. Boomer took his sitting position and was in place when Gerald’s wife called him to the phone. He talked for sometime and then sat down to watch TV. A storm erupted outside with pouring rain. After the storm he went outside and there was Boomer, forgotten and drenched, but still obedient.
