Special Blessings (The Story of Ruth)
Part 2: (HE’S ALL You Need)
Last week, when we ended the lesson, Ruth had made a decision to leave her family, the land where she grew up, and her paganism. She had made a decision to go with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and to place her trust in The GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, The GOD of Israel. She had no idea what it would be like, or where this decision would take her, but she stepped out on pure faith! That is what every believer must do. We must step out by faith and place our trust in The LORD JESUS CHRIST and follow where HE is leading. HIS ways are great than ours, and HE has a perfect plan for us. We shall never be led wrong as long as we trust and obey and stay at the feet of our Master.
Handout: Special Blessings (The Story of Ruth)
Part 2: HE’S All You Need
When we left the story last week, we read that Naomi and Ruth had arrived in Bethlehem, and it was the beginning of the barley harvest. The story now moves on and we will see how Ruth begins to grow in the knowledge of GOD, she will learn firsthand of HIS grace. She had made the decision to make HIM her GOD, but she didn’t know exactly what that meant yet, it was still new to her, she did not yet fully understand this life altering decision and how it would change her whole life, (for the better).
As you read, understand that in GOD’S Word these are literal stories of people who lived, but they are also types and shadows of what was to come. Every life, every story pointed to JESUS CHRIST THE GREAT REDEEMER! In this story, Ruth is a type and shadow of the believer, The Bride of CHRIST, The Church. Boaz, is a type and shadow of JESUS CHRIST.
To begin, I love that the Bible tells us that Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. The timing of GOD is impeccable. It meant that HE was providing for Naomi and Ruth. Ruth would be able to go glean in the fields for their food so that they could survive. GOD had made it a law hundreds of years before when the law was given.
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 and 19 “14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.”
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.”
GOD is our provider. Praise The LORD!
“The focus of the story now moves on as we watch in these two chapters the growth of a soul in the knowledge of God. Ruth arrived at Bethlehem still largely untaught about the way of life of the people of God. She had made her decision, and it had changed the whole direction of her life. But there was much she had to learn. She had to learn that, for her, the purposes of God all centered in the person of Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer. While she had already made the life-transforming decision for Christ, so to speak, she still knew nothing at all about the fullness of God’s plan of salvation. Thus, these next two chapters tell us how she came to know Boaz and how she came to yield herself unreservedly to him. All that Boaz was to Ruth, that—on a more spiritual, higher, and loftier plane—the Lord Jesus is to us. In chapter 2 we see her in his field; in chapter 3 we see her at his feet. It is the growth of a soul in the knowledge of God.
Ruth in the Field of Boaz (chap. 2) Boaz appears nine times in this chapter, for the life of the believer has a new center. Once everything centered around self, now it centers around the Redeemer.” (John Phillips, Exploring The Old Testament)
Ruth stepped out by faith and accepted The GOD of Israel and went to a land she knew nothing about. She was a widow, that meant that she was in extreme poverty, she was a childless widow, she had no one to care for her. She had no security or protection and in those days, the Bible over and over about people exploiting widows and treating them unfairly or taking advantage of them. GOD warned over and over not to mistreat widows and orphans and foreigners.
Exodus 22:21-24 “Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.”
Still some disobeyed GOD’S law and widows were exploited and oppressed at times. They were in need of a Kinsman Redeemer who could and would step up and take responsibility for them and their well-being.
Ruth 2:1-7 “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. 4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.”
Ruth was not only a widow, but also a foreigner in the land and she had stepped out by faith and she did not know the customs or laws yet, but she was willing to make herself useful and go and do whatever her mother-in-law told her to do. It is in her submission that she was stepping in line with GOD’S plan for her life and she was stepping into her destiny!
When new believers in CHRIST begin, they may not realize what all it entails just yet, but they go and day by day they learn and it is the job of those who have been in the faith for longer to mentor and to help them to learn. This is exactly what Naomi was doing. She was being a mentor to Ruth and showing her what she needed to do. They were working together in obedience to The LORD. This is exactly how it should be. Without Naomi’s willingness to mentor and teach, or without Ruth’s willingness to submit and obey, they would have gotten in the way of GOD’S amazing plan for them.
By Divine appointment, Ruth began to work in a field that belonged to Boaz, not realizing at the time that he was a potential kinsman redeemer, and by divine grace and appointment Boaz came and noticed her there and he began to ask questions about who she was.
Now Ruth was a Moabite. They were a pagan people. A wicked people and just the name alone was shameful. The name Moab means “of my father.” In Genesis 19:37 we find out why. Remember when Lot was rescued by the angel when GOD destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? The Bible says that Lot and his two daughters escaped but then later in a cave, his two daughters did a wicked thing. They got their father, Lot drunk and they both had children by him. That is where the Moabite people came from. Naomi’s sons had married these Moabite women and they were not supposed to do that. However, Ruth was ready to leave that life of unbelief and paganism behind, she was ready to leave behind that wicked legacy and to throw herself at the mercy of Almighty GOD and praise HIM in HIS Amazing Mercy and Grace HE reached out HIS hand to her!
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of The LORD, shall be saved.”
That in itself is an amazing lesson. Remember when we began I told you that this story in the Bible is literal but also a type and a shadow to JESUS CHRIST our Kinsman Redeemer? This goes to show that it does not matter who you are, where you came from, no matter what sin you have done, or what kind of family you came from, no matter what abuse, or legacy you were born into, you can leave it all behind and start again through JESUS CHRIST! If you call out to GOD for mercy through JESUS CHRIST…HE WILL NOT TURN YOU AWAY! I don’t care who you are or what you have done…Male, female, young, old, large, small, no matter of your skin color, no matter your race, JESUS came to seek and to save All!
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Don’t allow the evil one to make you think that GOD doesn’t want you or that HE won’t save you! The Bible says that whosoever will! (John 3:16)
John 3:16 “For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only Begotten SON that whosever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from, HIS hand is mighty to save and if you seek HIM by faith with all your heart…HE will save you! JESUS promised this in John 6.
John 6:37 “37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
(PRAISE THE LORD, Bless HIS HOLY Name…JESUS!)
Beloved, won’t you come to HIM today if you haven’t already? HE will love you the way no one ever has or ever could. J
Boaz by grace has noticed Ruth and has asked about her…let’s read on.
Ruth 2:8-9 “8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.”
Oh pardon me…this makes me want to jump up and down, clapping my hands and praise The LORD! Let’s break these verses down shall we?
Boaz said to Ruth…Hearest thou not, my daughter? He called her daughter…he went on…Go not glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.
Do you know what that is?!!! That is Separation!
1. Separation- Here is what The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 “16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Come out from among the world…you are mine! Praise The LORD. Boaz, a type of JESUS CHRIST.
Boaz said to Ruth: Abide here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: That’s Sanctification! He did not want her to go into another’s field, she was special, set apart, she was to remain there in his own field where he could protect and provide for her. The same goes for we who are in CHRIST JESUS, He wants us to abide in HIM alone!
2. Sanctification – Set apart…
JESUS says in John 15 for us to Abide in HIM! We are in the world but not of it any longer!
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Psalm 4:3 “But know that The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for HIMSELF:”
Next Boaz said to Ruth: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? Praise The LORD that is Security! He would protect her and make sure that she had everything she needed if she would abide in his field.
3. Security- Protection
Matthew 28:18-20 “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”
Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
JESUS said in Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by CHRIST JESUS.”
We are secure in CHRIST JESUS! HE is our confidence and our security!
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
Lastly Boaz said to Ruth: “when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.” (Ruth 2:9)
4. That is Satisfaction! Boaz had all that she needed…she didn’t have to go elsewhere to be satisfied and that is exactly what JESUS CHRIST is to us! We only need go to HIM for everything we need…HE IS EVERYTHING!
JESUS Said in John 4:14 “4 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”’
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Boaz by divine grace had compassion and favor on this gentile widow in a foreign land and JESUS CHRIST has shown great compassion and favor to us that HE would come to us, taking notice of us in our sinful condition, unable to provide for, protect, and save ourselves. He has stepped up and said by pure grace, I will be responsible for you, I will redeem you and take care of you. I will Separate you out from the world, I will Sanctify you, I will give you Security and I will Satisfy you…I will be yours and you will be mine! What love!
I am so thankful that The KING OF KINGS and the LORD OF LORDS, the Master of all noticed me and called me out by Grace! What an honor. There is no greater honor in all of life than to be HIS! Have you been called? Have you stepped out by faith to seek HIS face? Let HIM show you mercy as only HE can…Let HIM love you like no other can. HE’S ALL You Need. J
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Dear Heavenly Father…
Thank You for loving me, thank You for Your measureless Divine Mercy and Grace. Thank You JESUS for dying for my sins, for forgiving me and redeeming me when I could not save myself. Lord, I ask that You send Your Holy Spirit to the hearts of those who have not yet believed that they may belief and be saved. I ask that You encourage those who are sad, sick, and oppressed. Help them to be free in You, because You came that we could be free. Thank You for all that You do for me. I love You LORD, use me for Your Glory. In JESUS name I pray. Amen.
~*cindygirl*~
November 13, 2022