There have been a couple times in my life (that I can recall at this time) that I didn’t know what to do at first. The first time was when my brother called me to tell me he had cancer, and the second time was when I got the call that my mom had a major heart attack. Both calls were serious, humbling, and surprising. Both my brother’s cancer and my mom’s heart attack were life threatening. There was nothing I could do to adjust something, or work harder…longer, or make something happen that would make everything better. It was out of my hands. Those kinds of times eventually help you find clearer perspective in your relationships (familial and Divine).
Do you remember a time when you just didn’t know what to do? Perhaps that’s how you feel right now, or maybe that’s how you have felt recently. You ask friends for direction…you come up with your own ideas and a plan of action – but you seem to still lack peace. What do you do? Naomi and Ruth are in one of those places of life – and they turn to the law of God for their next step! Praise God! We see the evidence of renewed faith in God and a willingness to follow His plan. What happens? Everything isn’t perfectly smooth on this path, but in the end God’s plan works just as He set it up to work. Poverty will turn to provision. Weakness will turn to strength. Discouragement will turn to encouragement…all because they return to the Lord’s way for their life!
The believer must depend on God’s leading…God’s Word… in the midst of good and hard times.
The Mighty Man
Ruth 2:1-2. Kinsman means relative. Boaz is related to Elimelech (Ruth 2:1, 3)…and not just relative, Boaz is wealthy and Naomi’s Kinsman Redeemer (Ruth 2:1). According to several laws in the Pentateuch, a male relative would fulfill the role of kinsman redeemer. This relative had the honor or responsibility to intervene on behalf of their relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer clarifies as one who delivers or rescues (Genesis 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9–25, 25:47–55).
The Gleaner
Charles Spurgeon told this story of his grandfather James and his faith in God. “He had a large family and a very small income, but he loved his Lord, and he would not have given up his preaching of the gospel for anything.” One day the cow on which the family relied for milk for the children suddenly died. James Spurgeon’s wife was greatly concerned, but he said, “God said He would provide, and I believe He could send us fifty cows if He pleased.”
On that same day, a group met in London—a group James Spurgeon did not know—that wanted to help meet the needs of poor pastors. They raised a large sum of money, and began sending it to different pastors in need to help their families. When they reached the end of the list, there were still five pounds left. One man suggested sending it to James Spurgeon. Another said, “No, let’s not send just five pounds. Let me add five more to go with it.” Others joined in, and the day after his cow died, James Spurgeon received twenty pounds in the mail!
You can trust God to keep His promises and provide for your needs. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19 (Source: The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 21, Charles Spurgeon)
Look at Ruth 2:3. “To glean” meant they were poor (Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22)
The Modern Day Reaper: cuts the grain, threshes the grain, and puts it in a sack – you get it all today. But back in the Bible times – you didn’t get it all, and so they could come through and pick up what was dropped or missed.
According to OT Law, God required his people to be generous to the stranger and to the poor…the stranger and the poor had to work, but they were given the opportunity to have their needs met. We could learn much in today’s society from this simple law of God for the strangers and poor – generosity and work ethic went together!!
Ruth is a Moabite stranger and poor…Naomi is poor…Ruth is following the Mosaic Law for help! Ruth is beginning to reveal a deeper relationship with the God of Israel. What kind of relationship with God are you revealing in the midst of your day to day life?
The Happenstance
“…and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz:” (Ruth 2:3)
This word “hap” means “happened to.” There was no arrow pointing to the field of Boaz. God hadn’t revealed it to her in a dream. Ruth didn’t do genealogy research and then sought out the one called Boaz. God used the circumstances to lead her. God leads people today through His Word, circumstances, and prayer.
We often want to see the “how-to” and the “why,” but God just wants us to trust Him and remain dependent on Him.
Ira Sankey was traveling on a steamer down the Delaware river when he was asked to sing. He led the group in singing “Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us.” When he finished, a man stepped from the shadows and asked, “Did you ever serve in the Union Army?” “Yes,” Sankey replied, “in the spring of 1860.”
“Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?”
“Yes,” Sankey replied.
“So did I, but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post, I thought to myself, ‘That fellow will never get away alive.’ I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to Heaven and began to sing. ‘Let him sing his song to the end,’ I said to myself, ‘I can shoot him afterwards. He’s my victim at all events, and my bullet cannot miss him.’
But the song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: ‘We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way.’ Those words stirred up many memories. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many times sung that song to me. When you had finished your song, it was impossible for me to take aim again. I thought, ‘The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.’ And my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side.”
God had protected Sankey in a great way just like He protects and leads all of His children. (Source: Liberating Ministry form the Success Syndrome, Kent and Barbara Hughes)
We cannot put our trust in special how-to books or human reasoning – we must squarely place our dependence in the Lord and allow Him to lead us.
7 Keys to Trusting God with Everything You’ve Got:
1. Proverbs 3:1 – Choose to Remember God’s Law
2. Proverbs 3:1, 3-4 – Choose to Obey God’s Law
3. Proverbs 3:5 – Don’t Trust Yourself
4. Proverbs 3:6 – Lift God Above All
5. Proverbs 3:7 – Find Wisdom in God
6. Proverbs 3:7 – Run from Sin
7. Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor God With What You Have