The Truth About Ruth - Part 3: Planning Towards Destiny Series

Ruth Chapter 3

Happenstance? Coincidence? or Divine Providence?

Reviewing to the point where we are now we make certain observations and wonder if it all just happened!

Did it just happen that Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem?

Did it just happen that Ruth was determined to follow her?

Did it just happen that they returned at the time of the barley harvest?

Did it just happen that Ruth ended up in the field of Boaz?

Did it just happen that Boaz arrived the same day Ruth started gleaning in his field?

Did it just happen that Boaz noticed Ruth among all the others?

Did it just happen that Boaz happened to be a near kinsman?

All these "happenstances" would be nonexistent but for Ruth's determination to do the right thing in accompanying Naomi back to Bethlehem!

They would not have happened if Ruth was unwilling to step out into the unknown!

It would not have happened if Ruth was not a committed, dedicated individual who was willing to work!

Ruth did not set herself a goal of looking for an eligible man! She set herself to look after and care for a needy and desperate soul without thought to her own future, comfort or self satisfaction! But her first determined step to minister to Naomi lead her in the right direction to her destiny with the Messiah and if she incidentally caught the eye of an eligible man then Yahweh Himself threw a huge handful of purpose in her way!!!

Insignificant incidents and things usually have national and international results.

Rebecca just happened to be the one who appeared when Eleazar stopped by the well in his quest for Isaac's wife.

Pharaoh's daughter just happened to be going for a bath the same time Moses floated by in his weatherproof basket.

A little captive Israelite maid just happen to a slave in Naaman's household!

A slave boy named Joseph was sold by his brothers to Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt!

When God is involved things do not JUST HAPPEN!

The Bible says:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalms 37:23 KJV

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10 KJV

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

Our inaction or action can either destroy our brethren or build them up. Think back to Orpah. She was a good girl who loved Naomi. She was also ready to accompany Naomi to Bethlehem. When the choice was however laid out before her she chose comfort security and her own personal desires over what seemed like a dead-end, boring, unfruitful, end.

The difference between Orpah and Ruth was that Orpah was basically selfish in her choices while Ruth was unselfishly seeing a great need and an opportunity to make a difference in someone else's life rather than her own.

Orpah pursued her own future, Ruth made Naomi her future.

Orpah settled for creature comfort. Ruth attended to the comfort of a creature!

Orpah was the '...love you but I have a future', Ruth was the '...love you and will look after you somehow!'

Orpah still had ties and roots in Moab, Ruth severed all ties with Moab

Orpah exemplified a profession of affection, Ruth a pursuer after affection!

Orpah merely showed affection, Ruth lived intense devotion

Orpah is quickly dissuaded, Ruth will not be distracted

Orpah returned to her gods, Ruth stuck with Yahweh

Orpah preferred a husband and personal happiness, Ruth prefered Yahweh and Naomi's comfort.

Orpah went back and disappeared into oblivion, Ruth moved forward and is forever on the Messianic Timeline.

Orpah kissed while Ruth clave (clung, stuck like glue!)

Ruth could have truthfully sang the song "I've come too far to turn back"

They both appear alike to the casual observer but man only sees the outward appearance while God looks upon the heart.

How many have not made a decision to follow and serve Christ but did not follow through!? Many kiss Jesus on Sundays, if they actually are at church, then return to the world the rest of the week, for the love of pleasure and selfish satisfaction is more prevalent in their lives than love for God! They sincerely claim to love God but they constantly respond to the call of the wild! The Bible speaks of them in this manner: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 KJV