Found In The Field Of Grace Series

FOUND IN THE FIELD OF GRACE

Text: Ruth 2:1-7

Introduction

1. Even in our most ordinary moments, God is weaving together His plan.

2. God’s providence is often seen through the faithful obedience of His people in ordinary circumstances.

3. How do we see God at work when nothing miraculous seems to be happening?

4. In Ruth 2:1–7, there are no parting seas, no thundering voices from heaven—just two widows trying to survive, and a young woman going to work in a field. And yet, God is deeply present.

5. Read Ruth 2:1-7

Transition: Let’s walk through the field of Grace and uncover how God moves through humble obedience and quiet faithfulness.

I. God Begins to Work Even Before We See It.

A. As Ruth and Naomi’s journey continues, a new character emerges that will take a major role in the rest of the story. In v. 1 we read, “Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.”

1. The first thing that we learn about Boaz is that he is a wealthy and influential man.

2. This is an important factor because, remember, Ruth and Naomi were both widows, and in their culture, it was difficult for them to make a living. It required people of means to provide for them, and Boaz qualifies in this matter.

3. However, he’s not just wealthy, he was also influential, and that could mean many things. But in this context, it means that he was a man of character.

4. He was respected in the community, and he was a person who would be trusted to do the right thing.

5. The second thing we learn about him is that he was a relative of Naomi’s husband.

6. You’ll notice that it clearly states that he is Elimilech’s relative and not Naomi’s.

7. Why is this important? It means that he qualified as a “kinsman redeemer.” What in the world is that? You may have never heard of one of those before, and there is good reason for that because there is not even an equivalent word in English for the Hebrew word that is used here.

8. But in their culture, it referred to an adult male blood relative who served as an advocate of someone in the clan who found themselves in an unfortunate or difficult situation.

9. They were required to step in and rectify this situation, especially when it came to property, persons, or seeing the lineage of the clan continued. Sound like anyone we know?

B. As the story continues, in v. 2 it says, “One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it. Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.”, Ru 2:2.

1. Ruth asks Naomi for permission to go out and gather grain behind the harvesters and pick up the grain that they left behind.

2. “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. 10 It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God. (Lev. 19:9-10).

3. This principle, known as gleaning, was a form of social justice and mercy to provide for the less fortunate members of society.

4. It was also a way for farmers to trust in God's provision, even while leaving a portion of their harvest behind.

5. The same law in Deuteronomy also connects this practice to the Israelites' own history of being slaves in Egypt, reminding them to have compassion on the less fortunate.

6. Unfortunately, not all Israelites followed this law, and remember, this was during the time of the Judges when they were disobeying God’s laws.

7. But, regardless, Naomi thinks this is a great idea and grants Ruth permission to do it.

8. Also notice how Naomi refers to Ruth, she affectionately calls her “my daughter.”

C. Next, we learn in v. 3, “So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.”

1. So, Ruth goes out into the field, and “as it happened.”

2. Now, I say it like that because I don’t believe in luck or blind chance, rather, I believe in the providence and grace of God.

3. Things do not just happen, but God’s hand leads and guides us.