The Day An Outcast Found Grace
Ruth 2:1-3
Dr. Don Bartlette is a Native American who was born in North Dakota in the 1930's. Dr. Bartlette was born with cleft palate. As a result of his facial deformity he struggled with a severe speech impediment. Not only did he grow up in poverty, his father was an abusive alcoholic. Because of his condition Bartlette was bullied in school and was an outcast in his village. The circumstances of his childhood caused him to become a bitter, angry and violent juvenile delinquent. Though his family, classmates and his entire village treated him as an outcast, one special lady took an interest in young Don Bartlette. She reached out to him, invested in his life, and began to teach him. Most importantly, she loved him. In his biography entitled "Macaroni at Midnight" Don tells about how this encounter with one who showed him grace would change the trajectory of his life.
The passage that we have read this morning chronicles an encounter Ruth's life that would have a tremendous impact on her future. Ruth was a widow from Moab who had recently traveled with her mother in law Naomi to Bethlehem. When she began this new life in Bethlehem, she was a poor outcast and a stranger in this land. One day Ruth went to "glean in the fields" in order to gather some food. Though she set out to find food, in the end she found much more. On that day, Ruth found grace.
- I would like to walk through these first 3 verses of Ruth Chapter 2 and preach about "The Day An Outcast Found Grace".
- In this passage we will see:
i. The Desperate Condition Of This Outcast
ii. The Diligent Search By This Outcast
iii. The Divine Appointment For This Outcast
Like Ruth, you may be searching for something, though at the moment you don't know what it is. But you would have to admit that your situation is desperate and you need help. Whether you realize it or not, the answer to your problem is found in Jesus Christ. Just as Ruth's encounter with Boaz would change her life, this could be the day that you have an encounter with Jesus that will change your eternity. As we examine what God did for Ruth, I pray that you realize that He can do the same for you.
Look with me to verse 1 as we examine:
I. THE DESPERATE CONDITION OF THIS OUTCAST
v1 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.
In Ruth's day, the poorest of the poor were widows and orphans. Naomi and Ruth were both widows. They were poor, hungry and alone. They had no one to care for them, no one to protect them and no one to provide for them. Though the famine had ended and "the Lord was giving His people bread" (v6), these women were still living in a desperate situation.
Ruth had already shown her genuine love and devotion for her Mother-In-Law by choosing to stand beside her and to follow her back to her homeland. That devotion and care is seen further in her willingness to go out and do what was necessary to find food for Naomi.
- Because of their desperate situation, Ruth sets out searching for food. Notice in verse 2&3:
II. THE DILIGENT SEARCH BY THIS OUTCAST
v2 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. 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.
Ruth's intention was to go into the fields and "glean ears of corn". Gleaning was God's method of caring for the poor in those days. This process is defined in Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
God said that if the reapers left any grain in the field along the way they couldn’t go back and pick it up. Anything that was left over in the fields, the poor were to be permitted to gather and keep for themselves. Ruth made her way to the fields to gather what she could. Keep in mind that she was not a native of Bethlehem, she was a stranger and an outcast in that land. She did not know it at the time but she had entered the field of a man named Boaz.
In verse 2 Ruth said that she was hoping to "find grace". She was looking for someone to help her in spite of her nationality, in spite of her past and in spite of who she was. Ruth was not looking for Boaz, in fact she had never even heard of him. She was merely looking for someone ...anyone who would be gracious enough to allow her to glean in their fields. However, her arrival in the field of Boaz was not a mere coincidence. God was working out a plan that was far greater than anything Ruth ever imagined.
- Notice in verse 3:
III. THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT FOR THIS OUTCAST
v3 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.
It was not happenstance that she arrived at this specific field. It was God who led Ruth to Boaz's field. God placed her there at that exact moment in that exact place for a very special purpose. God was working our these events so that she would come face to face with her redeemer!
This story is a great illustration of God's divine providence. On that day, this Moabite outcast had a divine appointment with grace. You may not realize it, but this encounter is also very important to us. We are in the Christmas season and this story has major implications concerning the birth of our Savior.
- It was prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
If Ruth had not gone to Boaz's field Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem. If Jesus was not born in Bethlehem then that prophecy would not have been fulfilled. If that prophecy was not fulfilled then everything that we believe is a lie! But I am glad to report that God had a plan and His plan came to fruition. And part of that plan involved Ruth's divine appointment with grace. As Ruth began to glean in the field that day, Boaz arrived and extended grace to this Moabite outcast.
- Let's read verses 4-9 and see what occurred as a result of this divine appointment for this desperate outcast.
Ruth 2:4 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. 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.
The actions of Boaz are a picture of grace. Boaz foreshadows Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ultimate kinsman redeemer who will redeem the church as a bride for himself. In time, Boaz would take Ruth as his wife. The two of them would conceive a son who would preserve the royal line from which King David would descend. From this line would also come the greatest king...King Jesus! In due time, Jesus would come to redeem all the people of God. Ruth was a stranger and an outcast in Bethlehem. She was poor, needy and looking for food. She was alone and it seemed that she had no hope. But one encounter would start a chain of events that would completely transform her life.
Like Ruth you may find yourself in a desperate situation today. You are living life without any peace, hope or joy. You feel all alone and it seems that no one cares. Like Ruth, you have been on a diligent search for help and assistance, but your search has left you wanting! The problem is that you have been looking in all the wrong places. The answer to your problem will not be found at the bottom of a bottle, in a pill, a needle or any other substance. The answer will not be found in a psychiatrists office or in a self help book. Finding "the right woman" or "the right man" is not the answer. The only hope that you have, is to look to the very source of hope, and His name is Jesus Christ. The reality is that all of the "problems" that you are experiencing are actually only symptoms of your greatest problem and that is the fact that you are lost in your sins. Jesus is the only One who can solve that issue. The good news is, just as Boaz redeemed Ruth, Jesus can and will redeem you today! In fact, He has already done all that is necessary, and all you have to do is trust in His finished work.
It was not a coincidence that Ruth found herself in Boaz's field. God led her to the right place at the right time. It truly was a divine appointment. Today may be a divine appointment in your life. God has orchestrated the events of your life so that you would be here today. He knew each and every individual that would walk though those doors this morning. He worked out the events in my life so that I would preach this very message, on this very day, at this very time to the very people who are assembled in this place.
You will see that Ruth had nothing to offer Boaz. There was no way that she could have earned his love. But He was qualified, he was able and he was willing to perform the function of the "kinsman redeemer".
Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. He became a "kinsman" to us, so that He might redeem us from our sins.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
If you will notice, Ruth set out looking for food and she found a friend. Actually, if you look close you will see that a friend (Boaz) found her. She was looking for one thing, but Boaz offered her so much more. You may be an outcast and a stranger concerning the things of God but deep inside you know that you are searching for something. I want you to know that there is a friend Who is offering you grace today. He is the One who possesses infinite grace. And His grace is sufficient to save any soul that will bow to God in faith and repentance.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
How does one receive this grace? The answer is simple and it is found in - Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This is a promise that is available for all who will trust Christ and call upon His name. You may be in a desperate condition, and you may have been on a diligent search for some time. My friend this may be the day that you have a divine appointment with grace.
If you will humbly surrender to Jesus, for the rest of your life you can say that today was "The Day An Outcast Found Grace".
