“Boaz accepts Ruth’s Offer” – Ruth, Part 6
Ruth Sermon Series, Part 6
Ruth 3:10-18
Introduction
- So, let’s sum up this series:
- “Sometimes when you abandon God, your life has disastrous consequences; but God is STILL faithful … even when we aren’t!”
- The focus of the book is NOT the budding relationship with Boaz and Ruth
-- Nor is it Naomi trying to find a future or a life for her and Ruth
- The focus of this series is this fact: “Even in tough times, God is STILL accomplishing His plan to take care of those He loves!”
- Cards on the table: Discipleship is a life-long journey
-- One of the key opportunities we have is the ability to show grace to one another
-- This book is one example of what grace can do for a life that is in chaos
- 2 wks.: When you are given direction to move and follow God, are you willing to step out and trust even though you have NO IDEA where the future will lead?
- Bigger CH: Are we willing to give up our preferences and follow Jesus?
- Let’s see where this story takes us today … focus is on Boaz
- Read Ruth 3:10-18 / Pray
Point 1 – Ruth shows grace and Boaz accepts!
Quick look back at verse 9 for context …
- Ruth says that since you are a kinsman-redeemer, you can redeem me
-- Ruth is implying her understanding of the word “gaal” (Hebrew: to redeem)
-- APP: She knows Boaz CAN save her … but there’s so much more!!
- Boaz, being an honorable and God-fearing man, accepts the proposal ... why?
-- Ruth’s words have brought him honor; reminded him of his integrity
- Boaz, in a word, is ECSTATIC about this opportunity
-- Placing God center stage in his response, really shows us who this man is
-- SEE: He asks God to bless her, and then states his own joy in this situation
- In Boaz’s mind, perhaps he believes that he is too old for her
-- His own words are that she could definitely have a much younger man
-- And his reference to her kindness is a nod to the love she’s shown Naomi
-- APP: She has bestowed “chesed” (grace) on Naomi, and now on him!!
- In response, Boaz practically sings his approval to her
-- Ruth 3:10, “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” (He exclaims this!!)
- TR: See This: Their meeting was NOT by chance, but something God ordained
-- This is a critical point for all of us to understand here – see His provision
-- God had this planned before time began; they simply followed His lead
-- HINT: You and I have the very same thing to rely on today!
Point 2 – Choosing God’s ways leads to His blessings
- IMP: Does this mean we have no say to make choices in our lives?
-- Absolutely NOT! But it does mean that we have to MAKE a choice
-- Get This: To choose nothing is to choose to do … nothing!
- Admittedly, this scene could’ve gone all kinds of awry
-- Boaz could’ve tossed her out and rejected her
-- Boaz could’ve forced his will on her
-- Ruth could’ve retaliated and swore an oath against him for dishonorable deeds
-- Think about it: This could’ve gone VERY bad for both of them!
- But instead, look what happens when God is at the center of (their) lives
-- It’s a great lesson here when we reflect on focusing on God’s desire for us
-- IMP NOTE: Their choices center on God’s best; his blessing is bestowed
- Hosea Ch 6 gives us a great insight into how our relationship ought to be (vv1-6)
(our confession) “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
(His response) “O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?” asks the Lord. “For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight. I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces - to slaughter you with my words, with judgments as inescapable as light. I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”
- Boaz was a man above reproach, had great standing in the community
-- But more importantly, a Godly man who lived for God’s honor
-- He was willing to take the responsibility to protect her; like God wants to for us!
- Ruth is now fully aware that Boaz intends to take care of her … however …
-- There is someone else, someone closer in their family tree to Ruth
-- There is another who can actually redeem this family (not Boaz) (v13)
- Spoiler: Not much is known about this other; perhaps Elimelech had a brother?
-- Hebrew: qarob; near (shows closeness, family relation)
-- Hebrew: minni; from (preposition expressing ‘closer than me’)
- TR: The reason this is an issue is, again, remember the Levirate Law
-- It is a family lineage responsibility to provide for & take care of family
-- Remember (part 4) Deuteronomy 25:5-6, “If two brothers are living together on the same property and one of them dies without a son, his widow may not be married to anyone from outside the family. Instead, her husband’s brother should marry her and have intercourse with her to fulfill the duties of a brother-in-law. The first son she bears to him will be considered the son of the dead brother, so that his name will not be forgotten in Israel.”
- A kinsman-redeemer has this responsibility, but he must choose to assume it
-- Boaz says (v13) “if he wants to do his duty - good; let him redeem you …”
- TR: Boaz promises that if this man does not want the duty, he will (v13)
-- APP: Rest assured, this is 100% honorable and right that he is doing this
-- He is not delaying or putting her off – rather, confessing that he must follow God
Point 3 – Boaz still acts honorably by protecting Ruth’s reputation
- Boaz encourages her to lie there until morning (this is for HER safety) (v14)
-- But she must leave by morning for BOTH of their reputation’s sake
-- Hebrew: nakar; to regard or to recognize
- In the morning, Boaz provides her with six measures of barley
-- Think about what this small gesture really means for Ruth:
1) This would allow her to prove to Naomi where she was
2) Ruth carrying this would also give her an excuse for being out so early
a. She could easily say that she went to get some barley
b. She could also ensure she had (in essence) an alibi
- Consider: Boaz is a man who thinks ahead; he is prepared for the questions
-- Questions? What questions? Remember the busy-body townspeople???
- When Ruth returns home, Naomi asks “What happened?” Implied:
1) Are you still the widow of my son, Mahlon, or,
2) Are you the fiancé of Boaz, our family’s kinsman redeemer?
- Ruth’s response, I imagine, is one of complete GLEE and JOY
-- v16-17, “… Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
- To Naomi, this would’ve been assurance that things were in motion
-- Additionally, this would allow them to begin to plan for the future (have hope)
-- Truly, Ruth had not returned home “empty-handed”; she had a future ahead
- We know Ruth would have a husband, but who that would be is unknown
-- Remember, Boaz still has a challenge ahead of him … another redeemer
Big Idea
- It’s an interesting turn of events … there is someone else who could redeem?
-- Let’s build this sermon out in light of all the other messages we’ve heard …
- Today: “There is a time for God’s people to wait for God to remove the obstacles in front of us; but there is also a time to confront the obstacles!”
- Both are done in faith, because we live out our faith by responding as God leads!
- DEEPER:
-- Do you give OF yourself to Christ; or do you give YOURSELF to Christ?
-- Our faith involves risk … it always has ... and we have to be willing to follow
-- EX: Ruth had no idea where this would go …
- IMP: Even Jesus risked everything for the glory of the Father
-- Why? Because even in the pain God’s plan would be far better for His creation
-- Isaiah 53:10, “But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.”
- If God would desire to remove our obstacle of sin through the death of Jesus …
-- Truly, what more are you waiting for Him to do for you to respond?
-- How much more like Ruth, responding to the unknown, can you be?
- This sets us up for next week, where we’ll conclude this series
- Pray for:
• Obedience
• Willingness to move
• Understanding that sometimes “wait” is a call from God
