In Kung Fu Panda, Grand Master Oogway the turtle says to Po the Panda: ‘There are no accidents’. And of course we would say, ‘Hey, there are accidents, all the time’. Car and bike and sport accidents, broken bones and bloody noses, hurt feelings from thoughtless words, never ending breakage of consumer durables. We are always doing unintended acts and enduring costly consequences. That’s why we have insurance and bumper bars and shelves up high and pool fences and lollipop ladies. There are plenty of accidents, from our point of view.
But from God’s point of view, there are no accidents. In the end, everything that occurs in our world comes about because God allows it or brings it about. This world is his world. God could have done otherwise. But he hasn’t, and he didn’t. This is providence. God, who called our world into being, continues to sustain, uphold, and order our world[1]. God provides, hence, providence. Providence tells us that God ‘provides’ in all the circumstances of our lives. Acts chapter 14 verse 17 tells us that God has not ‘left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.’ (NIV) God provides.
But also God provides things that we at first wish he hadn’t. In Isaiah chapter 45 verse 7, Yahweh declares, ‘I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.’ (Isaiah 45:7 NIV).
God works out all things in accordance with the purpose of his will, both the good and the bad (Ephesians 1:11). Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.(Psalm 115:3 NIV). Nothing takes place in God’s world and in our lives without God’s say so and deliberation.
So God works for good for those who love him in ALL THINGS (Romans 8:28). Whether we consider those things good or bad, God is working for our good, to squeeze us into the mold of Christ. And the believer, who knows God is for him and not against him, reminds himself in the difficulties of life, ‘Yes, whatever God sends me, he will enable me to deal with it through faith in Christ and bring good out of it, just like he did for Joseph (Genesis 50:20) and for Jesus (Acts 2:23; Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 12:2).
And so God superintends all our ways and our days. Our days are numbered (Job 14:5; Psalm 39:4), along with the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30), by the all seeing, all knowing God.
Do you like Jane Austen books and movies? I think there are 6 of them. Every one of them ends happy. That’s why I like them. I like happy endings. I’m not paying for sad endings. The heroine gets married for love to a handsome sensible man and also gets from 4,000 to 10,000 pounds per annum. That’s a happy ending for daughters of poor English landed gentry at the beginning of the 19th century. But it is only at the end of each book or movie that you see it ends happy. So it is with the Christian life. It is only at the ending, when we meet Jesus face to face, that we will see the happy ending. And every story involving a born-again believer, who continues to cling to Christ throughout life, is a happy ending.
Last week we saw that Naomi had left Bethlehem full but came back empty. She left pleasant but came back bitter. Her husband and two sons died in far off Moab. But she had brought back home a cling-on, Ruth, her young widowed daughter-in-law. Ruth has bound herself with an oath to serve Naomi and her God. And both widows arrive in Bethlehem as the barley harvest commences. With the start of the harvest, hope is kindled.
In Israel’s liturgical history, Ruth was read during the feast of tabernacles. The feast of tabernacles was associated with the barley harvest (Deuteronomy 16:9-17). And the feast of tabernacles was a time when Israel was to be open-handed and generous to foreigners, the fatherless, and widows. And Ruth was all three. Thus, Ruth was a very appropriate reading at the barley harvest festival.
We are introduced to Boaz in chapter 2 verse 1:
Now Naomi had a relative [kinsman] on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz. (NIV)
First of all, he is a relative. In our western nuclear family society where freedom and choice is the most important value, relatives aren’t that important. Friends you choose are more important than relatives you don’t choose. Except, of course, your kids who choose your nursing home. But generally speaking, in our society, sadly, we see relatives beyond the nuclear family as drains on the wallet, relationship nightmares, and people who will turn up to see what they will get in the will. So relatives get in the way. However, in a tribal society, cousins and uncles and aunts are everything. Just think of all the cousins in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Relatives are your social security network, especially kinsmen on the husband’s side.
Second, Boaz is described as ‘a man of standing’. Literally, Boaz is a strong man of might. It is the description the angel gives Gideon as he hides grain: ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior’ (Judges 6:12 NIV). Except now, Boaz is the mighty warrior, the hero, a better hero, in fact, than Gideon. But Boaz doesn’t show heroics by fighting a battle. His heroics are hesed, loving kindness, steadfast love and the faithfulness shown to the widow, the alien, and the poor of his people.
We’ve met the hero, at least, the secondary hero. Now let’s reintroduce the heroine. Verse 2:
And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor. Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter." (NIV)
In a subsistence agriculture economy, someone literally had to be the breadwinner. And Ruth is willing to work. Paul said to the Thessalonians, ‘He who does not work, neither shall he eat’. But Ruth has no problem with work. She will work solidly all day (verse 7). Yahweh had provided for the widow, the alien, and those who had no livelihood in his law. Leviticus 19:9-10:
9 "'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 ... Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:9-10; cf also Leviticus 23:22 NIV)
Again, Deuteronomy 24:19:
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19 NIV)
As widows and as newcomers, Ruth and Naomi are vulnerable. Their livelihood is, humanly speaking, dependent on God’s people following God’s law. Having just returned to Bethlehem, they have no crops of their own to harvest. So Ruth looks for ‘favour’ or ‘grace’ from a righteous landowner. Verse 3:
So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. (NIV)
Out goes Ruth from the city to the fields. And it just so happened, that she encountered by accident, Boaz’ field. Literally, she encountered her chance. Of course, the author is using ‘irony’. And just by chance Ruth happened by accident to be in Boaz’ field.
But we know, there are no accidents. Just as the author of Ruth knew there were no accidents. It was by luck, wink, wink. Actually, what looks like an accident to us is God’s providence.
And the so-called “coincidences” continue. Verse 4:
Just then, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" "The LORD bless you!" they called back. (NIV)
It just so happens that at the same time, Boaz returns. Yet another so-called “co-incidence” organized by the sovereign God. Boaz has come from the Bethlehem that is astir and abuzz with news about Naomi and Ruth, the returnees from Moab. And Boaz and the harvesters greet each other with a mutual blessing. Here are righteous Israelites living with Yahweh as King. They live in Yahweh’s land looking for Yahweh to provide. And Yahweh has provided. The question is, ‘Are they righteous enough to provide for Ruth and Naomi in turn?’
Boaz, of course, has eyes in his head. He notices the new young woman behind his servants. And he asks his young man supervising the harvest, verse 5, "Whose young woman is that?" To whom does Ruth belong? Here is the importance of belonging. In our day, we say, “I’m free, I don’t belong to anybody. Nobody owns me, don’t be so demeaning.” In that day, Boaz said, “To whom does she belong”. Because no matter how much we tell ourselves we are individuals, we yearn deeply to be on the inner circle, to be accepted, owned and cared for, to belong. To whom does Ruth belong? She is the Moabitess belonging to Naomi. She is the widow, the vulnerable fatherless foreign woman, who accompanied another powerless elderly widow home.
And Boaz sees a vulnerable young woman with great needs. So he takes the role of a father. Verse 8:
So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter…
Boaz is gentle and kind to Ruth, addressing her as Naomi does. She is a young woman. He is an older man. And as a father to her daughter, he takes responsibility for her welfare. Boaz gives Ruth important safety tips for her wellbeing. Verse 8 again:
My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with [literally, cling to] my servant girls. (NIV)
There are dangers. It is the time of Judges, after all. Boaz knows this. Not everywhere is safe for young women. Ruth doesn’t have street smarts. So Boaz wants to keep her safe. Verse 9:
Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you…
Boaz implements an anti-sexual harassment policy. The men are not to touch her. The young men are not to harm, but they also must serve Ruth. Verse 9:
And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the [young] men have filled. (NIV)
Under Boaz, the young men are serving the young women. On Boaz’ farm, the young men are to be gentlemen, the way they should be.
And of course Ruth Is blown away by this kindness and grace. She cannot see past her status as a foreigner and an alien.
But our Hero Boaz sees our Heroine Ruth as a kindred spirit. When he sees Ruth and her character, Boaz doesn’t see the daughter of Chemosh and the gods of Moab. He sees the character of Yahweh, the God of Israel. She is a true daughter in the likeness of Yahweh. Verse 11:
Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband-- how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before (NIV)
Just as Ruth has show hesed – steadfast loving kindness to her husband – so also she has shown it to Noami (compare Ruth 3:1). Just as a husband leaves father and mother to be united to his wife (Genesis 2:24), Ruth has left everything to follow Naomi. Just as Abraham left his fatherland and his people to go to an unknown land, so Ruth has committed herself to the unknown land (cf Genesis 12:1-3).
And so Boaz prays for Ruth to receive her appropriate reward. May Ruth indeed reap what she has sown. Verse 12:
May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (NIV)
Verse 12 is the key to the whole passage. Boaz prays for shalom for Ruth. Shalom is bigger than recompense or reward or compensation, though it embraces it. Shalom is peace and wholeness. Shalom is God putting his universe in order and at right. God rewards the righteous and punishes the guilty. But shalom is so much more. There is rest and peace and joy and satisfaction and happiness. For Ruth is seeking to give Naomi shalom. So Boaz calls on God to provide Ruth’s shalom.
Indeed, in Ruth so caring for Naomi, Ruth has attached herself to God. In returning to Israel with Naomi, Ruth has sought refuge under Yahweh’s wing. Yahweh is likened to a mother bird, offering her wings to protect her defenceless young (compare Deuteronomy 32:1; Psalm 91:4; contrast Judges 9:15). It’s a beautiful picture.
And Boaz will be the answer to his own prayer. From now on in the book of Ruth, Boaz is embodiment of the wings of Yahweh. By offering his protection, Boaz is God’s hands and feet.
Boaz prays for blessing and shalom – peace – for Ruth. And Boaz is the answer to his own prayer.
Be careful what you pray for. Not only may you get it. You may be the means of getting it, too.
Most of us are gentiles. We are like Ruth. We are foreigners who shelter under the wings of the God of Israel.
But we also can be like Boaz. We are also invited to be the means of blessing those who come under the wings of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever does this for the least of these my brothers of mine has done it unto me, Jesus says. We are told to do good to all men, especially the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). And in so doing, we are answer our own blessings for grace and kindness upon those who seek refuge from Father, Son and Spirit.
And of course, Ruth is surprised, relieved and comforted by such unexpected kindness in a foreign land. Boaz has ignored race, age and class. He has only considered the hesed Ruth has shown Naomi.
At lunchtime, Boaz doesn’t care what the others think about their age and race differences. He asks Ruth to join him for lunch. Verse 14:
At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar." When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.
As a foreigner and a woman, Ruth had kept her distance until invited up. Boaz as a kind and righteous man provided food for his workers. And Boaz includes Ruth in his circle, serving her by hand. Boaz is just like Jesus, his greater descendant, who came not to be served but to serve. Again, Boaz is providing the wings that Yahweh used to shelter Ruth.
When I was about 9 or 10, I needed to make some money, or so I thought. So I was at Grandma Olliffe’s, and I made paper tigers. And I sold them to grandma for 10c each. And I thought, this was great, 10c for every tiger. Not realizing that there is a market saturation point even for grandmas and their demand for paper tigers.
Grandma didn’t buy my paper tigers because she needed them. She bought them because she was kind.
Boaz did the same thing for Ruth. He gives Ruth things he didn’t have to. Verses 15 and 16:
15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, "Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don't embarrass her. 16 Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her." (NIV)
Boaz orders his employees to plunder the bundles of grain. The workers are to be sloppy, to intentionally pull out stalks and leave them lying for her to pick up without much effort. Like grandma with paper tigers. Like a treasure hunt for little kids, where you stand there pointing at the treasure and saying, ‘Have you found any?’
And not surprisingly, Ruth gleaned, threshed and carried home what she gathered. And that was quite an effort. She brought home the same amount that could feed an army of 50 for a day. And it was between 22 and 36 litres. The grain weighed at least 20 kilos.
And of course, Naomi realizes this was not just a good day in the field. The standard harvest worker was expected to produce no more than a kilo of threshed grain a day. Someone has been extravagantly generous to Ruth and Naomi. So Ruth reveals, "The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz".
Previously Boaz was blessed by his workers in the name of Yahweh. Now he is blessed by Naomi. Verse 20:
"The LORD bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." (NIV)
And the question is, whose kindness is Naomi referring to? She might be referring to Boaz’ kindness. And Boaz indeed has been kind.
But it is more likely that Naomi is referring to Yahweh’s kindness. Yahweh has not deserted his hesed. And if that is correct, we see here Naomi’s growth. In chapter 1, Naomi has seen that the Lord takes away. But now she sees the Yahweh has not abandoned his hesed. Yahweh has shown his hesed to Naomi’s reduced family through Boaz. And as I said last week, the word hesed wraps up Yahweh’s love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, benevolence, loyalty, covenant faithfulness.
Ruth providentially coming to Boaz’ field was a demonstration of God’s grace and favour. For Naomi knows something about Boaz that Ruth doesn’t. Verse 20:
"That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers."
Boaz is a hero with a family responsibility. He is a Goel -- a kinsman-redeemer.
And now hope is kindled for Naomi, though Ruth does not understand all this. The Goel is a close male relative who has important responsibilities in Israelite family law[2]. He is responsible for the economic well being of his relatives in financial difficult was. And he may even have responsibilities in marriage of widows and providing children. And providentially God has brought Ruth and Boaz together. Blessed be Yahweh, for so arranging this happy circumstance.
Ruth will work Boaz’ fields for the next 6 or 7 weeks, until the wheat and barley harvests are finished. She will continue to live with her mother in law. But Naomi wants more for her daughter-in-law, and indeed, for her dead sons and husband. These hopes for more are pinned on Boaz. And this is the subject of Ruth Chapter 3.
But for now, let us remember God’s providence. In Ruth Chapter 1, Naomi saw that God was behind the loss of her three sons. But here in Ruth Chapter 2, Naomi sees that Yahweh has not abandoned his hesed. The loving kindness of Yahweh has come to them in the form of Boaz the Goel, the kinsman-redeemer.
As it has come to you. You too have a kinsman-redeemer. For you and I were sold unto sin and death and hell. We owed God a debt we couldn’t pay. And Christ came and paid the debt he didn’t owe. Jesus is your brother, your Kin. And he is your redeemer. He bought you back by his blood shed on the cross.
As you look through the eyes of Naomi and Ruth at Boaz, the hero from the tribe of Judah, remember that Boaz primarily points to your kinsman redeemer, Jesus Christ, who came to earth as a man, and died to free you from sin, death and hell.
“There is a redeemer, Jesus God’s own Son, Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One. Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son, and leaving your Spirit till the work on earth is done.” (Melody Green)
Let’s pray.
[1] B Milne, Know the Truth, 2nd Ed 1998, 102
[2] Roles of the Goel are fivefold, then we add a 6th: (1) to ensure hereditary property remains as part of the clan’s property (Leviticus 25:25-30); (2) to buy back relatives who have sold themselves into slavery (Leviticus 27:47-55); (3) to track down and execute murderers of near relatives (Numbers 35:12, 19-27); (4) to receive restitution on behalf of victim of a crime (Numbers 5:8); (5) to ensure justice is served in a relative’s lawsuit, based on the solidarity of the family or clan. (6) A 6th role outside these texts, based on Deuteronomy 25:5-10 [and exemplified in Tamar’s desire in Genesis 38:24], is levirate marriage, between a widow who has not fathered offspring, and the brother of the deceased man. The firstborn child of the union between the widow and the brother-in-law would take on the name of the deceased. If the brother in law did not take up his responsibility, he would be humiliated by the widow removing his sandal and spitting in his face. (Leviticus 25:25-28: Numbers 35:6-28, Deuteronomy 19:4-13)