TITLE: An Arrangement Made by God TEXT: Ruth 2:14-23 THEME: God often brings divine encounters to help us at our lowest point.

The Inevitable Question “What would cause a person to do that?”

The Inevitable Question “What would cause a person to do that?” They must be insane

The Inevitable Question “What would cause a person to do that?” They must be insane – doesn’t answer the key question, “Why now- Why not before?”

The Inevitable Question “What would cause a person to do that?” They must be insane – doesn’t answer the key question, “Why now- Why not before?” It must be pure evil

It was the loss of all hope that his life dream and status would not be realized that is the catalyst for his scheming and murder.

What does God do to restore hope in the life of Ruth and Naomi?

I.He leads her to a generous and caring man. (14-16)

Ruth 2: 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.

Ruth 2: As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

I.He leads her to a generous and caring man. (14-16) A. Boaz was kind to his workers

I.He leads her to a generous and caring man. (14-16) A. Boaz was kind to his workers B. Boaz demonstrates a special kindness to Ruth

I.He leads her to a generous and caring man. (14-16) A. Boaz was kind to his workers B. Boaz demonstrates a special kindness to Ruth C. Boaz makes sure her needs are met

Bettye Tucker Article "Just might be, that divine helping on the side is the most essential item on Miss Bettye's menu. The one she stirs in every broth, and every whisper. The ingredient that makes her the perpetual light shining in the all-night kitchen."

What does God do to restore hope in the life of Ruth and Naomi?

II.He provides an abundance of food. (17-18)

Ruth 2:17-18 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.

II.He provides an abundance of food. (17-18) A. Her return is 100 times more than what gleaning alone would provide

II.He provides an abundance of food. (17-18) A. Her return is 100 times more than what gleaning alone would provide B. One days return could feed them for months

What does God do to restore hope in the life of Ruth and Naomi?

III.He lays the groundwork for a more permanent relationship. (19- 23)

Ruth 2:19-23 “Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you! ” Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.

Ruth 2: “The Lord bless him! “Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.” 21 Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain

Ruth 2: Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.” 23 So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother- in-law.”

III.He lays the groundwork for a more permanent relationship. (19- 23) A. Boaz allows her to stay the whole season.

III.He lays the groundwork for a more permanent relationship. (19- 23) A. Boaz allows her to stay the whole season. B. Boaz is her guardian-redeemer

Guardian-Redeemer Leviticus 25: A redeemer has two primary functions: to redeem people and property The redeemer was the one who would come in and say, – “I’ll pay off the debt to redeem the person from slavery,” – “I’ll pay off the note on the land and the farm to keep it in the family and to bring it back to the family who desperately needs it.”

Matthew 20:28 “He truly has become our brother that he might pay the price to redeem us (become our Guardian-Redeemer) as family members who could not make it without his help.”

III.He lays the groundwork for a more permanent relationship. (19- 23) A. Boaz allows her to stay the whole season. B. Boaz is her guardian-redeemer C. The setting is in place for a romance.

Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope

APPLICATION 1. During times of hopelessness find the people that can encourage and support you. We need people who can be our lifeline of hope. This is a key reason we offer life- groups. Find one and get involved so when times of crisis come you have people who care for you.

APPLICATION 2. You can be that caring person to someone in need.

APPLICATION 3. Focus on the blessings God has given you. For Ruth she needed food and the same is true for us. If you have food and a home the other things are simply blessings from God.

APPLICATION 4. God may be setting the stage in your life to something more than you have yet realized. Don’t lose hope. Trust in God alone.

IT DEPENDS WHOSE HANDS IT’S IN

As you see now it depends whose hands it’s in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s hands because It depends whose hands it’s in.(Author Unknown)