Ruth
2:1-3
Verse 1, And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
I. The kinsmen of Elimelech. See Ruth 4:18-22 for the generations of Pharez.
A. Pharez (which means a breaking forth or a breach) is the eldest son of Tamar by Judah.
1. See Genesis 38:27-30 for the birth of Zarah and Pharez.
2. It is by the grace of God that the midwife tied the scarlet thread on the hand of Zarah.
3. There was almost a mix up of the generations here, but God kept it straight.
4. Pharez was not the first born, but he was the one God used.
B. Hezron.
1. Numbers 26:21 - Hezron is the head of a family in Judah.
2. Joshua 15:25 - He built the city of Hazor.
C. Ram - There is no mention of him in scripture, except in Job 32:2, where it describes Elihu as the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram. I do not believe the Ram of Job is the same Ram which is a descendent of Judah.
D. Amminadab. Ex. 6:23 - Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, sister to Naashon.
E. Nahshon (English spelling of the Hebrew, the English spelling of the Greek is Naasson - Matt. 1:4.)
1. Numbers 1:7 - He is chosen as the head (prince) of the house of his fathers.
2. Numbers 2:3 - He is the captain of the children of Judah. The tribe of Judah faces east.
3. Numbers 7:12-17 - The tribe of Judah (Nahshon) is the first to give offerings after Moses set up the tabernacle.
4. Numbers 10:14 - When Israel traveled, the tribe of Judah is the first to go forward. Therefore Nahshon was the first to travel. This is a picture of Christ. He goes first, and all God's people follow Him.
5. I Chron. 2:10 - He is considered as a prince of the children of Judah.
F. Salmon.
1. Matt. 1:5 - Salmon begets Boaz of Rachab (Rahab the Harlot).
2. We can see from this that this is a spiritual family.
3 Salmon married Rahab, who had been a harlot, because he saw that she believed God and had faith in His promises.
4. Boaz sees the faith of his dad and mom and readily accepts the converted Moabitess woman, Ruth.
5. It is clear why children turn out the way they do - they will live out in their life, the real faith of their parents.
G. Boaz.
1. He is rich, but riches haven't gone to his head.
2. He has been taught what real values are.
3. He will, in this book, forfeit his own inheritance for the inheritance of Elimelech.
4. He choses the spiritual over the material.
5. But he doesn't lose the material. We won't either.
Verse 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.
II. The faith of Ruth revealed.
A. She doesn't know where she will wind up, but she starts, trusting God to direct her steps.
1. This is truly walking by faith.
2. Note in verse 3 how God directs her to the field of Boaz!!
3. If we say this is a coincidence, we've really missed the guiding hand of God.
B. She will show her faith by her works.
1. Even though Naomi is kin to wealthy people, she doesn't expect them to support her.
2. Ruth volunteers to go to work.
a. Many women use this scripture as an "excuse to go to work in the "fields". (Places of business).
b. This is a single woman, with no children.
c. I Tim. 5:14 - I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
d. Titus 2:4,5 - Young women are commanded to love their husbands, love their children, be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, and obedient to their own husbands.
e. Since the above scriptures are true, women don't have God's approval for working outside the home.
f. The work of the woman (wife) in the home is the most important work they can do. Since this work has been forgotten, the morals of our nation have been forgotten.
g. A husband that wants his wife to work outside the home doesn't have God's approval on that decision.
3. She didn't leave Israel because of hardships. (Like Elimelech)
4. Because of this stand for God, she will receive the blessing of being in the genealogy of Christ.
5. This is a great service, for she is a stranger in the land of Israel.
6. She sought a job before she sought friends.
7. The Holy Spirit of God is active in their hearts just like any saved person.
8. When people don't stand for God it is because they have no faith in Him.
C. No welfare (entitlements!?!) in that day.
1. The people did not give them a living.
2. She would glean in the fields.
a. This means she would gather the grain missed by the regular farm workers.
b. This grain would be her own.
c. Only after this humility would come honor. The same is true today.
3. She (nor Naomi) did not expect a handout. The poor shouldn't expect a handout.
4. She expected to glean only as a privilege. (She called it grace.)
D. Ruth's respect for authority. (That of her mother in law, and of God.)
1. She told her mother in law where she was going.
2. She didn't expect her mother in law to go to work.
a. There comes a time when work ought to cease. (at least slow down for the older people can't work as hard as they used to.)
b. The elderly should be supported by the younger. (I Tim. 5:8)
3. Ruth was trusting God to give her a place to work. (verse 2)
Verse 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.
A. The providence of God in Ruth's life.
1. The word "hap" means "by chance" or "accident". Of course, we know there are no accidents with God. He put her there on purpose.
2. Ruth, being a stranger in the land, did not know where to go, but God did. And He put her where it was best.
3. The word "light" means "to cause to bring about". The comparison seems to be that God is now actively building a life for Ruth. Events are falling into order that will later become the structure of her life.
4. Many a great affair in our lives can be traced back to a single incident, which to us seems like blind luck, but the providence of God has directed our lives with a purpose.