No Such Thing as Chance, Part 1

Immediately painted with the brushstrokes integrity. Certainly godly.

Maybe this was the reason he was still single. Maybe wasn't all that interesting to the local girl they wanted his money but he just talked about my religious. These are the days of the judges. When everyone did that which was right in their own eyes. Judges 21 five so in a culture marked by decadent Boaz shined happened to stumble into a field one day belonging to Boaz didn't just happen to notice her leaning all in love with her with the sovereign God managing the universe nothing just happens. God wrote the love story between Ruth and Boaz why this is important is because the same is true for you. God is sovereign over your life as well.

Just like he was for Ruth and Boaz today on wisdom for the heart.

Steven David takes us back to rear in a lesson called no such thing as chance in our last discussion, I I begin by talking about the medical profession and their brutality. The member how they'll tell the truth to settle her little bit and I thought an 8 inch needle a lot comments about that with a lot of medical professionals are audience evidently Hua took issue that they are telling the truth well even if they did, I will give this to them even if they did tell us the truth. We would like that either way, it's interesting. Among the comments I got one lady sent me an interesting illustration of how we really don't want to hear from them the truth man when and to see his doctor for routine physical. The nurse came in to cover the basics you how they'll do that stall for time for the doctor to get there as she asked the man how much do you weigh he said all about 165 pounds nurse looked at him and said, would you step up on these digital scales please and then she said you weigh 197 pounds to be exact.

She then asked him how tall are you, he said, about 6 feet. She looked at him and then had him step up to the measuring rod by the back wall and said your exactly 5'8" tall. She moved on to take his blood pressure, and then said in the middle of the circular blood pressure is extremely high hi he said what you expect.

When I came in here.

I was tall and lanky and you told me I'm short and fat LOL for those of you in the medical profession, you know, keep telling us the truth. You got a tough job.

We need we need to hear. Having finished the first chapter of the book of Ruth.

All that we have studied to this point is really one piece of bad news after another. The truth is brutal. In fact, apart from roots commitment to Naomi. The story is a tragedy that Shakespeare would have appreciated the two widows returned to Bethlehem. One is a foreigner. The other one in older widowhood once been an upstanding member of the Bethlehem community now destitute and impoverished that she's reduced to living on handouts chapter 2 of Ruth is where it all begins to turn around. In fact, all of chapter 2 Takes Pl. in one day. This is one day to take us 14 servings to get through but it all took place in one day. But one day it will be in the lives of Ruth and Naomi and a bachelor named what Boaz before we dive into the text you need to keep in mind these are the days of the judges. There is no record of a priest is no record of a prophet offering counsel in these days. These aren't easy days to be a spiritually minded man nor a virtuous woman of character. By the time you get to the end of chapter 2. You might come to the conclusion that the these are some amazing coincidences is like a semi marked good lock has backed into the field and just unloaded on these people.

There's no way this could happen in real life. Truth is, it did happen in real life, and you have a truth for us believers in any generation living in any culture for God. There is no such thing as coincidences.

In fact, when you leave your choices to God.

There is no such things change. Ruth chapter 2 will also reveal the invisible hand of God in the midst of ordinary every day decisions. There are no voices from heaven there will be no signs or clues.

There will be no visitations from angels. They will experience no visible signs pointing the way.

In fact, as I reentered the scene and studied it as if it were for the first time. It struck me that Ruth chapter 2 is the personification of Proverbs chapter 3 verses five and six trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't lean on your own understandings in all your ways acknowledge him, leave your choices to him and he will direct your paths. Literally, he will make your paths straight. That's exactly what is going to happen here now. The chapter opens with the author, sort of dropping in adherence that hope is on the way doesn't look at verse one.

Now Naomi. Samuel is writing this account were the likely had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth of the family level and a lack whose name was Boaz. Now with that brief statement, the author immediately builds anticipation and hope life by hinting to us who know about the role of the kinsman redeemer that we just probably been introduced to the night in shining armor were given several glimpses into the life of this night this man named Boaz in this rather brief biography. But let me let me point out several things that you can pull from this about him that will actually tell us a lot. First were told that Boaz is clearly related to Naomi. The Hebrew word here for kinsman can refer to either a friend, perhaps even an acquaintance well known or a relative number to find out later majority, not those of you study through this book that he was in fact a close relative. In fact, according to rabbinical tradition carried now for several or many centuries. Boaz was believed to be the nephew of a limo. Naomi's deceased husband. What we do know is because he is are a relative. He is a potential redeemer of a little Lexus state which would then rescue. I just Ruth but Naomi from destitution and poverty so already it in that one sentence were given a hint that hope just might be on the way. Secondly, were told. Boaz is greatly respected in Bethel now this phrase here. He he was a man of great wealth is actually a phrase difficult to define which translated valiant warrior Joshua chapter 6 verse two. It's translated and second channel 17, a mighty man of war. When the angel of God came to Gideon in Judges 6 he said the Lord is with you, oh mighty man of valor same phrase here determine fact that such a strong military nuance that some scholars believe that Boaz might have been a veteran soldier since Boaz did live in the days of Gideon.

Some even speculate further and eligible man to serve and Gideon called for the faithful man among the tribes to fight with him that Boaz may very well have been one of Gideon's 300 valiant men phrase used here the word, however, or this phrase means more than a value soldier. It's also translated in the Old Testament, a man of great influence of integrity that the same expression will appear in Ruth chapter 3 verse 11 when Boaz tells Ruth that she is a woman of excellence same word again. Finally, the word is used in second Kings 15 verse 20 to refer to a man of means. A man of financial wealth. So yes I said all of that to tell you anyway you want to slice it, Boaz. This is a powerful man.

He is a highly respected man in Bethlehem is a man of honor and integrity and an influence in more than likely wealth. He owns the fields that Ruth will glean all of these attributes are going to be proven throughout the remainder of this little this little book, let me point out one more quality to Boaz that could easily be overlooked and yet, in my mind cemented my view of this man is a godly he was. Not only closely related to Naomi. He was, not only greatly respected in Bethlehem, but thirdly I wanted a notice that Boaz was spiritually reassuring to his employees fact skip down to verse four were told what happens when Boaz arrives at the field, so let's just jump ahead for for just a moment for the sake of his biography. I look at what happens now, the whole Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers. May the Lord be with you and they responded to him. May Yahweh bless you that you might easily skip this. I did the first time through this book. Don't don't miss this. He arrives in immediately shows concern that goes well beyond the normal shalom peace to you, which was the normal greeting Boaz's words here are freighted with spiritual truth. He greets them, but he gives them hope.

He says May the Lord. May Yahweh be with you. In other words, Boaz is saying to his employees that he wants them not only to be blessed, but he wants them to recognize that God is with them. He wants them to have the sense that they are working in the field under the and the observation and the care of God.

Imagine your boss walking past her desk tomorrow and say I just hope you sense God's presence today. He probably would get called to the front office being a little too religious. Can you imagine those of you who have people working for you. This is certainly convicting for me. Can you imagine going by their desk or their their Cuba call and and saying, and I hope that you sense the presence of God as you work today, you would probably get some empty stairs. Maybe some would tear up. Maybe somebody would say he's ever said to me before you say, but this is Boaz. He knows he's going to be in the Bible know he doesn't. This is not just glib religious jargon. You know God bless you. In fact, his employees knew he meant it because they responded by saying God bless you to again remember the context of the times Israel's morals are at an all-time low. The people have fun lives spiritually defeated lives now for nearly a decade. They are also wrong with physical needs, and the famine is just now lifted Boaz here cares about more than just a bumper crop. It is hey you know God is watching you get to work. That would be more normal. We better pull in a good load today is the first time we been able to see something grow. Let's pray that God gives the best drop ever know. I hope that you sense God's presence in your life today, highly significant to me on the canvas of Scripture than the portrait of Boaz is immediately painted with the brushstrokes of spiritual depth, integrity, a measure of humility. Certainly, godly character, and in then it struck me as I follow down this train of thought for a while. Maybe this was the reason he was still single. Maybe he wasn't all that interesting to the local girls they wanted his money but he just talked about too much just to religious more than likely wasn't interested in them either because he hasn't at this point settle for anyone. These are the days of the judges. When everyone did that which was right in their own eyes. Judges 2125 so in a culture marked by moral and spiritual decadence.

Boaz shines with that let me stop here and and pull out of just this brief biographies and principles. Two of them before we move on about character, number one, even when most people have forgotten God. It's possible to develop godly in the middle of this generation man named Boaz rides out to the field and greets everyone in the name of the Lord and understand his tribesmen were no longer convinced that God would be worth following. Boaz says to his employees listen God is not only were following implied in this in this greeting, but I hope you sense number two.

Even when you're culture around you becomes self centered. It's possible to be self-sacrificing.

This is a time when everyone was doing whatever they wanted to do was a doggy dog world these days. Yet, here's a man who cared about people, even people lower down on the ladder on the lower rung in society. Now the law of Moses dictated that a farmer was to leave the corners of his field for the poor. It also dictated. They were to allow others to come along and repeat what was fallen in fact fallen fruit could be gathered by the farmer that was left for the poor.

Even though this was dictated. These are these are tough time. No doubt throughout Israel. There were farmers who refuse they forbade gleaners they would send their own farmhands back into the field to get whatever was left behind. These were tough times these were not times for the laws of mercy and grace and generosity. They were for about he evidently here will care about the needy and the downtrodden by keeping the law he will find his wife imagined what we better move on to verse two or they will never meet you and Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi.

Please let me go to the field and clean among the ears of grain.

After wanted to sci-fi me wine and she said to her go. My daughter, so she departed and went and gleamed in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz who was of the family of a little in Bible times, reapers from what I have learned would grab the stalk with his left hand and with his right short sickle he lop it off its roots. Once he gathered a handful. He laid down and others would come along. Perhaps he and they didn't have enough employees and the typos bundle and then they work their way through the field and someone would collect the bundle at the reapers would work very carefully. There would be much left over.

In fact, leaning for fallen stall's or grain left behind was tantamount to eating out and exist he'd be like somebody in our culture trying to make a living walking along the road collecting aluminum cans notice for three and she happened to come to that portion of the field belonging to Boaz here.

Ruth is decided to help out her mother lost to survive. She goes to a field in the Hebrew language in that phrase literally reads, she chanced to chance upon the field belonging to Boaz. I love that what looks like a chance, a coincidence his divine providence.

She chanced to chance upon the field, belonging to not remember here for her. This is just an ordinary decision. There are no lights flashing and there's not a band playing out all Boaz is field come this way Ruth are no greater saying come through this gate Ruth and find your destiny. No help like that she's just making a decision. She just says I think I'll go over there. I see some people bleeding and maybe the let me come along to so she enters into that field begins to gleamed to the world. It was blind chance, but you are immediately struck our with this big nothing less than the providence of God's direction. This is Proverbs 3, five and six and living color in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path. Is this a coincidence, not a chance finding out ways God arranged this initial meeting between Boaz and Ruth as will see is is interesting as it shows the hand of God behind the scenes that one of the things my wife and I like to find out about people, whatever with couples is will last and how they met. Always fascinating to find out how they met one another. Eventually, you know, without on the first day and then married. We heard an interesting story number of years ago.

But one couple who attended our church number of years ago they were both attending Bible college, getting ready to graduate just before this young man graduated a friend gave him the name and address of a of a girl.

Her brother David evidently this young gal's brother didn't work out, and she knew this young man and she said you know, here's a commendable young lady and she gave him her name and phone that was it. He put the piece of paper in his wallet forgot all about two years later, he's now on the ministries preaching and one night he cleaned out his wallet and found in there that little piece of paper with his girls name and address on.

He wondered if she'd gotten married and on a whim on the chance.

He wrote a letter asking her, she'd be interested in meeting him sometime when the letter arrived. It just so happened to be that she was coming back from a conference where she had committed her life to full-time Christian work.

She wrote her back and said I would be willing to meet.

If you're ever in town, so eventually this young man had a couple of preaching opportunities nearby. I'm sure he created them out of nothing to get in the town he arrived in town on the day he arrived in town, world war two had just ended and as a result to national holidays were declared by the US government and his meetings ended up being canceled.

He had nothing to do for two days and as a result, the girl's father invited him to stay in their home. He was either wanting to get rid of his daughter or out of his mind. One of the 28 weeks later two months later Paul and Betty Jane freed were married.

Paul, if you don't know, was the president of Transworld radio for decades, both he and Betty Jane were members of our church when we were meeting back east. Middle school and he's now with the Lord in Betty Jane is now living in Florida, listening to every sermon I preach so hello Betty Jane, thank you for the perfect illustration Betty J guidance from the Lord's promise it. It just comes on the heels of ordinary decision. There are no visions, no writing in the sky.

No bands played but when your heart says the same thing that Ruth's heart said the God of Israel will be my God, and Boaz evidently had a personal relationship with Yahweh in the wanted people to sense his presence. David said it this way, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Psalm 3723 and so now just a few decisions here and there and Ruth is gleaning in the field just so happens to belong to Boaz and when you know what Boaz just so happens to decide to come visit that field is very morning verse four now hold.

I like that. Now look if you can believe it. The idea Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers. May the Lord be with you and they said to him, may the Lord bless you. Then Boaz said to his servant, who was in charge of the reapers, whose young woman is this now and he says, may Yahweh be with you makes sense his presence and they say, may God bless you and that's about when he spots this young lady and and everything freezes.

He takes a breath and then asks his servant whose young woman is this this is the Hebrew equivalent of a whistle.

She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab and she said please let me clean and gather after the reapers among the she that she came and has remained from the morning until now she's been sitting in that house for a little while. Slow down. Verse eight informs us that Boaz is going to go and meet her at this moment she's resting.

He spotted her in this house could've been a lean to shanty for all we know. So between the greeting and the spotting of her and the servant telling him about her and going to talk to her. There's there's some elapsed time. In fact, between seeing her and going to talk to her. There's enough time for him to formulate in his mind, a plan there's enough time for him to already tell his employees what to do about her because he'll tell her what he's told that so we have a little bit of time here where he can engineer this moment where you get just the right words is no different than that right so Boaz works of the speech. Look at the detail he's putting Boaz said Ruth.

Listen carefully. My daughter do not go to gleaning in another field. Furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my mains. Let your eyes be on the field would say we go after. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch and when you're thirsty, go to the water jars and drink. He has figured everything out every conceivable keep Beverly his feet.

We can keep going today. We need to pause right here and bring you the conclusion to this lesson on our next broadcast your unwisdom for the heart. Stephen Davey is working through a series from the book of Ruth.

He's calling this lesson. No such thing as chance I want to make sure that you're aware this series is available as a book. It's part of our wisdom commentary series and it simply called Ruth the book of Ruth is more than just a great story it's filled with rich theology regarding redemption. Stephen explores all of that in this book. If you'd like to add it to your library of Christian resources give us a call today. Our number is 86 648 Bible once again you can reach us at 86 648 Bible. This resource is also available in our online store which you'll find wisdom online. Join us again tomorrow at the same time right here on wisdom