A Gracious Reception

"Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” (Ruth 2:8-9)

After Ruth made her holy resolve to be with her mother-in-law Naomi, they returned together to where Jesus would one day enter our world in this very place of Bethlehem Ephrathah to be the Savior and Redeemer of all who would put their trust in Him.

It is amazing to consider how this unfolding development in the chain leading up to the gospel of Christ would include this man, Boaz, who came from Rahab, the Gentile harlot from Jericho (Josh 2), who in God's providence would have this Gentile woman Ruth show up in his field.

Later the prophet Micah would prophesy and bring this all together saying,

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

Ruth knew she was a stranger to this land, the people, and their religious ways. She was familiar with the heritage of faith of her family but she was only accustomed to life as a Moabite woman. Her choice to come back with Naomi was a turning point in her life and another progression in the redemptive plan of God as revealed throughout Scripture.

Ruth was now ready to press on to all that would lie ahead and to put her past behind her. As God would have it, she ended up on the field of Boaz, who just so happened to be a close relative of her father-in-law. Her selfless act put her in position for future blessing as she took the initiative to go to work in a nearby field with a willing heart and willing hands.

Diligence is always an important quality that every child of God needs to have. Scripture always speaks against laziness and gives many principles about the right way and the right motive toward work. Paul tells the believers that, "Whatever you do, do it heartily unto the Lord, and not unto men" (Col. 3:23).

While Ruth worked hard all day, Boaz took notice of her and desired to show generosity to her. This is a great example of how diligence loves to meet generosity. The Apostle Paul put it this way: "Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need" (Eph. 4:28).

Any onlooker would have seen the favor that was being shown to Ruth but there was one problem should have been considered...

Why should Ruth be allowed to enter God's assembly? After all, she was a Moabite, right?

There was a LAW given by Moses that says, “An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD forever, because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you" (Deut. 23;3-4).

So why should Ruth be so welcomed by Boaz and be received among God's people?

The answer comes down to the fact that Ruth had already renounced her identity as. a Moabite and therefore became a NEW CREATION when she converted and said, "...Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God" (Ruth 1:16). This was an early spring of God's grace.

Ephesians 2:11-13 declares, "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh...that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. BUT NOW in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

So Ruth is no longer a Moabite…but a GRAFTED IN GENTILE who believes. She represents all of us Gentiles who are graciously received by our Lord through faith in the Messiah.

This is a picture of the way the Lord comes to us, sees us, and shows us His mercy…
"that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Why are we allowed into God's family?

Because GRACE is greater than the LAW! As sure as Boaz received Ruth, our Lord has received each of us into His body by Christ who has redeemed us of our sins for Himself!

"Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter." (Rom. 7:4-6).

Boaz serves as a beautiful A TYPE OF CHRIST:

• He comes with blessing to give to all (2:4).
• He sees people and is willing to serve (2:5).
• He receives people with a gracious spirit (2:8-9)
• He protects those entrusted to him (2:9).
• He provides for their personal needs (2:14)
• He satisfies the thirsty and hungry soul (2:14)

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God (Rom. 15:5-7).

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION...
1. Take some time to consider where you were and where you would be if Christ did not graciously come and redeem you and receive you.

2. Are you willing to take the initiative and work hard as Ruth did when going to the field?

3. Do you extend the same grace and generosity to others that Boaz showed to Ruth and that Christ has personally shown to you?