Tuesday, September 7, 2010

God Is At Work - The Story of Ruth Part II - A "Chance" Meeting, Part 40 of 44

TEXT: "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 she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, 'Let her gather among the sheaves and don't reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her' " (Ruth 2:14-16).

IDEA: Eating with someone in the Near East can have great social significance.

PURPOSE: To help listeners appreciate the importance of eating a meal with someone in the Bible and in our society today.

Fred Smith observed that he took business associates out to a restaurant to eat but had special friends into his home for dinner.

Do you think that having a meal with someone means anything similar for Americans today?

I. In the Bible, eating with someone was more than merely having something to eat.

Eating with someone had great symbolic significance (Luke 15:1-2).

Christ's coming kingdom is described as a feast in Luke 14:15 and Matthew 22:14. So what?

II. In the story of Ruth, Boaz, by his generosity to Ruth at a meal, reflects his generosity as well as the generosity of God.

Eating with his workers says something about Boaz and his relation to his workers. Do you admire that? See Ruth 2:14-15 above.

Boaz's generous actions toward Ruth at this meal must have been a surprise to everyone.

He invites Ruth as an outsider and a Moabite to join him and his workers. "Come over" suggests that Ruth, as a stranger, had deliberately kept her distance from the group.

He invites Ruth to share the food prepared for his workers. He would not allow her to eat dry bread while he enjoyed more delicious food.

When Ruth had taken her seat among the harvesters, Boaz served her roasted grain himself.

Boaz gave Ruth enough food not only to satisfy her but enough left over to take home. All of this emphasizes Boaz's generosity.

This verse is not merely about feeding the hungry. Boaz took an ordinary meal and transformed it into an occasion of compassion, acceptance, and generosity.

"There is no hint of a romantic attraction between Boaz and Ruth. Given the racial and social barriers that separated them, the thought would never have crossed Ruth's mind" (Block, p 667).

Boaz was simply a good man used by God to show grace to Ruth. The "wings of God" are not only a comfort and protection for Israel, but also for a despised Moabite.

III. Has anyone ever ministered to you in this way?