Three Widows and a Farmer – Everyone has a part in God’s plan
Reading Ruth 1: 1 – 19
Key verse: Ruth 1: 1 “But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
You are part of God’s plan.
It is a sad reflection of our Christian lives that when we are shown that we are an integral part of God’s salvation plan, we respond by saying something like “God is so great and powerful I can’t believe that my life has any place in His eternal plan. I am insignificant, too small, not a preacher, how can I really be an integral part in His plan?” Our guilt and our fears all combine to make us feel that this place in God’s plan is for others and not us. How can we break free from this? I hope that by reading the book of Ruth we will understand that we are indeed part of God’s plan and all have a role. In this book we see that there are no outstanding characters, no kings, no prophets, judges or priests, just three widows and a farmer. The great personalities within the bible can be intimidating when we read about all of their works and how God led them, and we say to ourselves “surely I cannot be included with them?” The story of Ruth I believe shows us that this view point is flawed, and that it is all part of salvation and bringing us back to fellowship with God. You and I are as much a part of God’s plan as are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Mary, Peter, Paul and Ruth.
Our Lord cares for each one of us “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 and He has given us all unique talents “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:” Romans 12:4-6. God wants to and does use us all in His wonderful plan.
What could be more tragic than what is happening in the book of Ruth – there is a famine, the family move away, the husband dies, the two sons marry and then the two sons die leaving a grieving mother and two daughters-in-law. Many of these things have not changed in the thousands of years that have passed since this event but we may ask what has this to do with us and our role in God’s plan?
Ruth was an outsider she was a Moabite and yet she became an integral part in the salvation plan of God, we too were outsiders before trusting in the salvation work of Jesus Christ. Ruth had a choice, she could go back to her family and live out the rest of her life as a widow or she could by faith give up everything and follow Naomi back to Israel. Is this not what we did when we trusted in the salvation work of God?
What of Naomi? Even though her return was seen by many as exciting, we see her complaining (“She said to them, “Call me no longer Naomi , call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the LORD has dealt harshly with me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” Ruth 1:20-21). We cannot complain to God, can we? I believe God wants us to be honest with Him, so when we are feeling low, when we feel wronged, tell Him. By doing this we are doing what many others in the bible have done, having an honest conversation with our Father.
Naomi was at her lowest, she was empty and it is at these very same times in our lives that God is at His closest and ready to pour out blessings that are beyond our wildest imagination. God uses us best when we are open to His prompting, Look at Naomi she received a blessing when Ruth returned from the field of Boaz with the gift of grain to sustain her.
What of Ruth, this was the time of harvest and of all of the fields to pick up the left over seed she found herself in the field of Boaz who was family to Naomi. We may not understand why we are where we are but God shall we say has a knack of putting us in just the right places where we can do the most good. How Naomi must have praised God for his providence, she instructed Ruth on what she should do in order for them to receive salvation. We also have a great teacher in our Saviour and He has given us the living word that we may also receive salvation.
How much faith Ruth had, in trusting that nothing untoward would happen when told to go to the threshing floor at night and lie down at the feet of Boaz? She was putting herself at risk, she was an outsider, Boaz may not have been the gentleman he was. Instead, God’s hand was at work, she was told to wait until Boaz was asleep and then lift the corner of his blanket and lay it over her. Instead, by faith she spoke with Boaz and asked for the blanket to be laid over her. We must never be afraid to speak our own words about our Lord.
Boaz became the intercessor, he knew there was a price to be paid and that there was another in line that had a greater obligation in accordance with the demands of the law. He set out to be the salvation of Ruth and Naomi. We have a great intercessor in Jesus Christ, and because of sin, there is another who has a claim on us. Jesus paid the price for us and by His blood we are redeemed the price paid.
I return to that complaint of Naomi’s about going away full and returning empty, how gracious is our God and He always answers our prayers and grumblings, and not always when we want them answered. Towards the end of this book, note the praise of the women in the village “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.” Ruth 4:14-15 and “A son has been born to Naomi.” Ruth 4:17. That son was great grandfather to David and part of the messianic line to Joseph.
We are never too small for God to use and He will if we allow Him. We should not hide the light that is in us in a cupboard, for what good is it doing there? We should put it outside where all can see, the light not only shows us what is in front of us it also illuminates the way for others to see.
So remember three widows and a farmer and let us say “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2 and during this time of Covid isolation ask “what can I do Lord to increase your kingdom”.