2008-07-26 - Ruth: By “Coincidence”

Installment 16 ~ Chapter2, Part 2

Chapter 2, Verses 3-6: As we rejoin the story, it appears that the author understood irony. This can easily be seen in verse 3 in the New American Standard version.

“… and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz …”

We have heard people say “it is a coincidence that …” This is what the author says, “Just by chance, Ruth …” But of course, the whole thrust of the account is that nothing is coincidence.

God is working in ways that we often don’t recognize until after the fact.

And so, by coincidence, Ruth just happens to end up in the field of Boaz. Keep in mind there is nothing in the text to demonstrate Naomi told Ruth to glean where she did. It had to have been the work of the Holy Spirit which put her in the right place at the right time.

And also “by chance”, Ruth arrives to glean at the same time Boaz returns to his fields from the city. He was checking up on how the harvest was going. He greets his men by calling out “the Lord be with you,” which gives an example of his character. And the men return his greeting.

I wonder if we can see this same recognition of God’s involvement in our lives?

To be continued.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

Additional studies by Geoff
Podcasts of Studies in Matthew can be found at www.GKragen.com