I love digging up stories in the Old Testament that are so timely for today! And I’ve got a great story to share with our men on Father’s Day.
It’s the story of a man who had the title kinsman-redeemer. Culturally, we don’t practice this anymore. But spiritually, the concepts are so on-target for today. I am really excited to share this with our men this Sunday, and then to watch our guys step up to the challenge of becoming a modern-day kinsman redeemer for the families.
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I love the incredible love story in the Bible about Ruth and Boaz. I’m not sure why this hasn’t been made into a movie yet, because it would be a blockbuster!
Ruth is a picture of a God-fearing woman who turns her back on all she’s known to follow God’s leading. Boaz is a real man: strong, successful, respectful of women, honoring of tradition, hard-working, God-loving. You would expect in a story about two people who love God, and who fall in love with each other, and who have a son who becomes the grandfather of King David, that there would be at least one “divine moment.” You know, one of those unmistakable God-ordained moments when everything falls into place.
Here it is. In chapter 2 when Ruth first meets Boaz—when they have their first divine encounter—the Bible says:
As it turned out, Ruth found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz.
As it turned out?!? That’s not very romantic. Or powerful. Or even God-honoring. Other translations are equally as bland:
The Message: Eventually she ended up in the field owned by Boaz.
ESV: She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz.
KJV: And her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz.
You see, we know the end of the story. We know God was in control of their lives. We know God set it up for Ruth and Boaz to cross paths. And yet even Samuel (or whoever wrote down this story) or Ruth (or whoever told this story to the author) could hardly believe it. “I just happened to end up in the right field at the right time!”
At the end of the story of my life, I think I will look back and see so many as-it-turned-out moments. So many things that just-so-happened. But that would mean I’m living in an as-it-turned-out moment right now. If I believe God is directing my paths, then…
…every momentis divinely orchestrated.
…every moment is strategic.
…every moment is God-directed.
If you knew that this moment was a divine moment, how would you live differently? If you knew this was an as-it-turned-out, God-directed moment, how would you respond? Well, you are living in that moment right now so be on the lookout for what God is doing.
P.S. I shared both a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day message using this story. The series was called Ruth + Boaz.
Craig T. Owens 