Joseph’s genealogy from Matthew 1:1-17: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah,
Perez, Hezron, Ram, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David, Solomon,
Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz,
Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jeconiah, Shealtiel, Zerubbabel, Abiud,
Eliakim, Azor, Zadok, Akim, Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, Jacob was the father of Joseph,
the husband of Mary, mother of Jesus.
Mary’s genealogy from Luke 3:23-38: Jesus was known as the son of Joseph,
Joseph son-in-law of Heli, Heli was the father of Mary, Heli was
the son of Matthat, Levi, Melki, Jannai, Joseph, Mattathias, Amos, Nahum,
Esli, Naggai, Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda, Joanan, Rhesa,
Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, Melki, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er, Jorim, Matthat,
Levi, Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Eliakim, Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David,
Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon, Amminadab, Admin, Arni (Ram),
Hezron, Perez, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, Serug, Reu,
Peleg, Eber, Shelah, Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch,
Jared, Mahalalel, Kenan, Enosh, Adam, Adam was the son of God.
Matthew’s genealogy is for Joseph and it traces Jesus back to Abraham to show he was a Jew. Luke’s genealogy is for Mary and it traces Jesus back to Adam to show he was linked to all human’s.
2. Ruth 2:2a, “And Ruth the Moabitess said to
Naomi, ’Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in
whose eyes I find favor.’”
When the wheat and barley
were ready, men were hired to harvest the fields. Israelite law demanded that the corners of the
fields be left for the poor. Also the
loose grains that fell from the bundles were to be left. This was known as gleaning. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do
not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your
harvest. Leave them for the poor and the
alien. I am the Lord your God,”
(Leviticus 23:22). The purpose of this
law was to provide food to the poor and to keep owners from hoarding the
harvest. This was type of welfare
program.
3. Ruth 2:7, “She said, ‘Please let me glean and
gather among the sheaves behind the harvester.’
She went into the fields and has worked steadily form morning till now,
except for a short rest in the shelter.”
The work Ruth was doing was
very hard, tiring, and degrading. It was
the work of the very poor. She did the
work faithfully and without complaint.
Proverbs 13:4 says, “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the
desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”
In our lives we must remember that even when something gets hard, be it
physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally we should do it to the best
of our ability if we are to accomplish our task.
4. Ruth 2:8-9, “So Boaz said to Ruth, ‘My
daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and
glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting,
and follow along after the girls. I have
told the men not to touch you. And
whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have
filled.’”
Gleaning in the fields could
be very dangerous. The women could be
robed or worse raped by the harvesters.
Boaz didn’t want Ruth hurt, so her protected her from the other men by
allowing her to work with his servant girls and by telling the men to not
bother her.
5. Ruth 2:11, “Boaz replied, ‘I’ve been told all
about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your
husband-how you left your father and mother and your homeland and come to live
with a people you did not know before.’”
Ruth’s reputation and
character had become well known. Ruth’s
life exhibited admirable qualities: She
was hardworking, loving, kind, faithful, and brave. Our reputation is formed by the people who
watch us at work, in town, at home, in church.
A good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you
believe in, no matter what group of people or surroundings you are in.
6. Ruth 2:15-16, “As she got up to glean Boaz
gave orders to his men, ’Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don’t embarrass
her. Rather, pull out some stalks for
her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.’”
We see two things in this
passage. First is Boaz’s compassion and
charity. He took pity on Ruth and went
beyond what the law says by making sure she would having enough grain. Luke 21:1-4 says, “As he looked up, Jesus saw
the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very
small copper coins. ‘I tell you the
truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more that all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of
their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’” We are called to give more than just the
minimum. We are called to give more of
our wealth, more of our time, and more of our love. The second thing we learn is that Boaz has
begun to fall in love with Ruth. He is
not only attracted to her beauty, but also to her character. It is love at first sight.
7. Ruth 2:20a, “’The Lord bless him!’ Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness to
the living and the dead.’”
While Naomi had been bitter
in the last chapter, she never lost faith in God.
8. Ruth may not have recognized what God was
doing for her, but it was no coincidence that she happened to glean in a field
owned by Boaz and that he happened to be a relative. God was at work. In our own daily tasks God is always at work,
even if we don’t see it. Events do not
occur by luck or coincidence. We should
have faith that God is directing our lives for his purpose. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.”
9. Boaz was a hero. Heroes are seldom conscious of their moments
of heroism, and may not recognize their acts as heroic. Heroes simply do the right thing at the right
time. Heroes tend to think of others before
themselves. Heroes are not the men in
tights. Heroes are not always perfect
people, but they do come in many forms.
The soldier that refuels the tanks is a hero, even if he doesn’t every
fight on the battle field. The parents
that show up to every baseball game is a hero to their child. The mentors for our young ladies at Youth
Hope. They give up a little time, so
that these girls can know someone cares.
The shut-in who gives her $10.00 every week, even though she can’t come
to church and has very little money.
Boaz’s dealings with others was always sensitive to their needs. His words to his employees, relatives, and
others were made with kindness. He
offered help openly, not grudgingly. He
saw Ruth’s need and had compassion. We
will see next week more of his compassion and heroism. Boaz lived by the proverb in Proverbs 19:17
that says, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward
him for what he has done.” We are
helping the Lord when we help others and God will reward us for what we do.
10. Character: Romans 5:1:5, Galatians 5:23-26
11. Reputation:
1 Timothy 3:1-13
12. Charity: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
13. “Reputation is what men and women think of
us; character is what God and angels know of us.” Thomas Paine
