Focus: God Is Good!

Text: Ruth 2:16

"And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not."

The story of Boaz and Ruth brings out to us a picture of divine goodness. God is good to His people.

Naomi and Ruth came back to Bethlehem in the season of harvest. What that meant was that they had no right to harvest because they had not cultivated any land nor put any seeds in the ground. Harvest is only for those who have labored and planted their seeds, expecting to reap rich crops from their fields or farms. But God made a provision for the poor ones in the land. The poor could go to the already harvested fields and glean from them. Let me explain further that in harvesting, Israel would harvest the best of the land produce, leaving out the worst or the not-so-good ones, whereas in gleaning, the poor in Israel looked for the best of the worst or the best of the not-so-good crops.

Now this is where the goodness and kindness of God comes in. Boaz mirrors God in this story. In the second chapter of Ruth, Boaz is described as "a mighty man of wealth." In his sight Ruth found favor. He noticed and treated her kindly. Ruth said to him, "You have comforted me, and for that you have spoken friendly to thine handmaid, though I be not like one of thine handmaidens." Boaz was kindhearted to her, and never treated her with disdain or disrespect. As a matter of fact, Boaz instructed the reapers to intentionally let some of the goodly crops drop to the ground for her to pick up. That meant that she would not only gather the best of the worst, but she would also be picking up the best of the crops.

Do you know how good your God is? He wants you greatly blessed. The best things you have in this life are intentionally dropped in your life by God. While you are busy gleaning the best of the worst, God is busy dropping His goods into your life out of His limitless resources.

God blesses you on purpose. God heals you on purpose. He delivers you on purpose. God helps you on purpose. God is gracious to you on purpose. God enlivens, enriches, enlarges, enlightens, empowers, and employs you on purpose. 

Everything God is doing in your life is not accidental, incidental or coincidental. God is very intentional in blessing you. He is good to you. God is always intentional, purposeful and providential in His dealings with you.

Ruth was busy gathering the great produce of the land, not knowing that Boaz dropped them for her on purpose. She didn't get them because of her intelligence or industry, but by reason of divine favor. The hand of providence dropped precious crops for her to pick up.

Look at our text again and you'll see the words 'fall' and 'purpose.' Both words are the same thing in the Hebrew, and that speaks of emphasis. It is one word repeated twice, which implies that Boaz was intensely intentional. On the side of Ruth, she was gathering the spoils of Boaz's favor. 

The bounties of grace are really our spoils. The blessings of heaven are really great spoils made possible by grace. We only make effort to gather what grace has scattered around us or bestowed upon us. Our God is good indeed, and we are grateful for all He does for us - purposely blessing us!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter