Introduction: We find that Ruth was searching for food in the previous parts of this lesson.  Man must have food to exist.  Jesus tells us about food in the book of Matthew.

                                                Matthew 4:4

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

      The food that every Christian must eat spiritually in order to survive as a Christian is the blessed old Book, our Bible.   A good rule for us would be: “no Bible, no breakfast”.  Each year we should make a trip to the Holy Land from our table as we read the Word of God.  Why read the Bible one may ask?  "It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers.  Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved, Practice it to be holy.  It is the traveler's way, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's charter."

      She was also searching for favor.  She wanted favor in the sight of some landowner who would allow a Gentile to come and reap in his field.  Prejudice is not some new come lately idea.  It was a sin for most of mankind’s existence. 

      She had been searching for fulfillment.  She wanted to be a blessing to her mother-in-law.  She wanted to be more than a mouth to feed but a blessing.  As I typed those words, this thought hit me.  Many people come to church to be fed but very few come to be a blessing.  I have never wanted to be a bench warmer but an active participant in the house of God.  In doing so, I have been fed and found fulfillment.

      We saw that the Lord was involved in her search.  The Lord guided this lady to the right field.  There was no sign saying that this was the property of Boaz.  I cannot adequately explain how she knew that this was the right place.  I do know that that she had peace.  How do I know this?  When I find God’s providential hand in my life, I find peace.  There are five secrets for a lack of a better word to know the will of God.

1. Our motives must be pure.

2.  Our will must be surrendered.

3.  We must seek information for our mind.

4.  We must be much in prayer for guidance.

5.  We must wait the gradual unfolding of God's plan in providence.

      But once again, this would be a great rabbit trail and I will not be able to run it down.  As many great subjects, I will have to pursue this some other time.

      What we see in this passage is the foreknowledge of God.  The Lord knew that there would be a young lady one day would need food.  So years before that day, He placed in the law a place to help the poor.   Leviticus 19:9-10

“And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.”                Deuteronomy 24:19-22

“When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.  When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.”

      This was the Lord working in the past for her present situation.  Also we see the involvement of the Lord in her present.  This verse says that it was her "hap" to go into a field owned by this man named Boaz. From a human perspective it looked as though it was purely coincidental. However, for God's perspective, it was sovereignty in action. He had already determined that there was going to be a wedding, and a baby for Ruth. Ruth doesn't know it, but the Lord is pulling all the strings of her life to get her in the right place at the right time.

      This brings us to the third thought in this lesson.   

III. THE PERSON IN HER SEARCH

                                                Vs. 1

“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.”

      She thought she was looking for a meal, but God was about to introduce her to a man. She went to find some food; God was about to give her a new family. Although Ruth doesn't know it right now, this Boaz is the real object of her search.  But God knew.  I am glad that the Lord knows.  We ought to bask in that thought- God knows.  Let me give you seven thoughts along this line of thought.

• Our Father knows when to test us.
• Our Father knows with what to test us.
• Our Father knows the reason for our testing.
• Our Father knows to the extent of testing.
• Our Father knows how to supply that which is lacking. 
• Our Father knows when to give relief.
• Our Father knows how to give much more than we ask for.

          A. He Was A Related Man - This verse tells us that he was a "kinsman". He was just what Ruth needed, although she didn't know it. He did not even know it.  Boaz was qualified to perform the function of the "Kinsman Redeemer" to these widows, according to the Law of God.  Numbers 27:8-11

“And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren. And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.”

            Boaz is a type of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. He became a "kinsman" to us so that He might redeem us from our sins.

                                              Philippians 2:5-8

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

                              We will explore this more when we get to the fourth chapter.

         B.  He Was A Rich Man - He was "a mighty man of wealth". This means that Boaz possessed all the necessary resources to carry out the task of redemption.  

                           Only Jesus Christ is the man of sufficient resources to carry out the plan of redemption. He possesses perfect righteousness.

                                             2^nd Corinthians 5:21

                     “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

                                             1^st Peter 2:22-24

               “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

                                             Isaiah 53:4-6

               “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

                           If we don’t get the righteousness of God’s Son, we will never got to heaven.  Jesus hit this note hard in the Sermon on the Mount.

                                             Matthew 5:20

               “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

                                             John 3:3

               “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

                           Our righteousness is corrupt.

                                             Isaiah 64:6

               “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”   Jesus possesses everlasting love for the fallen.

                                             Jeremiah 31:3

               “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

                                             Romans 5:8

                     “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

                                             John 3:16

                     Jesus possesses infinite grace, sufficient to save any soul that will bow to God in faith and repentance, Eph. 2:8-9. (Ill. Paul - 1 Tim. 1:12-17!) Jesus completed God's plan for your redemption in its entirety, Heb. 10:11-14, Heb. 9:24-28; and now God is satisfied, 1 John 2:1; Isa. 53:11.) (Ill. Salvation may be free, but it wasn't cheap! Still, you can be saved today if you will come to Jesus by faith!)

C. He Was A Respected Man - We are told that Boaz was "a mighty man". His name means, "In it is strength." It sounds as though he was a respected man. It is this man that Ruth will meet, fall in love with and come to know intimately. (Note: Again, he is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in that God has given Jesus an exalted Name, Phil. 2:9-11. Men may mock Him and use His name as a byword, but in Heaven, that Name evokes worship and celebration! Of course, on day, He will receive the respect He is due from all men, Rom. 14:11, Ill. Rev. 5:1-13! It is far better to do it now than to wait until that day!)

Conclusion: I want to conclude this section from Ruth with three questions. They are simple. You know the answers and all you have to do is be honest in dealing with them.

1.  Are you saved, not a church member, not a good person, but truly born again?

2. If you are saved, can you honestly say that you are growing in the Lord, as you should be? It is God's command and desire that we grow.

                                                   2^nd Peter 3:18

3. Are you hungry for something in your spiritual life that you do not have right now? If so, it is available from the Lord, Psa. 84:11; Matt. 11:28. God has what each of you is looking for this morning if you will come to Him and get it.