This is Ruth's Destination - God's Provision!

There was a man, the Bible did not bother to record his name, perhaps to avoid shaming him, and simply referred to him as someone or that man. That man refused to redeem the land for Naomi. In fact, Naomi had sold the land. Why? Because all the men in her family had died. She sold it, and as a result, that man initially wanted to buy it. Did he think it was a good deal? Of course, if it was just a piece of land, it would be a good deal. If I bought it, the property of my family would expand. However, the problem was: he refused to marry Ruth. Why? Because once he married Ruth, he would have to give her money for the land, and the land would have to carry on the name of her original family. Then he would have to take care of her, raise her and her orphaned children, and then return the land to them. In reality, it was a losing proposition. So why didn't Boaz think it was a losing proposition, but that man did? Was it really a losing proposition or not?

Actually, the thinking of these two men is very interesting. They both read the same history of the Israelites, the same laws of the God worshipped by the Israelite nation, yet they had completely different interpretations. This is a very strange thing. That is to say, we all read the same Bible, but we read different things out of it. Even heretics and cults read the Bible. This is a very amazing thing, isn't it? We find it very strange! So is the understanding of that certain person correct, or is the understanding of Boaz correct?

I want to tell you that Boaz's understanding is correct. This is the basic principle embodied in the Bible: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Don't think that what you give is a loss, it is actually a gain! I have been quite moved recently. A couple in our midst were the first besides us to buy a house and have property. Recently, a sister in their small group was going through a lot of divorce procedures with her husband, and her husband made so much noise that she couldn't sleep. After this matter was known to this couple, they said, “If you really can't, you can live in my house for a period of time. Although I can't keep you in my house for a long time, you can still stay in my house during the short period of finding a house.” I was quite moved by this. As a small group leader, they were willing to pay such a price. Actually, you know, another person living in your home still creates a lot of inconvenience. Originally, two people were very convenient in their own home, wearing clothes, washing things, writing things, etc., without so many concerns. Having an outsider will always bring inconvenience. This couple not only did this, but also were willing to lend a helping hand to others in many instances. This is a blessing!

This Boaz had the mentality of paying the price. This is what God wants you to read out of His Book of the Law. How come that certain man didn't read it out? Don't think that reading the Bible will remove the inherent thoughts within him. Some people read the Bible and remove the worldly ways of thinking within them. Some people read it but don't remove it. Why? Because he just doesn't believe. This Boaz was deeply influenced by his mother Rahab. I believe he had this mentality: I have no problem paying this price.

Did he know that this Ruth, a virtuous woman, whom he was marrying, would have descendants that would be counted under the name of Elimelich's family? He knew it! Later, he would also have to return the property and money to Naomi, and then take care of the orphans and widows. Wouldn't you say this is just asking for trouble?

But on the one hand, Boaz was extraordinary. He was not because Ruth was beautiful, but because Ruth had this kind of mentality. Ruth's inner mentality attracted Boaz, who thought that marrying such a girl was an extremely good thing! Let me briefly mention the issue of making girlfriends. How should a boy choose a girl to be his girlfriend? You have to learn from Boaz. Brothers and sisters, if you find a wife or girlfriend or a very good girl who is compatible, if this girl has the qualities of Ruth, don't let her go. Because her whole mindset is really a role model for blessing you and your descendants. Did Boaz think that it would be dangerous to marry her because her husband had been killed by her not long ago? Boaz didn't think so. What did he think? He thought, Even if this property is under the name of Elimelich, it is a worthwhile thing for me to pay this price. Because God knows me, God will surely reward me richly! Our whole inner mindset must be readjusted, especially new friends and newcomers. When you come to pray, it is not paying the price, it is getting grace! When you come to church to study the Bible together and worship our God together, it is not paying the price, it is getting grace! When we have this mentality, when you pay a price, ah! I am going to be blessed!

A person without this mentality will hardly be blessed. This Book of Ruth describes Boaz and Ruth in detail. As a result, the words spoken by the people and elders sitting at the city gate were also very interesting. The people and elders said: We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who built up the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrath, and be famous in Bethlehem. May the Lord give you descendants from this young woman, and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.

Do you grasp the meaning of this? Perhaps when we read it, we wonder what it's all about. Allow me to explain it to you.

Firstly, if you are a woman, even if the Bible says that man is the head of the woman, you should rejoice in being a woman, because God has a special fondness for godly women. All these godly descendants invariably have a godly woman at their root. It is just as the pastor's wife says, Mothers are the ones who pass on the faith. You see, the mother's influence on her children is exceedingly profound! Observe, May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. Are you familiar with Rachel and Leah? Rachel and Leah were both daughters of Laban. They only briefly heard Jacob recount his origins in their home. In truth, these two sisters barely understood who Jacob was or what was so divine about him. There was not much courtship, nor were they very clear about his character. They merely heard him speak of the promises he inherited from God through his grandfather and father: Your descendants will become a great nation, a blessing to all nations. As a result, both sisters vied to marry Jacob. Why did they want to marry Jacob? Because Rachel and Leah shared this conviction: I and my descendants shall be a blessing to all nations. Because they valued this greatly, both Rachel and Leah married Jacob. Later, they indeed became the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Later, it is mentioned, like the family of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah. This Judah was the son of Jacob, and Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law. Let me elaborate briefly. Tamar was the wife of Judah's eldest son, but the eldest son died without having children. Consequently, the eldest daughter-in-law was married to the second son. The Bible writes this in a compelling manner. The second son is written about in a shameful way, as he spilled his semen outside, not within Tamar, to cause her to conceive and bear children. As a result, God struck him down dead. Judah feared the same would happen to his third son. He made an excuse and sent Tamar away. Why was he unwilling for his sister-in-law to have children through him? Because he feared his inheritance would be jeopardized and suffer harm. The story of Tamar is retold among the Israelites, as is the story of Rachel and Leah. They are all great women, women who obtained God's blessing.

You will find that people have two choices. One is to choose to inherit the mission, not caring about material things; the other is to disregard the mission, caring only about their property and possessions.

One day, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute, and Judah, her father-in-law, was deceived. Judah then engaged in prostitution with his daughter-in-law Tamar. Do not find this strange; this Tamar was an extraordinary woman. As a result, she bore a child named Perez. Do not think this is a bizarre matter; God favours a girl who carries the mission of inheritance. That is to say, the value system inherited from the mother by the descendants has a profound influence on the child. Today, the mothers of our church are all people who inherit the mission. The mother's influence on her children is very deep. If the mother is a person who inherits the mission, your children will be formidable.

So, what kind of woman is God looking for to bless? He seeks women who inherit the mission! This Tamar was determined to preserve the bloodline of the house of Judah. She was determined to inherit the house of Judah and to preserve descendants for the house of Judah. As a result, Judah's sons had died, leaving only Judah and a young son, whom Judah would not give to her. I think what this matter highlights is that God deliberately emphasizes one thing in this place: that He does not necessarily value those things of ethics and morality so much. He places greater importance on the inheritance of this mission, the descendants, and the person's attitude. God values that attitude within you—inheritance—and then descendants. And what were the results? As a result, Ruth was placed alongside Tamar, Rachel, and Leah. They all appear in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Then you might ask, God, what are you doing? God is seeking such women. Later, He found a woman named Mary, who was also such a woman. God said, I am going to have Jesus born. She did not think about those ethics and morals, those things we think about. Worldly concepts cannot transcend godly concepts. Godly concepts must transcend worldly concepts. This is what Ruth was like. In this chapter, I want to tell you that it is already very clear, conveying God's intention to us: It is more blessed to give than to receive.

You must, in any case, carry the concept of inheriting the mission: You and your descendants must bless others. If you carry the mission to bless others, and your descendants carry the attitude of blessing others, your God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. Since He is such a God, it is easy to emulate such people.