Discover The Word

Thursday, November 11, 2010

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands – that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:11-13).

IDEA: In God’s kingdom, outsiders are embraced as insiders.

PURPOSE: To help listeners experience what God does for whose whom He brings to Himself.

Have you ever felt like an “outsider” in some social situation?

If so, how did you feel and what did you do?

I. Do you think that many Christians have ever felt that they were outsiders as far as their relationship to God?

Listen to what the apostle Paul wrote to people who were our ancestors, about what they were and what they had become: read Ephesians 2:11-13 above.

Do you ever think much about that now?  When?  Why not?

II. Those words, written by the apostle Paul to the Ephesians, applied to Ruth who lived twelve centuries before Paul lived.

Immediately after Boaz declares that he will serve as Elimelech’s kinsman-redeemer, the entire community erupts in celebration. The elders of the town and the villagers surround their native son and bless him with their prayers.

They pray that Boaz will have renown in their town and clan (Ruth 4:11), probably through the reputation of the children he will have.

They pray that he and Ruth will have lots of children.

They also pray for blessing on his new wife (Ruth 4:11).

An outsider, a Moabitess, a Gentile is fully embraced by the people of the town.

She is linked with some of the most noted women in Israel’s history (Ruth 4:11).

Leah and Rachel “who built up the house of Israel.” Together Leah and Rachel presented their husband, Jacob, with a dozen sons who formed the twelve strong tribes that were the foundation of the nation. The people pray that Ruth will be a nation-builder too.

Tamar, who was also a foreigner and a widow like Ruth, had twins under scandalous circumstances, and like Ruth, kept a family line from extinction. One of the twins was Perez from whom Boaz and most of his audience came.

Ruth, the Moabite outsider, a poverty-stricken widow has full acceptance along with the matriarchs of Israel. Her social progression is complete:

She graduated from the status of “foreigner” (Ruth 2:10) to . . .

Lowest servant (Ruth 2:13) to . . .

Maid servant (Ruth 3:9) and now to . . .

Wife.

Conclusion:

Do you think Ruth ever got over all that had happened to her?

Do we?