Divine Providence – Provisions
At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” … he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. (Ruth 2:14)
Ruth was an undeserving alien, but she was abundantly supplied with favour and grain, and she was invited to the meal as well. She received what she neither deserved nor expected. A similar incident is in the parable where a young man came back home and was warmly received by his dad; a big party was made with a lot of eating and rejoicing to celebrate the return of the son. He had gone away with his share of the inheritance and squandered it all in wild living until he ran completely broke. Pushed against the wall, he decided to come back home with a rehearsed confession and proposal; but his father received him like an honoured guest with much celebration fanfare. The boy received what he neither deserved nor expected.
Instances of such divine provisions are not uncommon in our own lives, and we owe God a lot of thanksgiving and invigorated praise. We have in the same way received the grace of God. Do you have a role to play? Some people argue that grace is freely given and the recipient has not role to play whatsoever; the notion is extended to insinuate that once born again, it doesn’t matter how far you go astray and wallow in sin, you cannot lose your salvation; ‘God still loves you and has already forgiven your sins – past, present and future’ – so they say, and grace sounds so easy and cheap! This belief has caused many Christians injuries and scars from the arena of complacency and sin. Where is the role of self-control and discipline? Where is the conflict with the enemy if salvation is that simplistic? With this kind of belief, does ‘fight the good fight of faith’ still make sense?
The example of the prodigal son tells us that he had a role to play. He had to realize how far he had fallen, and recognize the abundant provisions are in his father’s presence from where he had wandered. He had to get up and go back, and only on arrival did he have access to the goodies that had been all along available while he was languishing in his self-inflicted estrangement and poverty. His future welfare was assured as long as he remained in his father’s house. Ruth too; she had to leave the home of her mother-in-law to meet the abundant favours in the hands of Boaz. It took her courage and physical movement, and her journey back was full of contagious joy and smiles – well supplied. Her future welfare depended on if she remained in the company of Boaz.
The Lord God Almighty is Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider. He will give blessings for this life on earth, and ultimately salvation and eternal life to all who come to Him to receive these gifts – what you neither deserved nor expected. Take the step and come. Take the step and abide.
God bless you all.