“Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.’ And she said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.” (Ruth 2:1-3)
I want to talk to you about “divine appointments.” It’s really what we have going on in the first three verses of Ruth chapter 2. Did you notice?
Ruth goes off randomly to glean in a random field which happens to not be such a random thing at all for her to go off and choose that field (of all the fields she could have chosen!) since it just so happens to be the very field of Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi’s, husband’s relative. And if you know the rest of the story, Ruth will go on to marry this relative, Boaz, and through them a son will be born, Perez, who just so happens (randomly!) to go on to be the ancestor of King David and then the very Son of God Himself, Jesus Christ. (Ruth 4:18-22) Can you say, “Wow”?
And it all started with a “divine appointment.” It’s a “divine appointment” we have taking place here.
It’s a term (phrase) we use – isn’t it? – when something takes place and we see it as God having His hand in it bringing it about. And especially when the odds were against it happening. I mean, there’s just no way that girl (Ruth) would ever meet that guy (Boaz) unless Somebody (capital “S”) orchestrated it. Have you ever had a “divine appointment”? I have. I happened to marry mine, also.
And there are all kinds of “divine appointments” that I want to mention to you and remind you about (6 to be exact).
And let me just say before I continue on – God has “divine appointments” of many different types planned for each of us, no matter who we are, in the days ahead. I submit it to you! It’s exciting when you consider. And as we keep our hearts toward Him, God has “divine appointments” of many different types planned for each of us!
I offer you 6 appointments of a divine kind here…
DIVINE APPOINTMENT #1: When you share your faith with someone.
I found myself wondering about this. I found myself wondering if we don’t relegate “divine appointments” to the place where we think that it’s only when we meet someone and witness to them and share our faith and that’s the only kind of “divine appointment.”
Don’t get me wrong. Those are “divine appointments” and it’s wonderful when we have a chance to tell somebody about Jesus and we see it as the Lord having divinely operated to bring it about.
But “divine appointments” are much, much more than that. “Divine appointments” include other instances. Let me just mention a few more.
DIVINE APPOINTMENT #2: When someone encourages you.
Like when you meet someone who encourages you in some way when you need encouragement. Have you ever had that happen?
DIVINE APPOINTMENT #3: When someone (or an angel?!) helps you.
Or maybe it’s someone who helps you when you need help (like that guy that fixed our broken axle on our car in Minnesota!). And even these could be angels who are “ministering spirits,” Hebrews says, “sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14) that we come across! Have you ever met an angel or think you did? I’m not surprised.
DIVINE APPOINTMENT #4: When you hear that song on the radio.
Or another type of “divine appointment” is when you hear that song on the radio at just the right time when you needed to hear it. Amen? That’s happened to me tons of times. How could that song possibly have come on at just that exact moment when I got in the car and I was driving down the road and then I just decided to turn on the radio? And it’s the one song that means something to me!
DIVINE APPOINTMENT #5: When the Pastor says something and you think, “How could he know?”
Or maybe it’s the Pastor who says something that – “How could he possibly know about me in that particular area that that’s what I needed to hear? Is he psychic or something?” No.
And how does it work with God? He’ll just put something in your mouth – because He knows! – and the Pastor will say it – and I may not even have it in my notes either, but I’ll say it and I won’t know why, but it happens to just be exactly what needs to be said for somebody.
DIVINE APPOINTMENT #6: When a person comes into your life over a span of time.
And there are other “divine appointments” that span over time, I believe, where a person – or persons – come into your life. And God’s purpose was that you come to know them and they come to know you. And just so you could keep each other pressing on in the Lord let alone develop a friendship.
“Divine appointments” are of all types and much more than just that chance you get to share your faith with somebody.
And again, as I’m convinced, God has “divine appointments” planned for each of us, no matter who we are, in the days ahead. It’s exciting when you consider it!
Anticipate them.
(Ruth gleaning in Boaz’s field picture above in the public domain: click here.)
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