The Question of the Century

“Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?” (Ru 2:10 AV)

This question is on the heart of very repentant sinner.  Why would God care?  The context here is Ruth who is gleaning at the field of Boaz.  As a Moabite, Ruth would have been considered an outcast.  She would have been left to the lowest position among those who were in need.  The farmer, in this case Boaz, would leave a portion of his field standing so that the impoverished would have something to glean.  They would follow the reapers and glean what they left behind.  When Boaz inquired of Ruth’s identity, hearing of what she had done for Naomi, he felt a special responsibility to allow her the best position among those who reaped the remainder.  When she was discovered and Boaz began to correspond with her, the question above is raised.  A question of humility.  A question free of pretense.  A question that reveals Ruth’s heart more than any action on her part.  She is truly a humble and faith-filled lady.

As a sinner, we are estranged from God.  Even if we were capable of gleaning and some moral choices, we are still estranged from the Husband.  We have no standing.  Our situation is far worse.  We are estranged because of Adam’s sin.  But, unlike Ruth, we are estranged because of our own culpability of our sin.  We are sinners by nature and by choice.  We are estranged because we choose to be.  Ruth was estranged merely because of her birth.  Which, makes this question even more convicting.  If Ruth, who was estranged by birth feels unworthy of the mercy of her lord, how much more should we feel unworthy of the mercy of our LORD?

David expressed the same attitude in Psalm eight.  As he looks up into the night sky and contemplates just how vast and magnificent God’s creation is, he inquires of the LORD of His interest in mankind.  We are insignificant little nothings.  We are worse than that.  We are insignificant little nothings that rebel against a holy and gracious God, expecting Him to tolerate and entertain our wickedness.  One must ponder the attitude and question of Ruth.  The saint would be better off for it if he or she thinks upon this question on a daily basis.  The next time we think we have earned any of God’s favor, this question should be in the center of our minds.  Why would God care a lick about me?  Why would He even expend one thought on such a worm as I?  Why?