Not only does God answer every prayer, but quite often, He answers with more than enough!
Have you ever wondered why we’re called The Boaz Project?
We’re named after the Biblical character Boaz from the Book of Ruth. He was Ruth’s kinsman-Redeemer, a foreshadow of Christ, who redeemed those who believe in Him. Boaz not only provided for Ruth’s physical needs, but he also brought her into the lineage of Christ. In the same way, we hope to care for orphans’ physical needs and bring them into Christ’s family.
The Book of Ruth is a beautiful story in which Boaz displays the character and plays the role of the long-awaited Messiah.
The super-condensed version of the story opens something like this: A woman named Naomi is living in a foreign land when her husband and both sons die, leaving her destitute. She decides to return to Israel, her homeland, and one of her daughters-in-law, Ruth, commits to going with her.
Once in Israel, Ruth takes advantage of an Israelite code that allows the poor, the widow, and the orphan to glean what is left in a field after the harvest. She finds the field of a wealthy and benevolent landowner named Boaz and requests permission to glean there.
Boaz responds by going far above and beyond what was required of him by Jewish law.
Boaz is kind to Ruth, ensuring she is safe and able to glean plenty for herself and her mother-in-law. He offers her a meal and fills her plate so full that she has leftovers to take home to Naomi.
Not only that, but he also actually tells his workers to intentionally pick and drop stalks of barley for Ruth to gather easily! With this assistance, Ruth gleans a full ephah of barley her first day on the job…an amount that would take the average man two weeks to glean!
Boaz responded to Ruth’s plea for help with more than enough. This lavish generosity is just one of his flesh-and-blood examples of God’s character.
Where else in Scripture do we see God providing more than enough?
One example found in II Kings 4: 1-7 tells the story of a widow who has only enough oil for one more meal for her son and herself. She anticipated having one last meal together and then dying of starvation. But when a prophet of God tells her to gather as many jars as she can and start pouring the oil, it never ran out until EVERY jar was full!
This widow didn’t just get enough food for the day. Rather, after obeying the word of the Lord, she was able to sell oil, pay off her debts, and live on the remaining proceeds!
Or look at Luke 5: 1-7. Here, Jesus gets in a boat with some of His fisherman friends. They’d been on the water all night, but hadn’t gotten a single fish in their nets. He instructs them to lower the net on the other side of the boat, and it is suddenly so teeming with fish that it begins to tear. They call on another boat to help with the load, and both boats nearly sink under the weight of their catch.
Lastly, consider Matt. 14: 13-21. Here, Jesus takes the five dinner rolls and two fish and multiplies them in order to feed 5,000 men plus the women and children who were listening to Jesus teach.
But that wasn’t miraculous enough for our Lord. He made sure there were 12 baskets of food left over.
Truly, we serve a God who is “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20)!
Can you think of other Biblical examples of God providing more than enough
Can you think of an example in your own life when God provided more than enough?
This month, as you pray for The Boaz Project:
1) Thank God for the many times we see Him provide more than enough for the orphans in our care.
2) Plead with God for protection from Covid for the orphans and house parents we serve, as the virus spreads quickly in close quarters.
3) Express gratitude for the new members of the Boaz family of support that came to us via May’s Dessert with Boaz.
A full Bible study on the Book of Ruth is part of our newly-released Orphan Advocate Training. If you’re interested in learning more about this self-guided course, contact Cathy Long at Cathy@boazproject.org for more information.
Can you think of other Biblical examples of God providing more than enough?
Can you think of an example in your own life when God provided more than enough?
Recently I received an email from a contact that was made 51 years ago. The provision that this contact is wanting to provide is in the six figures. God’s provision is above and beyond anything we can ask of think.
That’s so exciting, Dave! And definitely points to God’s generosity.
Thanks for sharing!
The wedding at Canna comes to mind. At the end of the wedding as the wine was running out. Jesus not only turned water into wine, but he turned it into the best wine. Which surprised the guests. Usually the best was served first and the cheapest way served last. Last. Showing us that the very best is yet to come through God’s gift of his Son.
Great example, Darla! Jesus definitely provided more than enough.
I’m reminded of Gideon. He was provided with more than enough men to serve in fighting the Midianites- so much so that God had specific ways for Gideon to send them home. This was all a part of God’s plan for the Israelites to see God save them and not to think it was themselves.
In my own life, I’ve seen God provide abundantly in prayer, acts of kindness, and generosity when we’ve stepped out in faith. The great blessings of being part of the Body of Christ have been astounding!
Great examples, Rachel! Thanks for sharing them.
More than enough; before I left for a second trip to Russia with the Boaz Project in 2003 God sent me a surprise gift in the mail from my moms work after she died – it was 10000 dollars! I was of course excited to see how the Lord wanted me to use it- well fast forward only10 months and I adopted my daughter from Topolava orphanage – 10000 wasn’t enough but He gave me all
I needed and more to bring her home to America but it wasn’t money to my surprise. He gave us Ludmilla, Natalie , Jim and april Noah Berea who snezhanna knew so well and spoke her language – who gets that when they adopt. That 10000 wasn’t what extra we needed – we needed those people! God knows stuff!!
Our pastor shared with our leadership team a thought that applies here, “Money follows Mission.” I think this statement fits well with these stories from the Bible of God’s faithfulness. When we are obedient to the Lord’s call on our lives and stay true to the mission he has given us, He will provide the funds, people and resources that are needed to accomplish His calling. The Boaz Project is also a great example of Money follows Mission.
We know there were so many miracles Jesus performed that were not documented and if they had there wouldn’t be a book big enough to display. May the Boaz Project impact be immeasurable just as the foundation the organization is named.