SCRIPTURE: RUTH 2
BIBLE VERSE:
“Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 11-12)
RUTH MEETS BOAZ (vs. 1-23)
Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side from the clan of Elimelech named Boaz. Ruth asked permission from Naomi to let her go to the fields and pick up the leftover grains. Naomi agreed and Ruth went to glean on a field belonging to Boaz. When Boaz arrived, he was Ruth and asked who that woman was. The foreman replied: “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. And she ask permission to glean and gather the sheaves” (v. 7) So Boaz told Ruth not to go in another field but stay here with his servant girls. He offered her water to drink form the jars when she was thirsty.
Ruth bowed down with her face to the ground for his generosity. And Boaz complimented her for taking care of her mother-in-law by leaving her father and mother and her homeland to live with a people she did not know. Then Boaz offered her some bread dip with wine vinegar and some roasted grain. She ate and kept some leftover to bring home. Boaz ordered his men to pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up.
So Ruth gleaned the field until evening and gathered the barley back home. When she reached home, she brought out what she had gathered together with the leftover and gave it to Naomi. Naomi asked her: “Where did you glean today? Where did your work? Blessed for the man who took notice of you” (v. 19). Then Ruth replied: “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz” (v. 29). Upon hearing this Naomi was very happy because Boaz was her close relative and he was one of their kinsman redeemer. She told her daughter-in-law to glean at Boaz’s field and stay close to the servant’s girl.
THOUGHTS:
God providently led Ruth to glean at Boaz’s field. Her faithfulness had changed the picture from bitterness to blessings. Boaz protect Ruth and provided her even before she discovered who he was. God is the Lord of harvest. It shows us that if we trust God and obey Him, He will work on our behalf and provide us what we need.
STATEMENTS OF RUTH THAT SHOWS HER DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION:
- TO NAOMI: “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone is whose eyes I find favor” (v. 2)
- TO THE FOREMAN – “Let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters. (v. 7)
- TO BOAZ – “Let me find favor in your eyes my Lord. You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant thought I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls (v. 13)
Ruth was willing to find work to survive. God does not bless and guide lazy people. Only those who do the task at hand will find His direction.
There was a law in Israel that any grain that was dropped were to be left for poor people. The purpose of this law was to feed the poor and prevent the owners from hoarding. This law served as a type of welfare program in Israel. Today, there are many widows, orphans and needy people. The rich must be willing to hare some of their blessings to them.
Ruth’s task is menial, tiring and degrading. But she never complained and did it faithfully. If the task given to you is not up to your true potential, what will be you attitude? God may test your character before He will open up new doors of opportunity.
Boaz demonstrated his kindness and generosity by letting Ruth gleaned in his field and telling his workers to let some of the grain fall in her path. How about you? How often do you go beyond the accepted pattern of providing for those less fortunate? Christians should give more than the minimum for others.
God led Ruth every stop of her way. It was by God’s providence that she went to glean at the filed of a close relative. As you go about your daily task, God is working in your live in ways you may not notice. Events do not occur by luck or coincidence because God is directing your life for His purpose.