Read: Ruth 2:10-23 NLT – Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him – Bible Gateway
‘“I hope I continue to please you, sir,’ she replied. ‘You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers.’” Ruth 2:13 NLT
The key word throughout the book of Ruth is ‘redemption.’ This week in Biblical Insights we begin to see this unfold in Boaz’s concern for Naomi and his treatment of Ruth. Ruth was extremely thankful for Boaz’s generosity in allowing her to glean only in his field and not go anywhere else. She was guaranteed protection during the workday with no harassment, and plenty of water in the heat of the day. Ruth may not have understood the grace that she was receiving or why she was receiving it since she is foreigner. But Boaz understands that Ruth has sought the protection of the Lord God as he says to her, “May the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” (Ruth 2:12 nlt)
Boaz explains to Ruth how he heard about the kindness she has shown to her mother-in-law Naomi, and how Ruth left her family and homeland to live in a strange land. Boaz heard because, no doubt, people were talking. People noticed, and people were impressed. It was a big sacrifice for Ruth, but she is already being rewarded for her faithfulness to Naomi and her faith in God. Ruth humbly continues her thanks to Boaz, ‘“I hope I continue to please you, sir,’ she replied. ‘You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers.’” (Ruth 2:13 nlt) Ruth was being treated as though she belonged there, and in reality by God’s will, she did belong there. At times we may feel a sense of not belonging, but over time no matter how difficult it is we find out it was God’s leading and we did and do belong. Ruth is starting to feel the same way.
Boaz then invited Ruth to the mid-day meal break with his workers. Ruth ate her fill, careful not to overeat leaving some leftover to bring home to Naomi. Back out in the fields, Boaz extended extra permission above the law in gleaning. Normally, gleaning was allowed after the women tied the bundle of sheaves. But here, Boaz tells his workers to allow her to glean right among the sheaves. In fact Boaz says, “And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time!” (Ruth 2:16 nlt) Boaz’s kindness paid off for Ruth. “So Ruth gathered barley there all day, and when she beat out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket.” (Ruth 2:17 nlt) After a hard days work, you had to then thresh or beat out the grain using a club or stick to separate the kernels from the husks, chaff, and stalks. The end result that first day was a filled basket, a large amount for one day. It would enough food for both Naomi and Ruth for approximately ten days.
Arriving back in town Ruth shows her mother-in-law the fruits of her labor and gives her the leftover roasted grain from her afternoon meal. Naomi recognizes this is an extra-large amount of grain perhaps with the help of a special favor. She asks, “Where did you gather all this grain today? Where did you work? May the LORD bless the one who helped you!” (Ruth 2:19 nlt) Ruth told her his name was Boaz. You can only imagine Naomi’s feelings when she heard it was Boaz, the closest relative they had. Naomi refers to him as ‘one of our family redeemers.’ A family redeemer in those days was one who would protect a family in need especially after the death of a loved one. By rights they would buy their land to keep the name in the family and care for those relatives who remained. The news only gets better for both of them. “Then Ruth said, ‘What’s more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is completed.’” (Ruth 2:21 nlt) This was not a one-day trip for food. Ruth would not be gleaning as much as she would be working alongside the women until the end of the harvest season as one of Boaz’s workers.
When we walk with the Lord and are in His will good things happen. If we are willing to take the lowest job or position to do the right thing for our families the Lord will bless us. God will provide for us, but He wants us to do it His way, God is our provider. God is providing for Naomi and a future for Ruth. Naomi is beginning to see the light of God’s providence. She is encouraged and hopeful now that Boaz in the picture. Naomi’s rejoices and tells Ruth to do as Boaz says and stay in his fields with the women.
Ruth would stay in Boaz’s field working with the others for the next two months. This was hard intense work lasting from early spring until mid-June. “So Ruth worked alongside the women in Boaz’s fields and gathered grain with them until the end of the barley harvest. Then she continued working with them through the wheat harvest in early summer. And all the while she lived with her mother-in-law.” (Ruth 2:23 nlt) The end of the harvest will bring a new beginning for Ruth, the Moabitess, as we will begin to see next week……..
