Remember the Poor-6
We left Naomi and Ruth arriving back in Bethlehem just as the barley harvest began. We will be able to see just how our sovereign God works out all the details as He calls Naomi back from Moab.
Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
Here we find some important background information before Ruth sets out to find food for them. Family and kinsman are very important to the families of Jacob/Israel. This was God’s plan for families and provided a safety net for those upon whom fell hard times. Naomi’s clan included Boaz, a wealthy land owner.
2:2 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." 2:3 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.
What do widows do to survive? They have to glean fields that are being harvested. The timing is amazing, as the barley harvest had just begun. Ruth and Naomi knew that Ruth would have to go and glean at some field if they were going to survive and eat.
2:4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, "May the LORD be with you." And they said to him, "May the LORD bless you." 2:5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?" 2:6 The servant in charge of the reapers replied, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. 2:7 "And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while."
Of all the fields in the area, the Lord directed her to the field of Boaz! Also, the servant in charge knew alot already about Ruth and shared this with Boaz. Notice that Boaz took notice of her as not one of the usual gleaners. He must have been very attentive or Ruth may have been attractive.
2:8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.
2:9 "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw."
We know what kind of woman Ruth was and now are finding out about what kind of man Boaz was. He offered her protection, advice, and comfort. But, he did not offer any charity. That is, she would still have to work the fields. That was God’s plan for both the rich and the poor.
2:10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"
Ruth was very grateful for Boaz noticing her and being kind to her. She knew that she was not an Israelite, but a foreigner. But, even foreigner had rights in Israel.
2:11 Boaz replied to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. 2:12 "May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."
Boaz spoke wisely to her and knew alot about her, as she was with one of his extended family. He indicated that he knew that she had done a miraculous thing by staying with Naomi instead of going back to her idolatrous past.
2:13 Then she said, "I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."
Ruth considered it a great comfort that she would be allowed to work in his field and that Boaz took notice of her and interest in her. All because Ruth knew she had to go out and find a field that was currently being harvest. It just happened that Boaz visited this field the very day Ruth appeared.
Timing details can reveal alot about our sovereign God.
Ruth and Naomi had to leave Moab and arrive in Bethlehem just in time for the harvest.
Ruth, without knowing, found the field of Boaz.
Ruth’s first day was also the very day she was seen by Boaz.
Boaz took notice of her and spoke kindly to her.
More next Saturday.