Ruth - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The Barley harvest came first, them wheat and the two crops took about 2 to 3 months to harvest prior to threshing. There is no indication as to how long it was before Ruth suggested to Naomi that she go gleaning. Gleaning was a provision made for the poor by the law but was no required.  This is what Ruth says "with whom I may find favor". Gleaner so could glean but landowners could also turn the away. Worse, the poor and outcast of society who came to glean were not protected and were at times harassed and even molested. As a Moabitess (Israel's enemy) Ruth not only was taking a risk that she may come back empty handed, she was also taking her life into her hands. It could be believed that for a while Naomi perhaps pleaded with her not to go because of the danger but then at some point it became absolutely necessary and she relented. V2

V3 Ruth Happened to find herself gleaning in the field that belonged to Boaz.  Here we see a glimpse into the Sovereignty of God which works, unbeknownst to us, in the background, on our behalf, leading and guiding us without us being aware. 

V5 Boaz arrives from Bethlehem. He notices her right away and inquires after her.  She has caught his eye and his curiosity. The foreman tells him all that he knows about her and states that she has been working hard all day except for a brief rest in the shelter. So here we see Ruth. She is doing what it takes to provide for the only family she has. She is working diligently all day,  She took a break and found a little shelter to rest in. the she was back out there gathering. Sometimes we can be tempted to sit and wonder and ask of what should I do? What should be done about this or that? Where should I go? Etc etc when all the while we could get up and do something. Just pick something and try it.  Move forward.  So many times in the Bible God would indeed give instruction as to what to do or where to go before movement was attempted but let us not forget... He also wanted people to move before direction was given and before the miracle occurred.  The priests had to step into the water before the Jordan would part. The widow had to feed her last oil and flour to the prophet before the supply miraculously multiplied.  The Jars had to be gathered and filled with water before Jesus turned it into wine.  Abraham had to pack up everything and leave without knowing where he was going. And Ruth had to get out there and glean to provide for her and Naomi before she met Boaz.  Do something. Trust that he will direct you.

V 8-9 Boaz goes to Ruth and addresses her. He meets four needs.  First, Provision, he says, glean in my fields, don't go anywhere else. Stay here. Second, Protection. I have warned the young men not to bother you you will be safe. Third, Refreshing, drink from the water that the young men have drawn from the well. And Fourth, Community. Stay with the women working in my field. 

You can imagine what Ruth's home life was like.  Everyday Naomi probably moaned about her life and loss. She was still in despair and believing that God was afflicting her.  She probably kept correcting Ruth whenever she called her Naomi. Call me Mara...... And Ruth probably could never share her heart with her or her daily frustrations for fear that they would causeNaomi to sink further still.  Ruth probably kept much to resell.  Now she was placed in a community of women daily with whom she worked side by side.

I have frequently fallen victim to the lie that my walk with God cannot be deepened by listening to podcasts or videos or audiobooks of other people's teachings. That somehow it doesn't count in my own relationship with Him.  I do not know how that started but it's there and it's ugly head actually heaps guilt on me when I take advantage of the verbal convenience these resources afford me.  It says things like, this doesn't count, you aren't really growing if it's not just you Him and the bible for an hour a day, you are eating someone else's manna.  While it may be true that Manna of my own is glorious, I do not think that God limits my relationship with him or my growth to those moments.  In fact, during this season of life when time alone rarely if ever happens, I have to believe that these other resources can enrich my life, build my faith, break off lies, build truth in me and empower me to become more like Jesus.  Here is a beautiful picture of just that.  Boaz gave Ruth permission to partake of water, refreshing water, that she did not draw herself, but that others drew for her. and that water was accessible to her right where she was working. 

Ruth was a foreigner and she was in the family. Both in and out. Boaz gave her kindness before she was ever accepted.

What was her response? She fell at his feet and thanked him. V10  Is this not our response? Thanksgiving? And does it not usher us into His presence?

She asks, Why are you being so kind to me, a foreigner? Her question says a lot about how she sees herself and her identity,  She is poor, she is a foreigner, she is nobody.  His response is beautiful.  When He speaks to her in v8 he calls her, my daughter, which immediately speaks of family. It is a term of endearment. He begins in v11 to speak of all of the things she has done for her mother-in-law,, again, calling her family, and praising her hard work and good deeds for Naomi. He defines her sacrifice has a valuable and worthy thing. You left your family, your home, your country to live here among complete strangers. Then He blesses her using word of comfort and encouragement. V13 she still hasn't been completely convinced but then are we ever, when God talks about who we are at first? I love how Boaz says almost exactly the same thing Ruth says but with an entirely redemptive twist on it. It's beautiful!  At Lunchtime v14 he feeds her from his own table and that generously. So much so that she eats her fill and takes home leftovers for Naomi! Then he tells his workers to drop a little extra for her and if she goes trying to reap ahead of you or in the wrong places don't rebuke her.  He is giving her complete freedom to gather whatever she needs.  He is not having the men just gather it for her but he is secretly pouring into her through this method thereby preserving her dignity. She will work for her food and she will provide for her family but she will also be honored above her station, protected, and provided for. He has made a position for her.  What an amazing day!

Ruth goes home and takes about a bushel of barley that she has gathered and threshed and also the lunch leftovers with her.  She shows Naomi and it has a profound effect on her. What? How? Where? WHO?? And when Ruth Speaks his name, Boaz, Hope is planted in Naomi,  Her language changes from one who is suffering an afflicted to a language of praise and hopefulness. V20 He is showing us kindness!  This is the first glimmer of hope and of a future in Naomi's soul. She begins to dream again - as we will see in Chap 3. When we take what the Lord has giving us and declare what He has done for us and said. To us and said about us it plants hope in the hearts of the people around us and Hope is the predecessor of Faith.  Naomi is coming alive.

V23 Ruth continued working in the fields of Boaz through not only the barley harvest but also the wheat harvest. This was about three months. And continued to live with her mother-in-law,