“Ruth Gleans and God Provides”
By Pastor Rich Paradis
Ruth 2:1-7
As
we move on, we not only move to another chapter, but to another location.
Chapter 1 had two settings: the town of Bethlehem and the land of Moab. There
has been tragedy in the family of Elimelech. A famine has fallen on his family
and there has been death and loss. In fact, he and two sons were the
casualties, although the direct cause is unknown. It would seem that God had fatally
judged or at least forgotten this family. But now; Naomi and one of her
daughters-in-law have returned to Bethlehem and the timing is perfect. And the
interaction from this new location (the barley field) will prove it. Let’s see
the story unfold…
I.
A
word on timing and the provision of God
a.
Before
taking off on the content of Ruth 2, we need to take another quick look at the
last verse of the preceding chapter. Ruth 1:22 speaks of the return of both
Naomi and Ruth to the town of Bethlehem. It also notes that the timing of this
return is the beginning of the barley harvest. This time of the year would be
approximately mid-April until mid-May.
b.
Once
we begin looking at the details of chapter 2, it may appear that Boaz is
quickly becoming the hero of the Naomi / Ruth family. And while he is indeed an
important part of the provision for these two hungry women, he is not the hero
of the story. God is the hero and we will see it in a number of ways as the
story unfolds.
c.
The
very time signature, “at the beginning of the barley harvest” is notable. Not
only have Naomi and Ruth made the decision to return to Bethlehem not at all knowing
that they would be part of the greatest story in the history of man, the birth
of the Savior Jesus Christ, but God is also at work here. The women have
returned saddened by loss, but preparing to move forward, and God has
orchestrated the very timing of that decision to their advantage and to His
glory. It would be a long time before replanting and harvest could happen
again, much longer than they could wait to eat, but God knew this and brought
them to Bethlehem during a time when provision could be made for them in the
normal course of life.
d.
Do
you believe that God is involved in both the events and the timings of
life? Do you believe that God is at work even in the seemingly ordinary things
that come our way? The answer that this story is going to yield is absolutely
“YES”! God is without question the hero of this story and to see this fact from
the beginning of the details will help us to understand the story before us and
make a proper application to our own lives.
II.
Ruth
goes looking for food Ruth 2:1-3
a.
After
the time signature in Ruth 1:22 noting the season of Naomi and Ruth’s return, Verse 1 begins with an introduction of
Boaz who is about to come on the scene in a powerful way. It is noted at this
point that Boaz is:
i. “…a kinsman of
her husband” – this means that he is someone that Elimelech knows.
ii. “…a man of great
wealth” – this means that he is a man of both stature and means in the
community.
iii. “…of the family
of Elimelech” - this means that he is a relative of Naomi’s now-deceased
husband Elimelech.
b.
After
this introduction, Verse 2 begins
with a request on the part of Ruth. She asks that Naomi allow her to go out to
the fields to search for some food. There are a couple of things that we need
to see here. First is the fact that Ruth is referred to as “the Moabitess”. I
don’t think that this identification is without purpose. As Ruth goes out to
look for food, she will not be going out as a home-town girl. This is not a
“home game” for her. She is in a land that is not hers, and she will not likely
run into folks that are necessarily glad to see her. This is further confirmed
by Ruth’s hope that she would find “one in whose sight she might find favor”.
The law said that places needed to be provided on the edges of each field for
the poor and the alien to “glean”, or pick up, small amounts of grain (Leviticus
19:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:19). But the law didn’t say that people had to be happy
about it. It also didn’t say that these “gleaners” were to be treated kindly
and respectfully. As the poor are often tolerated but not embraced in our
times, so the fact was in the time of the Judges. Remember that this time was a
time of great immorality and chaos. People were skeptical and easily stirred
up. These people’s fields are the ones that Ruth would be going out towards.
Secondly, it is at least interesting to the reader that Naomi doesn’t accompany
Ruth on this search. Why? Was it because she was bitter still? Was it because
she is now too weary and old to do this kind of difficult work? Was it that she
was staying home to take care of the domestic chores while Ruth searched for
food? We are left with no details as to her absence in the search for food,
especially in such dire circumstances. All that we hear from Naomi at this
point is, “Go, my daughter”.
c.
The
scene now moves from the home of Naomi and Ruth to the fields that surround the
town of Bethlehem. Ruth goes out to these fields and begins to pick up what’s
left after the reapers make their way through the initial harvesting of the
field. Verse 3 continues with an
incredible statement. The text says that she “happened to come to the portion
of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech”. REALLY?
She just “happened” to make her way to this field? With all of the available
fields in the area? With them all full of harvest during this season of the
year? Sometimes we have to consider that even though we don’t know all of the
workings of the providence and the provision of God, that to doubt it is to
“believe” in something that is at least as against the odds as the case for
faith in Him and His providence and provision.
III.
Ruth
finds something she never expected Ruth 2:4-7
a.
As
the story unfolds, we are now introduced to Boaz. He comes on the scene after
being in Bethlehem as Verse 4 opens.
We do not have to wait long to find out something beyond the basic biographical
information provided in Verse 1. We find out something about Boaz’ character.
The conversation that begins here has Boaz displaying both kindness and respect
for those that work for him. He is also clearly someone that loves God. He
shares a blessing with his workers that includes both the Lord’s presence and
His provision. This is not a “one-time” compliment as we hear the workers
return the blessing to him.
b.
It
doesn’t take long for Boaz to note that there is someone new in the field
today. He immediately asks his servant in charge of the workers who this young
woman is. Verse 5 also offers a clue
to more of the situation at hand. Remember that Boaz is both someone that Elimelech
knew and was related to. He is probably older than Ruth, which is further
confirmed by the question as to whose “young woman” is this? Without rushing to
a “love at first sight” scenario, we must first deal with the fact that Boaz is
a kind and godly man who notes that this young woman is in need and is in his
field.
c.
The
servant in charge of the workers begins Verses
6-7 with some descriptive remarks about this young woman in the field of Boaz:
i. She is a Moabite
woman – Remember the ongoing bad blood and restriction by God against this
group of people.
ii. She is the one
who returned with Naomi – This now answers the question as to why she is now in
Bethlehem.
iii. She asked
permission to glean the field – She is a person in need.
iv. She is a hard
worker and full of character – In addition to her request, upon receiving
permission she went to work and has been there all day until she returned to
the work-provided structure for the last little while.
IV.
An
Application For All Of Us
a.
Don’t
hurry ahead!! There are lots of details that will make up this story of love
and provision.
b.
God
is at work in both the decisions and the timings around us.
c.
The
provision of God can and does come in both ordinary and extraordinary ways.
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