Ruth Chapter 2
In Chapter 1 we have the girl introduced to us! In chapter 2 we have the boy appearing!
We know that the girl's not lazy!
Ruth is not lazy! She goes looking for work.
God's Welfare program requires that you get up off your fat rear and apply yourself. Notice it was not dependency on the government. It required that the wealthy farmer and harvester show generosity by leaving the corners and edges and any that fell while reaping. The law of gleaning was in effect in an economy where life and survival depended on harvest three times per year.
Ruth knew what she was getting into. The Moabites were not welcome among the Jews
Coming to Bethlehem with Naomi, Ruth already has three strikes against her: She is a foreigner, a widow, and very poor!
Ruth was not an idle, lazy lay about bumming a free ride. She knew exactly what she was getting into when she took that journey with Naomi back to Bethlehem.
So what does she have going for her?
We have seen already that she has committed herself to the God of Israel!
She may not have made this life changing decision if Naomi had not presented the beauty of a godly life before her daughters in law! How important it is to set an example of a godly life before others! See here in this book how the godly life of Naomi influenced a young Moabite widow for Yahweh and set her on track to become the ancestress of the Messiah a princess in Israel!
In Ruth's actions we see some characteristics worthy of emulation:
1. She is capable of making tough decisions and sticking to them! She determines to follow after Yahweh and then follow Naomi knowing the consequences even though she never even dreamed of the glorious future in store for her...a direct result of her submission to God, attachment to her aging poor mother in law and determination to work with dignity in providing for Naomi and herself.
2. She is a thinking woman who assesses the situation in a practical manner! Two poor widows all alone are in need of food to survive. There is no one other than Naomi that she knows in this land, but there is something that she discovers she could do. She can glean! Anybody can glean! It is not even a debate with her about who should get busy rectifying this situation! Was it mere chance that she found herself in the field of Boaz?
3. She shows determination and purpose in making the best of a bad situation! Once she looks over the situation and makes her assessment she sets out on herself imposed task with the blessings of Naomi. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. Ruth 2:2 KJV
4. She does not complain or grumble about life's unfairness but applies herself to the task of finding a solution. Moaning and groaning about life's unfairness is for losers, moochers and blood sucking parasitic excuses for humans! Ruth goes to work with a will that is noticed and remarked upon by Boaz foreman. And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. Ruth 2:6-7 KJV
5. She is a humble grateful woman. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? Ruth 2:10 KJV
6. She is ever considerate of the widowed, childless mother in law and puts away a portion of her free lunch for Naomi. And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. Ruth 2:18 KJV
Ruth gives refreshing meaning to the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31!
And just who is Boaz?
He's the boy that gets the girl!
He's the hero of this story more so because he prefigures our heavenly Kinsman Redeemer the Messiah Yashua Hamashiach!
1. He is the son of Rahab the harlot of Jericho! Maybe being the son of Rahab was instrumental in racial prejudices and bigotry being absent from his life! As such he portrays the Kinsman Redeemer Whose outstretched arms reaches out to embrace the whole world! And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; Matthew 1:5-6 KJV
2. He is a mighty man of wealth! The word chayil translated wealth here is translated more often in the Bible as army, host, valour, valiant. In fact it is the same word Boaz uses in 3:11 to describe Ruth as virtuous! And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. Ruth 3:11 KJV Chayil speaks of a man who was a real man, a valiant, courageous, and worthy man...a fitting picture of our Lord who is Mighty to Save!
3. He is a man of means capable of redeeming the property of Elimelech and his sons. He is the kinsman of Naomi and is qualified to be the redeemer. He is interested in more than acquiring extra property. He is interested in the individual as well.
4. He is a pious and devout and beloved man and boss as seen in his greeting and the response of his employees, and his dealings with Ruth. And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. Ruth 2:4 KJV
And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Ruth 2:11-12 KJV
5. He is an observant and alert individual! Boaz notices Ruth as soon as he arrived! Come on now do you think he simply noticed Ruth because she was this stunningly gorgeous woman? Do you really think Ruth looked like she had just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine and was oozing allurement? She was oozing alright...a lot of perspiration in the hot harvest sun, probably with soiled clothes and a dust streaked face, hot sweaty and irritated with dust! Clothes tucked in to assist in mobility she was anything else but a polished model! Was there something out of place? It seems as though Ruth should have been following with the maidens but was instead following after the men and was therefore easily spotted, not blending in with the custom! He questions his foreman and finds out everything about her so that when he speaks to her it’s from a position of full knowledge. Boaz had found out every detail about Ruth since her arrival at Bethlehem. In like manner Jesus knows all and everything about you…every little piece of dirt that we try to hide so cleverly from others is plainly in his view…and you know what? He still loves you!
6. He is a tactful man with a sense of humor! He tries to direct her to stay with the women in a way not to embarrass her! Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: Ruth 2:8 KJV She fails to get the message and went right back to her previous position so Boaz cautioned his men! And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. Ruth 2:15-16 KJV Naomi later sets her on the right track! And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law. Ruth 2:21-23 KJV By the way have you noticed the emphasis placed on her as being the Moabitess?
7. He is an honorable man who refuses to take advantage of the foreign widow but rather ensures that she is protected and provided for. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. Ruth 2:8-9 KJV
Her reserve and shyness must have been obvious also for he himself offered her And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. Ruth 2:14 KJV
What is very important to note is Naomi’s exclamation towards the end of the chapter! And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Ruth 2:20 KJV This is a dramatic change from her expressions in the first chapter viz. Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. Ruth 1:13 KJV
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? Ruth 1:20-21 KJV
Note it is this same God that Ruth embraced as her own, forsaking her own heathen practices for the true worship of Yahweh. It is rather surprising that she would do so considering what had befallen the family in Moab. Naomi’s change of testimony in saying that Yahweh was against her to now stating that Yahweh was kind and providing, shows her change in attitude towards God.
In all this process God did not change! He does not change! He NEVER changes! He remains the same yesterday, today and forever.
It is as we come to know and see more of His working that we arrive at the place where our attitude changes and our trust in His wisdom, love, mercy and providence becomes embedded faith in Him despite what may befall us. This is the kind of faith Ruth had! This is how Ruth had come to recognize God to be. And because she saw this nature of Yahweh so she was willing to uproot herself from all her old habits, ways and practices. She was willing to abandon them all to follow doggedly behind this God, OUR God, wherever He may lead her as she faithfully and diligently worked her way towards her destiny…a destiny she made when she followed her heart trusting in Yahweh!
