Often when we hit rock bottom we are caught up in our sadness and bitterness at our situation that we feel God has abandoned us. That, or we fail to see the signs that God is working for our good until it stares us in the face.
In Ruth 2, God starts to show Naomi his covenant love and goodness through that same covenant love shown to Ruth. A series of “coincidences” show that God is in control and providing Ruth and Naomi what they lack. It reminds us that God does so for us too, especially with what we lack the most.
In Israel there were laws which enabled the poor to gather food on which to survive, provided they were willing to work for it (Deut. 24:19). Ruth and Naomi had arrived in Bethlehem right at the start of the barley harvest (1:22).
Naomi appears to be caught up in her bitterness, since she was likely still young enough to work. But Ruth had learned of these laws and asked Naomi if she could glean, which Naomi agreed to (v.2).
By “coincidence” Ruth found herself gleaning in the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi and a righteous man (vv.1,3-4).
Upon arriving in the fields, Boaz asked after Ruth, wanting to know where she came from (“whose” not “who”, v.5). The supervisor explained she was a Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi, who had been working hard! (vv.6-7)
Boaz generously offered Ruth more than required under the Law. He offered her his provision and protection through his workers, encouraging her to glean in his field and even drink from the water for his workers (vv.8-9).
This was probably the first kind thing Ruth had experienced, as a suspect outsider from Moab (v.10). It is likely that Ruth would have been looked at with suspicion, if not thinly veiled hostility. Yet Boaz is clear that his kindness is because of her kindness to Naomi, and that she had sacrificed her past to follow God (vv.11-13).
The kindness went further. Boaz fed Ruth from the meal prepared for him and his workers, and invited her to glean in the middle of the field, and instructed his workers to “drop” extra barley for her! (vv.14-16) Ruth went from a distrusted foreigner with an empty stomach to treated as if a fellow-Israelite, fed until satisfied with leftovers, and deliberately blessed with more than required.
No wonder that Naomi was shocked when Ruth returned home (vv.18-19). After a day of gleaning, Ruth returned home with an ephah of barley (v.17). That is, about 20 kilograms. That is at least a month’s worth of food in one day!
Ruth’s haul had an impact on Naomi’s hard heart. Upon hearing that it was Boaz who had been so generous to both Ruth and Naomi in their situation, she proclaimed “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” (v.20)
Two things stand out. First, Naomi asked God to bless Boaz. While this could be written off as pious language, that she means it is clear because secondly she proclaims that God’s covenant kindness has been shown to her and Ruth! God is not out to get her for her past sinfulness in heading to Moab for greener pastures.
Naomi advised Ruth that Boaz held a role of kinsman redeemer (v.20), who was one obliged to ensure that relatives were not sold into slavery and in certain circumstances to marry a widow to provide an heir to the deceased man’s inheritance (cf. Lev. 25, Deut. 25). She advised Ruth to take up Boaz’s advice and stay near to one who, it seemed, God was working through to bless them after all (vv.21-2).
This passage should remind us that behind various “coincidences” in life, God is working. Ruth happened to turn up at Boaz’s fields. Boaz happened to be both God-fearing, and a family relative of Naomi’s. But God was directing Ruth’s paths. Boaz’s generosity was God’s generosity worked out in their lives.
Through Boaz, God was providing generously the food that Ruth and Naomi needed to live. He was showing his goodness and kindness to those who are part of God’s People, even when (in Naomi’s case) there was little thankfulness directed toward God.
This is the same God that we serve, who is able to supply our every need (Phil. 4:19). Of course, what we need and want are not the same thing, but God generously provides what we lack through a variety of means, including through the hands of his servants in the Church.
Of course, while Ruth and Naomi lacked food, there was one thing they needed more. A redeemer. In time, God would bless and fill their lives in greater measure. In the fullness of time, God did so for us all by sending Jesus to redeem us from our debt to sin and provide us with a beautiful inheritance.
God’s kindness and generosity is more than we deserve.
