A famine in the land of Judah forced Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons to seek provision in the country of Moab (1:1-2); unfortunately, Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) died soon after they arrived in Moab and Naomi was left alone with her two sons (1:3). Her two sons eventually married women of Moab named Orpah and Ruth, but Naomi’s sons also died leaving her with only the two daughters-in-law (1:4-5). After all of these devastating setbacks, Naomi decided to return to her home in Judah and told Orpah and Ruth to return to their homes in Moab (1:6-10). Orpah chose to go back home, but Ruth decided to accompany Naomi back to her hometown of Bethlehem in Judah (1:11-15). In an expression of loyalty and faith, Ruth spoke these words to Naomi, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (1:16-17, NLT).
As Naomi and Ruth began to settle into their new life in Bethlehem, Ruth realized that they would need to help provide food so she asked permission from Naomi to glean the fields (2:2). The law of Moses commanded that field owners leave the corners of the field as well as the dropped stalks of grain for the poor and needy (see Deuteronomy 24:19-21). Both Naomi and Ruth would have fallen into this category since they were both widows. Naomi granted permission for Ruth to go into the fields and she happened to enter into the field of Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband (2:1, 3). Ruth caught the eye of Boaz, the owner of the field, and he found out that she was the Moabite woman who had returned with Naomi (2:4-7). After finding out who she was, Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well” (2:8-9, NLT). Normally, the poor and needy gleaning the fields would come after the reapers had left the field, but Boaz wanted to make sure that Ruth received all that she needed. Upon seeing the kindness of Boaz expressed toward her, she was overwhelmed with his gratitude and said, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner” (2:10). Boaz responded by saying that he had been inspired by her commitment to her mother-in-law and then living among a people whom she did not know (2:11); furthermore, Boaz pronounced a blessing on her that the Lord would repay her good deeds and give her a full reward (2:12). Ruth humbly reacts to Boaz’s words and requests that she find favor in his sight because he had comforted her and spoken kindly to her (2:13).
When it was mealtime, Boaz continued his kindness toward Ruth and invited her to eat the food provided for himself and his workers (2:14). After the meal Ruth returned to the field, but Boaz had commanded his workers to allow her to gather food without reproach; in fact, he told them to purposely drop grain so that she could gather as much as she needed (2:15-16). At the end of the day Ruth gathered all the food she had collected in the field (30-40 lbs.) and took it to Naomi, who was overwhelmed by God’s provision for them through Boaz (2:17-20). Naomi immediately recognized that this man, Boaz, was one of their close relatives. Ruth told Naomi that Boaz had also invited her to remain in his field for the duration of the harvest season (2:21) and Naomi advised her to listen to the voice of Boaz so that she would be safe from any harm (2:22). Ruth heeded the advice of her mother-in-law and worked in Boaz’s field until the end of the harvest (2:23). Naomi and Ruth had experienced great trials in their lifetime, but God sent hope through this man, Boaz.
Dear God, thank You for bringing individuals into my life who have given me hope. Most of all, I thank You for sending Jesus Christ, who rescued me from sin.
