Ruth and Boaz

Ruth and Boaz – Action for Problems

Bible Study Lessons — Ruth 2:1-23

Ruth and BoazSometimes it’s not what we do, it’s what we are willing to do. I’ve heard this saying many times and it’s all together true in the case of Ruth and Boaz.

In this Bible study we find that Ruth has very few choices as a woman living in these times.

We also find that Ruth is a resourceful woman who makes her situation work. Boaz respected what she had done for Naomi. Let’s see the full story.

Ruth Gleans the Fields of Boaz

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.”

And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, “May the Lord bless you.”

Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

The servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.

And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.

Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you.

When you are thirsty, go to the [g]water jars and drink from what the servants draw.”

Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.

May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.” – Ruth 2:1-13

What is “Gleaning”?

During the time of this story, Jewish law required that farmers left the edges of the fields unharvested so the poor could eat. This was their “social security” of sorts.

When the poor came behind the harvesters and picked up the food left behind, this was called gleaning.

Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi had very little as they had no man to take care of them. Gleaning was one of the few choices they had in order to live.

Ruth The Foreigner Takes Action

As a bit of an entrepreneur, Ruth took action instead of waiting for “good luck” to happen. She did not hesitate to go to work gleaning the fields so she and Naomi could have food on the table.

Ruth Admits to Needing Help – Do We?

Just as it is with physical addictions, the first step to solving problems too big to handle is to admit we need help.

Ruth freely admitted she needed to do some hard work and depend on the farmers to supply her food.

God Provides – But …

When Ruth took the initiative and went to work, God provided for her. She and Naomi had enough food to sustain them through points in the future.

Boaz saw to it that Ruth would have all she needed. He knew she was willing to work and decided to care for her.

But, what if Ruth waited for someone to give her a handout? Yes, someone may have felt sorry for her or she could beg in the streets, or worse. She made the more difficult choice which worked out for the long run.

If there is a situation in your life too big to handle, you can do one of two things;

  1. You can wait and see if God will provide the help you need.
  2. Or, you can pray and then take the first steps of faith.

[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”031027303X” locale=”US” src=”https://makingchristknown.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/41r1Gd1rMzL.SL160.jpg” tag=”bobpardphot-20″ width=”115″]Prayer is a necessary step but God may want you to show Him just how important your need is so He can begin to work in your life.

Let’s not just hope for solutions. Let’s be more like Ruth and start moving towards a solution. God will finish it if it’s in His will.

Love in Christ

– Bob

Find how to receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment and go to John 3:16 for more information.

 

Read Today’s Passage Here:

New American Standard Bible

New King James Version

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