Grace is God's unending provision. He never ceases to provide abundantly all things for those who love Him. Handfuls on purpose! But grace is more than that. Grace is also God's unlimited resources.
Boaz's instructions were generous well beyond the requirements of the law that allowed the gleaners in the fields only after the reapers had finished their work. As a result, Ruth was able to gather more grain than she ever could have imagined. We are told she gathered "about an ephah of barley." "So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley" (Ruth 2:17). That is estimated to be about one-half to two-thirds of a bushel (about twenty-nine to fifty pounds).
Such a large quantity of grain could not be gathered in one day by an ordinary gleaner. It shows how Boaz's instructions to his reapers aided Ruth and also how diligently Ruth had worked. Since the ration of a male worker was about one to two pounds of grain per day, Ruth probably had gathered enough to last Naomi and her for several weeks.
Such a large quantity of grain could not be gathered in one day by an ordinary gleaner. It shows how Boaz's instructions to his reapers aided Ruth and also how diligently Ruth had worked. Since the ration of a male worker was about one to two pounds of grain per day, Ruth probably had gathered enough to last Naomi and her for several weeks.
Upon returning home, Naomi "saw what she had gleaned" (v. 18a) and Ruth gave her the food she had saved from dinner: "So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied" (v. 18b). Naomi was quite impressed as she inquired, "Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work?" (v. 19a). And she added a blessing, "Blessed be the one who took notice of you" (v. 19b).
Upon learning that the man who provided for Ruth was Boaz (v. 19c), Naomi blessed him again: "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" (v. 20a). And she told Ruth, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives" (v. 20b). And so, the fifth dialogue of this chapter has begun. It might be noted that every prayer in the Book of Ruth is a prayer of blessing, and every prayer is answered!
Upon learning that the man who provided for Ruth was Boaz (v. 19c), Naomi blessed him again: "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" (v. 20a). And she told Ruth, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives" (v. 20b). And so, the fifth dialogue of this chapter has begun. It might be noted that every prayer in the Book of Ruth is a prayer of blessing, and every prayer is answered!
You might also note that, in this second blessing, it is God who is praised for continuing to show His great kindness through His unlimited resources with which He provided. It was through one of their "close relatives" (v. 20b), Boaz, that God provided, but it was God who gave them unending provisions through His unlimited resources. That is the general thought of this verse. We will take a closer look at verse 20 next week.
For now, let’s continue on. As the dialogue continues Ruth says, "He also said to me, 'You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.'" (v. 21). To which Naomi responds, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field" (v. 22).
Naomi realized the dangers Ruth might face if she went to some other fields. She also realized the protection Ruth would receive in Boaz's fields. When she said, "It is good...that people do not meet you in any other field" (v. 22b), the verb "meet" can mean "to meet" or "to encounter," but it can also mean "strike down" or "attack violently." Again, we see the blessing of God's protection while providing with abundance.
The chapter wraps up with these words: "So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law" (v. 23). She recognized God's gift of provision and protection, and she obeyed the voice of God through Naomi.
God continued to supply their need through His servant Boaz. The two harvests (barley and wheat) followed each other and would last about seven weeks, normally from late April to early June, providing food for many months beyond that. Truly God provides without end from His unlimited resources; a lesson we must never forget.
Like Ruth, recognize God's gift of provision and protection, and obey the voice of God in your life. Follow His leading and trust Him in all things. He, in turn, will protect you and provide abundantly for all youir needs. Handfuls on purpose! Amen.
For now, let’s continue on. As the dialogue continues Ruth says, "He also said to me, 'You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.'" (v. 21). To which Naomi responds, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field" (v. 22).
Naomi realized the dangers Ruth might face if she went to some other fields. She also realized the protection Ruth would receive in Boaz's fields. When she said, "It is good...that people do not meet you in any other field" (v. 22b), the verb "meet" can mean "to meet" or "to encounter," but it can also mean "strike down" or "attack violently." Again, we see the blessing of God's protection while providing with abundance.
The chapter wraps up with these words: "So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law" (v. 23). She recognized God's gift of provision and protection, and she obeyed the voice of God through Naomi.
God continued to supply their need through His servant Boaz. The two harvests (barley and wheat) followed each other and would last about seven weeks, normally from late April to early June, providing food for many months beyond that. Truly God provides without end from His unlimited resources; a lesson we must never forget.
Like Ruth, recognize God's gift of provision and protection, and obey the voice of God in your life. Follow His leading and trust Him in all things. He, in turn, will protect you and provide abundantly for all youir needs. Handfuls on purpose! Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment