Life Lessons from the Book of RUTH

Ruth 2:10

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 couldn’t believe that anyone would show such kindness to a poor foreign widow woman.

Ruth 2.11-12

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed to 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 t 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.

Everyone in town had heard the remarkable story of this young Moabite woman who had left her family and homeland to love and care for her mother-in-law. From the words of Boaz, we see that Ruth’s care of Naomi did not just begin the day they left Moab.

Boaz prays God’s rich blessings to be poured out on Ruth.

“Under whose wings” – a figure of speech, like a mother hen protecting her chicks who have come for shelter under her wings. God was working in the lives of His people in Bethlehem through the influence of Ruth’s life.

The words of Boaz show that he was a godly person.

Ruth 2:13

Then she said, Let me find favour in they sight, my lord; for that thou has comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thy handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. KJV

The NLT is a much easier read: “I hope I continue to please you, sir,” she replied. “You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers.”

“Find favor” – that is, continue to find favor. She was so appreciative of his kind and comforting words.

“Not like unto” – she was still feeling some culture shock in her new community. But who needs to be like everyone else?

Ruth 2:14

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.

What a wonderful invitation: “Come join us for lunch every day, all you want to eat!”

• The people of that land were (are) fond of “dips” for their bread, usually something with a sour taste such as clabbered sour milk, or wine vinegar.
• “Parched corn” – roasted grain, not maize corn, but wheat or barley. Barbara Bowen writes, “A quantity of wheat or barley is plucked with the stalks attached and tied into small parcels. A blazing fire is kindled with thorn bushes, and the grain heads are held in it until the chaff is burned off. The grain is then eaten and people all over the country are exceedingly fond of it. During barley harvest the wheat is still in the milk…. The green wheat is cut and mixed with a pile of dry barley straw, which when set ablaze is of sufficient quantity to roast the green wheat. They then rub these ears of wheat together with their hands and winnow out the dross. The reapers still, as in the days of Boaz, make parched corn a part of their meal, for it is very delicious when eaten fresh.”

“Reached” is an old fashioned word for “passed.”

“Was sufficed” – the Hebrews word means “filled to satisfaction.”

“Left” (KJV) is better translated as “had some left over” (NIV). It was just like God to supply her need in this unexpected manner.

Dear Lord, Make me like Boaz: when I find myself in a place of leadership – whether with children, youth or adults, or even in my own family, may I be on the look out for what is good in them. And may I not only see it, but remind me to commend them when they are kind, when they do their tasks effectively, when they have been a help. And may I learn to serve graciously, like Ruth, caring for my family, and doing my very best at whatever I am working on. And thank You, for Your unexpected and overflowing provision for me! Amen.