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.” Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. (v.2-3)
Today we will see another theme in the book of Ruth: initiative. Ruth arrived in Bethlehem having made the choice to leave the comfort of food, family and home. While Naomi proclaimed her bitterness, Ruth showed initiative and got right to work.
An interesting little phrase sits in the middle of verse 3 (niv translates it), “As it turned out.” It's almost a little wink from the writer, as if to alert us that something seemingly random or coincidental, was really a demonstration of God's direction. When Ruth took the initiative to glean in the fields, she had no idea what would follow. But God blessed that step by leading her to the fields of Boaz.
Boaz might have felt justified in removing Ruth from his fields. After all, she was a foreigner. He could have instructed his workers to harass her. He lived in the time of Judges—he could have just fit in with the culture around him and sought to maximize his own gain. But Boaz chose faithfulness, kindness, and generosity instead.
As it turned out, God had a plan. He not only supplied their immediate need for food but (as we shall see later in the story) their future as well.
The Truth “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
