When [Ruth] rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”
Ruth 2:15-16
Ruth had been following the reapers and picking up the scraps. But after the meal, the reapers started dropping entire stalks on the ground—pre-cut stalks of grain, waiting to be picked up!
When the day’s work was done, Ruth returned home with an ephah of barley (2:17). That’s about 30 pounds in weight. A gleaner would normally hope to have enough for a loaf or two of bread. Ruth would barely have been able to carry the grain home.
Naomi said that she went out full, and the LORD brought her back empty. Well, Ruth went out empty, and the LORD brought her back full. Naomi can hardly believe what she is seeing. “Blessed be the man who took notice of you” (2:19).
Then Ruth tells her, “The man’s name… is Boaz” (2:19). Naomi immediately recognises the hand of God. “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” (2:20). Naomi saw the LORD’s kindness in the kindness of Boaz.
Here is a wonderful principle that is at the heart of this story: God works through means. God’s welcome is seen through the welcome of His people. God’s kindness is seen through the kindness of His people. God’s provision comes through the provision of His people.
How have you experienced God’s welcome, kindness, and provision through the hands of His people? How could you be God’s hands to others?
