Ruth picked leftover grain but found favour

Have you ever received love, care and attention from a stranger? If you ever meet someone whose random act of kindness changes your life for good, you would definitely be overjoyed. Whenever we receive a blessing we least expected, we show our gratitude. However, there are others who duly deserve to be recognized for their actions. But, they remain unnoticed. Imagine if someone organizes a surprise party for such people, their joy would be endless. From the previous posts, Ruth, the Moabite woman, followed her mother-in-law to Bethlehem. As a foreigner residing in Bethlehem, Ruth was susceptible to all sorts of racial discrimination. Her people were in the bad books of the Israelites and although she has shown kindness to Naomi, she might have lived in caution for fear of being rejected by the Israelites. 

And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” (Ruth 2:2)

Ruth knew that to survive in Bethlehem,  she needed to work. Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Though Naomi didn’t own a barley field, Ruth knew that she could go into the fields and gather the leftovers. Leviticus 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:19 commands the Israelites to leave the harvest that falls on the ground for the poor and the foreigner. Therefore, “Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” (Ruth 2:2). By requesting to go out to look for food, Ruth demonstrates his willingness to serve and to provide for herself and Naomi. She could have chosen to do anything but as a virtuous woman, she chose to pick leftover grain. She identified that she and Naomi were poor and she, being a foreigner,  might not easily find something else to do. 

Ruth humbled herself in order to survive and to provide for Naomi. Picking leftover grains was not a desirable task. You need to accept your need for food to make you stoop low to the level of the poor and the foreigner. Ruth was not concerned with the stigmatization, she knew that their survival depended on that leftover. God being so good, Ruth found herself in the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelek.  She was well received by Boaz who told her, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.” (Ruth 2:8‭-‬9). Boaz’ act of kindness didn’t go unnoticed. Ruth bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” (Ruth 2:10 NIV). Boaz made Ruth aware that she duly deserved to be recognized for what she had done. 

“Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2:11‭-‬12).

Ruth’s selflessness was noticed by Boaz. She was given priority treatment on the fields and gathered about 13 kilograms of barley that day. Even Naomi was amazed when she saw how much Ruth gathered. When Naomi heard that Ruth worked in the field of Boaz, she said, “The Lord bless him! He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead. That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.” (Ruth 2:20). Ruth didn’t just go to any field but the field of a close relative, one who could redeem Naomi and her. Boaz was not an ordinary person. He was a man of standing. He commanded power and wealth.

As we continue the discourse on Ruth, know that God’s plans are bigger than ours. We learn from today’s story how an act of service led Ruth to the right field and the right person. God desires us to be serviceable. The way to the top is from the bottom. Even airplanes are powered from the ground. Acceleration is dependent on the power exerted from the ground. Going down prepares one for the exponential take off. You go down to serve, not to be served. Christians should be willing to serve as much as we can. Whether you serve your family, your employer or the church, know that everything should be done with God in mind. You might be at your lowest point today, but remaining there is an option. You can choose to stay back and do nothing or move to the fields and gather grains. Your destiny helpers might be out on the fields as well. As we step out to attend to our daily activities, may we meet that person whom God will use to change our stories.