Ruth 2:1-16
Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man of the family of Elimelech whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain behind someone in whose sight I may find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” They answered, “The Lord bless you.” Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “To whom does this young woman belong?” The young man who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.’ So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now without resting even for a moment.” Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” Then she said, “May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.” At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some of this bread and dip your morsel in the sour wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, “Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” Ruth 2:1-16 (NRSVUE)
The book of Ruth begins with the faithfulness of the Moabite Ruth to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. Because of a famine in Israel, Naomi and her family (husband and two sons) had gone to live in Moab. The sons married Moabite women. Naomi’s husband died in Moab as did her two sons. Naomi left Moab with her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to return to her family home in Judah. Despite Naomi’s urging them to return to their native land to find husbands, Ruth refused and continued to Judah with Naomi.
In Judah, to help her mother-in-law, Ruth offered to glean the grain left behind in the fields by the harvesters. It was a custom among the Israelites to leave grain to help provide for the poor. Ruth happened to glean in the fields belonging to Boaz.
When Boaz returned to his property in the afternoon, he asked the workers who the woman was. He was told that she was Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi. Boaz realized all that Ruth had given up going to Judah with her mother-in-law and encouraged her to continue in his fields.
This story is about the faithfulness of Ruth, a foreigner, to her mother-in-law, Naomi. It is also about the kindness of Boaz, a wealthy landowner, to a foreigner in his land and on his property.
This is also a lesson to each of us on how we respond to foreigners, and really all people.
Questions for Reflection:
- Have you had an opportunity recently to help someone? Was that person a foreigner? Was that person dressed poorly? Were you afraid? Did you feel guilty about your reaction? What did you do?
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for our daily bread. We know we have so many opportunities to help. People are hungry. Many do not have clothing to keep them warm. Some do not have homes. Help us to see all as our neighbors. Help us to be like Ruth for her mother-in-law and like Boaz for Ruth. Help us to see. Amen.
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