In ancient Israel, God ordained gleaning so that poor people would have a way to obtain food (Lev. 23:22). In our society, we provide for the poor through community food pantries or government food programs. A “Caring Committee” at my church gives out staple items and grocery gift cards to those in need.
Naomi and Ruth were on the receiving side of such charity. Naomi was an older widow without income. Her daughter-in-law Ruth, also widowed, went to nearby fields to glean grain for herself and her mother-in-law (vv. 2, 6–7). Whatever she brought back they could grind into flour and make bread to stay alive. It seems that gleaning was somewhat risky at that time. Boaz’s instructions for her safety imply that otherwise Ruth might have been vulnerable to sexual violence (v. 9).
Boaz owned the field where she was gleaning. His greeting to the harvesters showed that he was a godly man (v. 4). Attentively, he noticed Ruth, asked about her, and invited her to stay and get rest and water with his workers (vv. 5, 8–9). He’d heard about her choosing the Lord (Ruth 1:16–17) and coming from Moab with her widowed mother-in-law (v. 11). His response: “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” (v. 12).
Ruth turned out to be hard-working and humble (vv. 7, 10). Boaz was generous, even telling his laborers to leave extra grain for her to glean, as opposed to our American values of maximizing efficiency and productivity. And we know that the biblical love story of Ruth and Boaz would one day reappear in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:5)!
Go Deeper
What is our biblical responsibility to give to those in need? What opportunities have you found to give in this way?
Pray with Us
We know that You put people in our path to help, Lord. Make our hearts sensitive to Your leading, that we may be a clear testimony as we serve others. You are the author of generosity.
The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.Psalm 67:6
