The scene has been set, and
the characters of our story are interacting with one another. Boaz'
who is a wealthy field-owner has noticed Ruth who is the Moabitish
daughter-in-law of Naomi who has returned to her homeland as a bitter
woman. Both Naomi and Ruth have experienced the loss of their
husbands, and now because they are poor, Ruth has been gleaning in
the field which is owned by Boaz. Boaz has noticed Ruth, inquired
about her, given provision and protection for her, and now he has
instructed his young male servants to allow Ruth to glean in areas
where she normally would not be allowed. He has told his young
gleaners to drop handfuls of barley behind them on purpose for Ruth
to gather, and as we watch through our mind's eye the continuation of
the story, we see Ruth working in chapter two and verse seventeen
where we read:
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had
gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
Once again we recognize the
work ethic of Ruth, “So she gleaned in the field until even.”
Ruth was tenacious and enduring. Where many may have stopped in the
middle of the day or quit long before evening time came, Ruth was
still working. Let's remember that Boaz was providing for her behind
the scenes, but her part was just to keep doing her job.
In addition to gleaning in
the field, Ruth “beat out that she had gleaned:” After
gleaning, there was still more work to do. In order to get to the
part of the barley that was usable for food, it was necessary that
Ruth “beat out” or thresh the bounty she gathered. The stems and
stalks would need to be removed to get to the seed portion of the
barley. We might imagine the stalks flying, and the dust rising over
Ruth as she worked. More than likely this wasn't the most desirable
of tasks, but it was needful if Ruth was going to enjoy her
gatherings.
Finally we learn that Ruth's
efforts with the aid of Boaz paid off handsomely, “and it was
about an ephah of barley” which is about five and one-half
gallons. This was a large bounty for a poor person. It may have been
that Ruth didn't realize the fullness of her gain, but she still had
it. Boaz had provided, and Ruth worked. The benefits of each of their
efforts were shown by the amount of barley Ruth gathered.
What can we learn from this?
First, our part in the world is to just continue working. We do not
know all the Lord Jesus is doing for us behind the scenes. We must
simply work and keep working until evening each day. Second, we must
continue to work as Ruth did even when the gathering is over, and
finally, we must remember that the bounty we have gained will not be
told until the work we have done is complete. We should be encouraged
in the same manner which Paul the apostle exhorted the Galatians in
chapter six and verse nine of his letter to them:
And let us not be weary
in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Next
time we will see Naomi come back into the story again, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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