What a difference one day can make in your life! Moses began his day as a shepherd and ended it as a prophet of God. See Exodus 3-4. David went out one day to take food for his brothers in Saul’s army and ended it as a hero because he had slain Goliath. See 1 Samuel 17:17-58. One day Ruth went into the fields to glean and found herself the object of the attention and affection of a man named Boaz. Three new factors enter the story because of the arrival of Boaz.

1. A new word on Naomi’s lips

It is the word “blessed”. She hadn’t used the word before but now she does. Previously Naomi had been bitter but now she found something to rejoice in. Before, her life had looked hopeless. What future did two widows have in Bethlehem? But now Boaz has come on the scene and is showing an interest in Ruth. Naomi’s bitterness turned into blessedness, her emptiness became fullness and her discouragement turned into hope. See Psalm 103:1-2.

2. A new hope in Naomi’s heart

Naomi and Ruth had 3 reasons to be encouraged and hopeful.

• Boaz was their kinsman. They realised who Boaz was – their kinsman. The law of the kinsman-redeemer is found in Leviticus 25:25. This law stated that if a Jew became poor and had to sell his property or had to himself into slavery, one of his kinsmen could redeem him. The kinsman could pay the price and redeem the person and his property. A second law that applied to the kinsman-redeemer is found in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. It had to do with marriage. The law said that if a man died his brother was required to marry the widow and raise the firstborn child in the name of the dead man. The kinsman was also required to maintain the man’s inheritance until the child was old enough to receive it. Boaz could marry Ruth and raise children according to the law in Deuteronomy 25 and he could also redeem Ruth and her property thus obeying the law in Leviticus 25.
• Boaz took a personal interest in Ruth. Out of all the people who were working in his field, he noticed Ruth and spoke to her. But more than that he protected her and provided for her generously. When Naomi saw all the grain that Ruth had gathered she was amazed. She knew that someone had been extra kind to Ruth. Then she found out it was Boaz and she realised that he could do much more for them.
• Boaz spoke encouraging words to Ruth. (vs. 21). He had some special plans in mind once he completed the harvest. Ruth remembered the words and she and Naomi were encouraged by them.

3. A new motive in Ruth’s service

Ruth did not wait for Boaz to perform his duties as kinsman-redeemer. Instead she went right back to the field and laboured. Ruth was now more than a labourer in the field; she was loved by the lord of the harvest.

Categories: Ruth