The Truth About Ruth - Part 2: Working Your Destiny Series

Ruth Chapter 2

In Chapter 1 we have the girl introduced to us! In chapter 2 we have the boy appearing!

We know that the girl's not lazy!

Ruth is not lazy! She goes looking for work.

God's Welfare program requires that you get up off your fat rear and apply yourself. Notice it was not dependency on the government. It required that the wealthy farmer and harvester show generosity by leaving the corners and edges and any that fell while reaping. The law of gleaning was in effect in an economy where life and survival depended on harvest three times per year.

Ruth knew what she was getting into. The Moabites were not welcome among the Jews

Coming to Bethlehem with Naomi, Ruth already has three strikes against her: She is a foreigner, a widow, and very poor!

Ruth was not an idle, lazy lay about bumming a free ride. She knew exactly what she was getting into when she took that journey with Naomi back to Bethlehem.

So what does she have going for her?

We have seen already that she has committed herself to the God of Israel!

She may not have made this life changing decision if Naomi had not presented the beauty of a godly life before her daughters in law! How important it is to set an example of a godly life before others! See here in this book how the godly life of Naomi influenced a young Moabite widow for Yahweh and set her on track to become the ancestress of the Messiah a princess in Israel!

In Ruth's actions we see some characteristics worthy of emulation:

1. She is capable of making tough decisions and sticking to them! She determines to follow after Yahweh and then follow Naomi knowing the consequences even though she never even dreamed of the glorious future in store for her...a direct result of her submission to God, attachment to her aging poor mother in law and determination to work with dignity in providing for Naomi and herself.

2. She is a thinking woman who assesses the situation in a practical manner! Two poor widows all alone are in need of food to survive. There is no one other than Naomi that she knows in this land, but there is something that she discovers she could do. She can glean! Anybody can glean! It is not even a debate with her about who should get busy rectifying this situation! Was it mere chance that she found herself in the field of Boaz?

3. She shows determination and purpose in making the best of a bad situation! Once she looks over the situation and makes her assessment she sets out on herself imposed task with the blessings of Naomi. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. Ruth 2:2 KJV

4. She does not complain or grumble about life's unfairness but applies herself to the task of finding a solution. Moaning and groaning about life's unfairness is for losers, moochers and blood sucking parasitic excuses for humans! Ruth goes to work with a will that is noticed and remarked upon by Boaz foreman. And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. Ruth 2:6-7 KJV

5. She is a humble grateful woman. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? Ruth 2:10 KJV

6. She is ever considerate of the widowed, childless mother in law and puts away a portion of her free lunch for Naomi. And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. Ruth 2:18 KJV

Ruth gives refreshing meaning to the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31!

And just who is Boaz?

He's the boy that gets the girl!

He's the hero of this story more so because he prefigures our heavenly Kinsman Redeemer the Messiah Yashua Hamashiach!

1. He is the son of Rahab the harlot of Jericho! Maybe being the son of Rahab was instrumental in racial prejudices and bigotry being absent from his life! As such he portrays the Kinsman Redeemer Whose outstretched arms reaches out to embrace the whole world! And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; Matthew 1:5-6 KJV