by John O’Malley
“And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left” (Ruth 2:14).
Boaz’s invitation gave Ruth more than a place to eat; it gave her a place to connect with his heart and with his harvesters. It was more than just an invitation to a meal for Ruth. It was here Ruth discovered that all she would ever need, Boaz could supply. That day, Boaz fed her food for her hunger and fellowship for her heart.
Ruth could look at the faces of those gathered around this humble fellowship of people and know that they all enjoyed Boaz’s blessings and bounty. Ruth’s position of being seated by the reapers, but within reach of Boaz, gave her no small comfort. Ruth found her hunger was satisfied with his provisions. She discovered her heart was satisfied with his presence, and her hope was satisfied with his promises.
A quick glance over her shoulder as she returned to her labors would have left Ruth with a sense of tranquillity. The meal had restored her energy and the fellowship had renewed her mind.
Her departure from the fellowship and the food must have begun a thinking process. Inwardly, she must have contemplated the satisfaction that Boaz brought to her life. She was satisfied with Boaz’s blessings and bread. Ruth found satisfaction in his bounty. Boaz satisfied her heart and met all her needs.
Any who have ever worked on a project with a group of people and stopped for a meal can imagine their conversation that day in the field. There would have been discussion of their labors that morning. They might have discussed what was happening in the community with their friends and family. Surely there would have been laughter and lightheartedness during this meal; yet all would have been mindful of the unfinished task before them. They would enjoy the mealtime for that moment, but knew there was still work to be completed. There was still a crop to harvest. There was still grain to thresh. There were still fields to be gleaned.
For the believer today, it would be wise to take a lesson from these nine words in our focus phrase “and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.” There are lessons of resting, replenishing, and returning for the labor of our Eternal Boaz. Ruth was called apart from her labors to rest. She enjoyed the way the food and the fellowship replenished her emptiness. She enjoyed it all with an awareness of her unfinished responsibility. Ruth then returned to her labors mindful that only Boaz could satisfy her soul.
We too have before us a harvest of souls that we must reap, glean, and gather. Let us feast and fellowship until we are sufficed. Then let us return and complete our labors, ever mindful of the day when our labors shall cease, and we will have an eternity to rest and rejoice. Laborer, never forget that only Boaz can bring satisfaction.
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