by John O’Malley
“And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not” (Ruth 2:15).
The servants of Boaz listened with interest to the most unusual instructions from their master. Here the one who had a vested interest in the profitability of the harvest told the servants to give away the profit. To the calloused observer, this gesture would seem ridiculous. Yet, the servants obeyed Boaz’s command.
The servants were to allow Ruth full access to every part of the field. Normally the corners would be the place a woman of Ruth’s status would be lawfully permitted to glean. Yet Boaz treated Ruth not under the law, but under grace. Boaz said, “Let her glean even among the sheaves.”
Ruth, though a Moabite, had found a place in Boaz’s heart, and Boaz wanted a place in his harvest for this Moabitess. Boaz’s grace permitted Ruth access to his harvest and his heart. It was his grace that provided Ruth favor and fellowship. Boaz’s grace opened the way for Ruth’s reward and redemption. Were it not for the grace of Boaz, Ruth’s outlook and outcome would never have been the same.
The servants were commanded to yield to Boaz’s desire to help this one who had come seeking a benefactor. Boaz desired that Ruth would have the freedom to roam in his fields. Boaz wanted Ruth to find fruit in his field. Boaz sought for nothing less than for Ruth to have favor in his fields. Boaz recruited his servants and required them to help in this endeavor.
Ruth held a special place in Boaz’s heart. She had come to Boaz’s field seeking a benefactor, and found everything and more in Boaz. Boaz arranged everything around her to bless and benefit her. Boaz did not exempt Ruth from work; he simply made the workload a little easier.
We too hold a special place in the heart of our Eternal Boaz. He has gone to great lengths to give us more than what we ever thought we would find in this life. Our Boaz has arranged every detail of our lives to bless and benefit us. He loves us with an everlasting love. He made the way for us as former Moabites once estranged from His fellowship. Now we live not under law, but under grace.
There is a place for redeemed Moabites in the heart of Boaz as well as in His harvest. Since He accepted and adopted you, have you been gleaning? Since His redemption, have you spent more time sitting or serving? Since coming under the shadow of His grace, have you labored for Him in His field or have you just been looking around His field?
Servants of the Eternal Boaz, consider His commands to you today. Have you been obedient to His commands to tithe to your church? Have you been observant to His commands for the lost souls of man? Have you been occupied with His command to care for His servants who go to fields abroad? Have you opened your heart to Him for daily fellowship in His Word?
Let us occupy until He comes!