by John O’Malley
“And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz” (Ruth 2:19).
Naomi could keep silent no longer! Certainly something must have happened with Ruth. “Where did you glean today? Where did you beat out your gleanings?” Before Ruth could utter a response, Naomi declared her gratefulness and said, “Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.” Ruth seized her opportunity to explain it all. Seven and half gallons of barley lay spread before Naomi. Parched corn was placed in Naomi’s hand as she declared the events of the day in her own way. Listen as she could have declared it:
Mom, I left home today and sensed in my heart the guiding hand of Jehovah. Just like you have been teaching me about the way He guided our people to the Promised Land, so I too sensed Him guiding me to glean in a certain field. I prayed that God would let me find grace in someone’s eyes and let me glean. I arrived at God’s field for me and met the servant set over the reapers. I asked him if I could glean today in his field. I declared to him my status, relationship, and testimony. I made it clear I was Moabite by birth and Israelite by faith. I related to him my financial position and marital status. I thank God for His provision in the law for me because the servant gave me access to his master’s field.
About noontime, the owner of the field came. He spoke with such tenderness. What spoke to my heart was that he called me daughter. The owner told me to plan on going nowhere else for the rest of the harvest. He knew all about my conversion, my commitment to Jehovah and to you. He said that he had been shown fully all about me. I was so humbled by his compassion and kindness; I thanked him and wondered why he would favor me so. He made it clear to me I could leave the corners of the field and work right around the reapers. He then invited me to share the midday meal with him. That is when he gave me this parched corn to eat. I saved some of it for you!
It seemed from that moment my day got easier and the work went faster. Everywhere I could look, it seemed I found grain to pick up. The next time the master and I speak, I must tell him about the carelessness of his workers. After lunch, it seemed they became careless with the grain, even wasteful. When the afternoon passed, I found myself with all this grain. So I began to beat the grains. I tried to be careful and not waste a grain. My excitement to come home and share these blessing with you spurred me on to finish. After beating out the grain, I had this much to carry home.
Mother, I know you wanted to know the name of the man who is this Master. You are correct; he did take knowledge of me. His name is most unusual in sound; I understand it means “quickness.” Certainly he was quick to respond to my needs. I am so grateful to Jehovah for leading me to this man. Mother, his name is Boaz.
God had arranged their meeting. He had given them a heart for one another. All of it was done in His time to bring together these two hearts. He brought Boaz and Ruth to the intersection of loneliness and hope and they found each other. Their meeting was not by chance. No, this was a meeting that secured the line of the Messiah and thwarted Satan’s attempt to extinguish the salvation of mankind.
How well do you recognize God’s blessings in your life? Can you see how He has woven the threads of your life to make a beautiful fabric for His honor and glory? Pause today to recognize and testify of His blessings.