Due to Boaz’s blessing, Ruth’s gleaning efforts were exponentially rewarded.
After spending all day separating the grain from the heads and stalks and beating them on the threshing floor, Ruth ended up with an entire bushel of barley!
Ya know how much that is?
We’re talking about a weight of around 60 pounds or 27 kilograms!!!
I’m reminded of that time in the New Testament when Peter was blessed with a bountiful catch while fishing under Yeshua’s authority.
After Ruth returned home with her load Naomi couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Where in the world did you glean today?!” she asks Naomi.
As soon as Ruth said the name Boaz, Naomi’s eyes lit up and she knew the Lord’s favor had turned towards her.
The same Lord who had taken away her husband and the husbands of her daughters-in-law…
The same Lord who had caused so much affliction in her life…
This same Lord had now blessed her life in 2 big ways.
First, they now had plenty of grain to live off of.
Second, by divine coincidence, Ruth had been led directly to Boaz, a family Kinsman Redeemer.
Amidst all of the gloom, bitterness and darkness, a gleaming sliver of hope had finally broken through!
Naomi listened to Ruth excitedly relate all of the amazing events of the day…
And then afterwards she responded by warning Ruth to STAY CLOSE to Boaz’s female workers…
Why was this so important?
Because without that protection, there was a good chance Ruth could be mistreated or even abused by other folks in the Hebrew community who wouldn’t be to happy about some gentile Moabite gleaning in their fields.
In the last verse 23, we’re told Ruth paid careful attention to Naomi’s instructions and heeded her warning well.
Now there’s great takeaway here.
When you are in the Lord’s Will He can and will mightily bless you even amidst hostile circumstances.
However, there’s a huge caveat to that…
You have to stay CLOSE to not only your Kinsman Redeemer but to his workers as well.
Remember Yeshua said he is the vine and we are the branches (another famous agricultural motif!), and that without being attached to him we can do nothing.
Well, we can see this principle now being applied to Ruth’s life as she was instructed to stay close to Boaz and his workers…
Even more so because Ruth was a wild gentile branch who had been grafted into the nourishing sap of the Hebrew olive tree.
Once discarded she would easily wither away.
So in practical terms, what does this mean to us?
It means staying connected folks…
Staying connected to the Lord through prayer, studying His Word and of course regular fellowship with other believers.
Over and out.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.
If you do not remain in me,
you are like a branch that
is thrown away and withers;
such branches are picked up,
thrown into the fire and burned.
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.
This is to my Father’s glory,
that you bear much fruit,
showing yourselves
to be my disciples.”
-John 15:5-8
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