The Book of Ruth, only four chapters, is in stark contrast to the preceding Book of Judges. Ruth made an unshakable decision to follow Naomi and never wavered in her resolve.
Ruth’s decision had to be walked out, a long walk through a dry area with Naomi to Bethlehem. Her destiny lay far away from all she knew, yet she was committed to the journey.
After the long journey, came the hard work of harvest. The Lord’s timing was perfect as always;
22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, ARRIVING IN BETHLEHEM AS THE BARLEY HARVEST WAS BEGINNING. Ruth 1
During her work in the harvest fields, Ruth soon met Boaz, who showed her favour.
8 So Boaz said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.’
10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, ‘Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me – a FOREIGNER?’ Ruth 2
The master of the harvest told Ruth to stay and work with the women working for him. Could this be a prophetic picture of the bringing in of the Gentiles to God’s Kingdom?
23 SO RUTH STAYED CLOSE TO THE WOMEN OF BOAZ TO GLEAN UNTIL THE BARLEY AND WHEAT HARVESTS WERE FINISHED. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
God gave Ruth a Protected Place to work, where she would be safe and well treated. God is our Father and we need to ask Him today to place us where He wants us to work, the Safe Place for us. The work may be arduous, but Ruth continued until the Harvests were finished! We need to HAVE THE MINDSET TO FINISH what the Lord calls us to do.
She lived with her mother-in-law and indeed it Naomi who told her when and how to approach Boaz, their kinsman redeemer. The Lord may use someone near to us to show us the way to the next Place in our lives. Don’t ignore those nearest to us, God may give them the key for us!
The Book of Ruth has a happy ending, Boaz took Ruth, the foreigner as his wife and she gave birth to a son, Obed, the grandfather of King David. All the walking through the wilderness to get to Bethlehem and all the hard work of the harvest, day by day until all the crops were in, paid off!
Ruth ends with a view into the future and the coming of King David. His father, Jesse, was the one that Samuel was sent to, Jesse of Bethlehem, to anoint the next King of Israel.
Our eyes may be fixed on the things that fill our daily lives, but God can reveal to us something of the future. His prophetic purpose for our lives. ‘Ask and it shall be given (shown) onto you’.
God bless and keep you today.