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Welcome back to the last week of Ruth 2! Full disclosure: I had trouble focusing on the challenges this week. Our home sustained minor damage from strong storms coming through this area a few weeks ago, and furnishings remain scattered about as the last steps of restoration are scheduled for this week. It’s been hard to concentrate on God’s Word, but I definitely needed the solace of His presence.
Last Week’s Work
Through my study notes, the Spirit again impressed upon me the principle of humility. I mentioned this briefly when observing Ruth asked permission to glean in Boaz’s field (Ruth 2:7) even though Mosaic law entitled her to do so. I also saw this trait when she volunteered to provide for Naomi by gleaning in Bethlehem’s barley fields (2:2) soon after arriving there (1:22) and by sharing with Naomi the roasted grain left over from her meal (2:18).
Boaz clearly indicates her assistance to Naomi was a reason he was so kind to Ruth (2:11). Surely, with the whole town being stirred at their arrival (1:19), he knew Naomi had returned with a daughter-in-law after losing her husband and sons. When he found out the woman in his field who worked so hard was that daughter-in-law, it makes sense to me he would care about her.
CONVICTION
I am convicted by the way God blessed Ruth with Boaz’s favor. Pledging to stick with Naomi until she died (1:17) seems pretty risky: what if Bethlehem rejected this stray foreigner who’d followed Naomi home? It’s not like she could hop the next plane back to Moab if it didn’t work out.
And that wasn’t the only thing she’d done. She’d rejected the gods of Moab for Elohim, the God of Israel (1:16). I think Boaz’s beautiful mention of Ruth’s conversion (2:12) indicates his approval of her commitment to his God. She was surely all in on the move to Bethlehem.
CORRECTION
I can’t help but marvel about the unusual way the Spirit presented the correction verse for this study to me. At the beginning of July, I decided to re-establish my daily Bible-reading habit. Not studying it, but just reading a few chapters each morning. I chose a chronological plan in the YouVersion Bible App and listen while I walk in our neighborhood each morning. About a week ago, the narrator announced Leviticus 19, and I knew I’d hear the familiar rule of gleaning in verses 9-10, but I had no idea how verse 2 would resonate with me then and still does now:
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy(Leviticus 19:1-2 ESV emphasis added).
That morning when I returned home, I wrote about the context in which we find the gleaning law: “God wanted His people to be different from those around them, more like Him.” Among other things, He instructed them to care for those who experienced hardship.
I feel the same call to be different. I have already accepted the holiness conveyed by faith in Jesus Christ, and I know with that comes a changed life (i.e., 1 Peter 1:8-16, which quotes Leviticus 19:2!). Ruth knew when she left Moab with Naomi that her life would be different. And it appears my life is about to change as well. In some respects, I’m looking forward to it. In others, I’m already looking backward knowing I will miss aspects of my current situation. I’m sure Ruth did the same. But through it all, as she was, I’m committed to God’s call.
ACTION PLAN
So what does a changed life mean to me these days? We’re still praying about that, and the Lord is still unfolding it. This week my husband and I will be taking a baby step in faith toward what we believe He has ordained for us. I’m looking forward to sharing specifics with you, friends, but it doesn’t feel right to do that just yet.
Our Next Study
Thanks so much for joining me for these studies in Ruth! We’re already half done with the book, and I hope you’ll continue to check in as I start Ruth chapter 3 next week. In more ways than one, we’re on the verge of learning a lot about what God can do with a humble heart!