1. OK…so Naomi happens to be related to one of Israel’s most eligible bachelors, Boaz. And Ruth decides she is going to strut her stuff while gleaning in the field to perhaps catch her this man.
2. Gleaning: v. tr. “To gather (grain) left behind by reapers.” At this point, all Ruth can do to make a living is to go behing the grain reapers and get whatever they don’t gather themselves. You’d have to imagine that this would be a very humbling experience. But, what else could she do? You have to respect Ruth’s humility.
3. Well, Ruth must have been something because Boaz seems to notice her instantly (or maybe he didn’t have a lot of gleaners?). He also finds out that she had been working hard. Nice…
4. Then Boaz provides her with a safe place, a place where she won’t be sexually harassed, and where she can get water. Ruth can’t understand why he would be so nice, but he explains that he heard about all that she had done for Naomi. I guess her loyalty is paying off, huh? And I love how Boaz ties it all into God…that He is the one who is doing this for Ruth.
5. He even let her have a nice lunch. Then he tells the guys to leave more stuff for her too. Boaz was being a good guy on the sly.
6. Boaz was a kinsman-redeemer of Ruth. Being closely related to Naomi, he could have “dibs” on taking Ruth to be his wife if no one closer to her dead husband objected. I can see this getting good…
OK…not many questions again here…but…what do you think about?
1. Boaz’s kindness
2. Ruth’s approach to work
3. Naomi’s “strategy”
