Ruth

Ruth 2: God cares for Ruth through Boaz

Begin in prayer

Before we read how God cares for Ruth through Boaz, let us come to the LORD together. Ask Him to show us His kindness in this chapter, and to turn our hearts to Jesus, the Shelter of all who come to Him.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.

Psalm 103:11

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us Your care for Ruth through Boaz, and help us take refuge in You. Make us more like Jesus in our kindness to others. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Ruth goes out to glean behind the reapers and happens to come to a field that belongs to Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. Boaz hears that she is the Moabite who came back with Naomi. He tells her to stay in his field, to drink from what the young men have drawn, and to glean without fear. Ruth asks why she has found favor, since she is a foreigner. Boaz blesses her for leaving her father, mother and land, and he says she has come to take refuge under the LORD's wings. At mealtime he feeds her, and by evening she carries about an ephah of barley home to Naomi. Naomi tells her that Boaz is a near kinsman.

As you read Ruth 2, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD cares for Ruth through Boaz, and she takes refuge under His wings.

Ruth happens to come to the field of Boaz, a man of Elimelech's family (verse 3). The verse does not say the LORD led her, yet the whole story shows that He did. The LORD's law told farmers to leave the corners and gleanings for the poor and the foreigner (Leviticus 19 verses 9 and 10). Ruth is a foreigner, yet Boaz welcomes her and tells her to stay close to his young women (verses 8 and 9). Boaz asks the LORD to repay her work, and he says she has come to take refuge under His wings (verse 12). Boaz feeds her at mealtime, and she carries about an ephah of barley home to Naomi (verses 14 and 17). Naomi, who called herself empty, now praises the LORD, who “has not left off his kindness” (verse 20). She calls Boaz a near kinsman, a relative who may act for the family's needs (verse 20). Jesus said He wanted to gather the children of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23 verse 37).

How does Ruth 2 show us that the LORD cares for Ruth through Boaz, and that she takes refuge under His wings?

Boaz lets Ruth glean and drink in his field.

Boaz tells Ruth to stay in his field and to keep close to his young women (verse 8). He has ordered the young men not to touch her, and he lets her drink from what they have drawn (verse 9). He also tells the reapers to leave grain on purpose for her to gather (verse 16). Boaz guards a foreigner who has no field of her own.

Boaz prays that the LORD will reward Ruth, who came to Him for refuge.

Ruth falls on her face and asks why she has found favor, since she is a foreigner (verse 10). Boaz has heard that she left her father, mother and land to come to a people she did not know (verse 11). He prays that the LORD will repay her work and give her a full reward (verse 12). Ruth ran to the LORD for refuge, and Jesus is the refuge that sinners need from the judgment of God.

Ruth takes barley and food home to Naomi.

Boaz tells her to eat with the reapers, and he serves her parched grain (verse 14). Ruth eats until she is satisfied, and she has some left over (verse 14). She gleans about an ephah of barley and brings it, with her leftover food, home to Naomi (verses 17 and 18). Naomi asks where she gleaned, and she blesses the man who noticed Ruth (verse 19).

Memorise

May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.

Ruth 2:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where do I run for shelter instead of to Jesus?

Ruth falls on her face and asks Boaz why she has found favor in his sight. She is a foreigner, and yet he speaks kindly to her and feeds her. Boaz tells her she has come under the wings of the God of Israel for refuge. Ruth has come to God for shelter, and God receives her.

Boaz's field can give barley, but sinners need shelter from God's judgment. Jesus took the punishment that His people deserved, and He gave His life in their place on the cross. The grave could not hold Him, and He rose. The price is fully paid, and it is enough to put away the sin of all who trust Him.

Come under the wings of the LORD, as Ruth did, and bring your sin to Jesus. Please turn from your sin and trust Him. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven and sheltered, and He will never let them go.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God cared for Ruth through Boaz, and that Jesus is the One who shelters His people. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His care for Ruth through Boaz, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one offer a short prayer if they wish.

I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

Psalm 61:4

Lord God, thank You for caring for Ruth through Boaz and for giving her shelter under Your wings. Please turn our hearts from sin and teach us to trust Jesus, the Shelter of all who come to Him. Help our family notice people who need food or protection, and show them kindness this week. Amen.