Ruth Challenge Chapter Two

Ruth 2: Scripture Passage

Ruth and Boaz Meet

1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz.

2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?”

Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.

4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The Lord be with you.”

“The Lord bless you,” they replied.

5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”

6 The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab. 7 She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants. 9 See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”

10 She fell facedown, bowed to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor with you, so that you notice me, although I am a foreigner?”

Favor with Boaz

11 Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left your father and mother and your native land, and how you came to a people you didn’t previously know. 12 May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

13 “My lord,” she said, “I have found favor with you, for you have comforted and encouraged your servant, although I am not like one of your female servants.”

14 At mealtime Boaz told her, “Come over here and have some bread and dip it in the vinegar sauce.” So she sat beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over.

15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her even gather grain among the bundles, and don’t humiliate her. 16 Pull out some stalks from the bundles for her and leave them for her to gather. Don’t rebuke her.” 17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley. 18 She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave it to her.

Naomi’s Response

19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you gather barley today, and where did you work? May the Lord bless the man who noticed you.”

Ruth told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with and said, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.”

20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the Lord bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers.”

21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished all of my harvest.’”

22 So Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his female servants, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.” 23 Ruth stayed close to Boaz’s female servants and gathered grain until the barley and the wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Devotional for Ruth Challenge Chapter Two:

In this chapter, we meet a new character in the story of Ruth and Naomi – Boaz. Boaz is a relative of Naomi. We learn right away that he is  “a prominent man of noble character” who is related to Naomi’s deceased husband. He has been keeping tabs on Naomi since she returned to Bethlehem and has heard of the wonderful way Ruth has treated Naomi.

“Everything you have done…”

“10 She fell facedown, bowed to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor with you, so that you notice me, although I am a foreigner?”

11 Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left your father and mother and your native land, and how you came to a people you didn’t previously know.” 

The Lord’s Provision

Ruth encounters Boaz when she is keeping starvation at bay by gleaning in the fields behind the workers, picking up the scraps that they left behind. As a side note, she followed proper protocol and asked permission to be there. She is a woman of integrity.

The Lord uses this man of integrity to provide above and beyond the expectations of Naomi and Ruth. He obviously lives a lifestyle of generosity, because he is ready right away to look out for Ruth and provide for her and Naomi. He is concerned for her safety and naturally offers her both protection and provision.

Active Anticipation

However, it strikes me that Ruth was not just sitting around and waiting for God to send provision to them. She was out actively working and watching for ways that God will provide for her and her mother-in-law.

Ruth is in a place that positions her to receive provision from God (through Boaz) that is beyond what she could have hoped for.

Positioning Ourselves for Provision

We can position ourselves for God’s supernatural provision too. Praying and believing, stepping out in faith, watching for the answers to our prayers… these are all ways that we position ourselves for supernatural provision.

Action Step:

For right now, let’s pray and believe God for His provision. Just like he provided far beyond what Ruth and Naomi thought possible, He will provide for us. What area of your life do you need provision in?

Think of one thing you need God to provide for this week. It’s time to pray, believing and expecting that God is already at work providing for you. Open your eyes to see the provision that is on its way.

Also, let’s make a habit of looking around us and seeing if there is someone in our lives that God is wanting us to be a vehicle of provision and protection for. Maybe in this moment, we are not just the ones needing provision in our lives, but also the people of integrity that God can use to provide for others.

Ruth Challenge Chapter Two – Week 2:

Sunday/Monday: Read Chapter 2 and the devotional here.

Tuesday: Comment here or on the Devotion in Action Facebook Group or Instagram with one thought about the chapter. Follow @devoinaction.

Wednesday: Interact creatively (Bible art journaling, sketchnotes, doodles, etc.) with the chapter and share on social media with the hashtag #diaruthchallenge (dia is for Devotion in Action) Feel free to use the Ruth 2 free printable or do your own thing! If you haven’t gotten the Chapter freebies yet, click here for Chapter Two or subscribe to the blog newsletter to receive a download with all four chapters at once!

Thursday: Reread Ruth chapter two and pray for provision in one area of your life or reach out and provide for or protect someone in your life.

Friday: Read the Devotion in Action email newsletter (if you haven’t signed up yet, sign up HERE!)

Saturday: Catch up or rest day.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for fascinating stories of real people in Your word that show us truth that can help transform our lives. Reveal to us ways to strengthen our relationships this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.