GOD WORKS IN
SURPRISING WAYS!
Ruth 2
THE STORY CONTINUES:
•V1 Elimelek (Naomi’s deceased husband) had a close
relative of ‘good standing’ – well respected in Bethlehem -
Boaz
•V2&3 Ruth volunteers to work in the barley and wheat
harvest as a widow – early Jewish ‘welfare system’... “as it
turned out” – she found herself working in Boaz’s fields.
•V4-7 Boaz notices the young widow and asks about her. His
workers tell him that she asked permission to work in that
field. Note the interaction between Boaz and his workers:
“The Lord be with you!” – “The Lord bless you!” = warm and
respectful
•V6-7 The field overseer tells Boaz that she (Ruth) is the
Moabite who returned with Naomi and she had been
working since early morning. Ruth had no idea who’s field
she was in...
•V8-9 Boaz tells Ruth to: a) stay with and follow the women
working for him –watch them; b) I have told the men to not
touch you; and c) drink from the jars my men filled.
•V10 Ruth bows and asks, “Why have I found favor – I am a
foreigner...”
•V11 Boaz responds, “I have been told all about what you
have done...how you have left your mother and father and
homeland and came to live with strangers”...
•V12 Boaz blessed Ruth: a) because of what you have done;
b) the Lord will richly reward you; and c) you have come to
take refuge under His wings
•V13 Ruth responds, “May I continue to find favor/grace in
your eyes. a) You have reassured me & spoke kindly to me;
b) even though I am below your servants
•V14 Boaz invites Ruth to eat with him and
his workers –roasted grain (a treat). When
she is full, she saves her leftovers for Naomi
–revealing her kindness, respectfulness,
and love for Naomi
•V15 -16 Boaz tells his workers to let her
pick up sheaves of wheat and drop some
stalks for her to glean
•V17–18 Ruth worked all day gleaning
then threshed the wheat she gleaned –
she gleaned approximately 30 lbs!
sheaves
Stalks
•V19-20 Naomi is surprised by how much Ruth brings home,
Ruth gives Naomi her leftover roasted grain, and Naomi asks,
“who’s field did you glean?” Ruth tells her “Boaz” and Naomi
states, “The Lord bless him (Boaz)! He (the Lord) has not
stopped showing His kindness to the living and the dead!”
•Boaz is identified as one of Elimelek’s family guardian
(kinsman redeemer)-one who has the legal right to assume
responsibility and protection of Elimelek’s inheritance.
•“He (the Lord) has not stopped showing His kindness to the
living and the dead!” – He keeps His word to those living and
to those promised in the past...
•The book of Hebrews says, “Jesus is the same yesterday,
today, and forever”...
•Abraham called God (Gen 22) ‘Jehovah Y/Jireh’ when He
provided the ram to be sacrificed instead of Isaac –
meaning “God is my provider/provision”
•He not only ‘gives us what we need’ – He becomes what
we need! He is our provision...He gave Himself as a sacrifice
–the provision –for our salvation
•How has the Lord met your need/s in 2025?
•What do you need today?
•What are you asking God to provide and to
become your Provision?
