Ruth
2:6-7
The servant in charge of the
reapers replied, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi
from the land of Moab.” "And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather
after the reapers among the sheaves.' Thus she came and has remained from the
morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while."
Moab wasn’t a country that the Hebrew people respected very highly, so Boaz’s workers could have felt disrespectful towards Ruth. Ruth was very polite when she came to Boaz field. She had the right to glean, but she actually asked permission to gather after the reapers. That was likely a rare request.
Ruth’s
reputation as a loving and caring daughter-in-law to Naomi probably proceeded
her into the barley field. She had come to a strange land knowing that Moabites
were not considered equals with Hebrews and now she was gleaning, a status
relegated to the poor. Even though she was resting at the time that Boaz first
saw her she was already being viewed with respect for her loving care of Naomi
and for her hard work gleaning all morning.
Does
our reputation go before us? You bet it does—someone is always watching and
judging. Are you known as a couch potato, intellectual, exercise freak or as
spiritual seeker? One after God’s own heart? Do you ask the Lord to show you
spiritual truths from His Word or glean what you can from stories, maybe even
fiction books written by Christian authors? Whatever your desire—know that God
knows the desires of your heart, too. In Psalm 37:4 it says, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will
give you the desires of your heart.” (NASB) So, like Ruth, seek God and He
will give you what you desire, a home, food, and a loving family.
Heavenly Father, may we be
delightful in Your eyes and may you give us the desires of our hearts. Thank
you.
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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