Then Boaz said to
Ruth, "Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field;
furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. Let your
eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have
commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water
jars and drink from what the servants draw."
Wise
advice. “Listen” is used 284 times in the Bible. That is a lot of people
wanting to be heard. When I tell my grandchildren to listen to me or to their
parents, sometimes they will and sometimes it is just the reverse psychology
that one of them in particular applies to most of her actions. Challenge her to
do something and she will—but just to listen? Who knows? Not many four year
olds respond by listening to wise advice!
Boaz
was giving Ruth wise advice when he said, “Listen carefully” as he offered her
protection in his fields, from his servants and from thirst. Ruth was a good
listener. As a beautiful young foreign widow she needed protection. Boaz
offered just what she needed. She could glean in his fields knowing that she
wouldn’t face any harm. And when she was thirsty, there would be water for her.
Water that she could rely on to be pure and safe to drink. I imagine that as they
trudged along the path from Moab that Naomi and Ruth prayed that God would
protect them and provide for them in Bethlehem. This was an answer to their prayers.
What more could they want? When you seem to have everything in life, what more
do you want?
Spiritually
do you have everything you need? Are you listening carefully for God’s voice or
to wise council? God provides for us, we
just have to ask and receive.
Lord, help me to see your
protection and provision for everything in my life. Thank you.
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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