Ruth, the Outsider

     

     The sun beat between her shoulder blades. She straightened her aching back to pull her mantle up to shield her face, and felt her dress cling to her back. She bent again to gather up another handful of the barley. Far ahead of her, the laborers were swinging their sickles through the ripened field. Behind them, women gathered up the grain into sheaves. Last of all, Ruth gathered up the scant remainders, and was grateful.

     While she stretched, she looked around herself at her mother-in-law's homeland. Would these hills and fields ever feel like home, or would she always be a stranger in Bethlehem? She did her best to ignore the suspicious eyes of the women when she drew water at dawn, tried hard not to hear the whispers at the market:

     “Why is she here?”

     “If her husband died, why didn't she stay with her own people?

     “What if she brought her idols with her?”

     They didn't understand that she had put that life behind her. When Naomi had sold all she had to go back to Israel, she had tried to send Ruth home. The bereaved woman was walking into an uncertain future, and she wouldn't ask the same of her widowed daughters-in-law. Orpah had remained in Moab, but Ruth was determined to stay with Naomi. It had been Naomi who had taught her about the true God.

     She had heard of the Israelites before her marriage. Who hadn't heard of the nation that had thrown down the massive walls of Jericho, turning the most powerful city in Canaan to rubble? They had swept in from the wilderness, and broke through the land like windstorm, sweeping away everyone in their path. And then, the nation of soldiers had put down their swords, and turned into tribes of shepherds and farmers. At least, that's how they talked about Israelites back in Moab. Naomi had shared the truth with her daughters-in-law.

     It hadn't been the nation that had conquered Caanan, it had been their God. He had gone before them in the wilderness, sustaining them on bread from heaven, and springs of water from solid rock.       He had promised their ancestors this very land Ruth stood on now.

     She had decided it was better to go to the land of God a poor widow, than to have earthly comfort in the shadow of a god of stone.

     A shout rang out across the field. The meal was prepared. Cheerfully the laborers walked to the shade house. The women chattered easily as they walked companionably. One paused, and looked at Ruth, her eyes flitting over her damp brow.

     “Come, sit in the shade with us.”

     Ruth smiled, grateful, and found a spot to sit.

     A well dressed man come under the shade. “May the Lord be with you,” he said seriously.

     It seemed to be a usual saying, for the workers replied with once, cheerful voice, “May the Lord bless you!” 

    Ruth quickly learned the man's name was Boaz, and that he owned this field, and others as well. Her stomach sunk when his eyes turned to her. She ducked her head. Would he ask her to leave?

Instead, he smiled at her. He came right up to her, and she noticed flecks of gold in his brown eyes, and the barest hint of grey in his beard. 

     He said, “Do not go and glean in the other fields, but stay here with my maids, it will be safer for you. My men will not trouble you. Anytime you are thirsty, you may come and drink from the water here.” He gestured to the tall earthen jugs.

     Ruth opened her eyes wide in surprise. Why was he being so nice to her, a strange woman and a foreigner? She asked, “Why have I found favor in your sight?”

     Boaz's voice was gentle. “I've heard about everything you've done for Naomi. May the Lord bless you, for you have chosen to shelter under the wings of the God of Israel.”

     Ruth's heart was filled, and tears smarted in her eyes. He, of everyone she had met, understood her, and saw why she had left her people and her homeland. She kept her gaze fixed firmly on the ground as she murmured her gratitude.

     When the food was served, Ruth was handed a dish as well. There was so much food that there would be enough to take back to Naomi too! 

     When she rose to glean, there was three times as much left behind as before. She thought she even saw them drop some grain on purpose for her. She gathered it all, gratefulness making her fingers nimble and her aching back but a minor nuisance. When she had beat out what she had gleaned, she scooped up the barley grains and let them run through her fingers. She laughed with joy. The God of Israel was powerful, yet He had time for a Moabite widow and her bereaved mother-in-law.

     

     Naomi was astonished when she saw how much Ruth had gleaned. “Where did you get so much?” she asked. Ruth told her. 

     For the first time in months, Naomi smiled.

     At the urging of her mother-in-law, Ruth gleaned in Boaz's fields through the barley harvest, and then the wheat harvest. Every day she returned with generous portions, and Ruth thanked God for Boaz's generous heart. He came to the fields everyday to speak with the foreman and his workers, and she always paused to glance over at him. He was good-nature and generous, a considerate employer, and a man of strong faith. Why didn't he have a wife and family?

     Spring was waxing, and summer would soon be upon them. Ruth straightened up and turned a slow circle, looking at the field. It was stubble now, showing the evidence of months of work. She nodded once to her self with satisfaction. Her hands were calloused, her face sunburned, but she had stores of food set aside at home for herself and Naomi. God had provided for this season. She would have to trust that His care would continue.

Hear how God provides for Ruth in part two, found here!

Read this story for yourself in Ruth 1 and 2