The Gospel of Grace to All: 25 Blessings in Ruth Chapter Two - Booty and Treasures fer All!
In Ruth chapter two, we see a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus—the Gospel of Grace to all. Twenty-five times in this chapter, God provides unmerited blessings. Though these blessings come through the hand of Boaz, the abundant life given to Ruth points ahead to the time when Jesus would say to both Jew and Gentile, “I came that you might have life, and have it in abundance” (John 10:10).
We should pause for a moment and reflect on if we really believe Jesus’ words. We believe in Jesus, yes, but do we believe Him when He says, “I want you to have abundant life?” If not—if we doubt His meaning and subscribe to the belief that life is meant to be hard, the Christian walk a struggle, and that when we die and reach heaven all things will be well with our soul, but in the here and now it’s a tough slog to the grave—if that’s what we truly believe in our hearts, then we should admit this out loud. Better to confess our true heart’s belief than lie to ourselves and the Holy Spirit and say we believe Jesus but not His words.
If we doubt the goodness of God and the words of Jesus in John 10:10, then we should expect life to be hard and find comfort when it is. At the very least, we are receiving what we expected and there’s a measure of satisfaction that we’re right.
But you won’t find the hard-slog-life-to-the-grave message in the book of Ruth. Certainly not in chapter two. Here are twenty-five blessings Ruth received and we, too, through confirmation in other parts of Scripture, can stand on in faith. The Gospel of Grace is available to all,
Grace to Ask
In verse two Ruth is bold enough to go for—to ask for—the scraps. Like the woman whose daughter was dying, Ruth says she will go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain. In humility, she is willing to accept the good she finds.
(Ruth 2:2; Matthew 15:27; James 4:6; Proverbs 3:34)
Obedience to Wise Counsel
Naomi responds with instruction and confirmation: “Go ahead.” When following Jesus, be humble enough to seek the good and willing to follow instruction when offered. And when confirmation comes from God through another, stand firm. Don’t waver.
(Ruth 2:2; Proverbs 4:13; Hebrews 13:17; Psalm 32:8)
Favor in God’s Divine Timing
In verse three we find that “as it turned out she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz.” Half of receiving a blessing is in the doing, the going, the stepping out. When we move, God can move us. Or move others on our behalf. Jesus consistently told those who needed healing to “go,” “stand,” “pick up,” “show yourself”… Be ready to move. Be ready to offer the Gospel of Grace to all.
(Ruth 2:3; Romans 8:28; Matthew 8:13; Luke 17:14)
Our Work Blessed by the Lord
When Boaz arrived, he greeted the harvesters with “The Lord bless you!” They replied in turn, “The Lord bless you!” When an attitude of blessing precedes our work, then we will expect good results.
(Ruth 2:4; Deuteronomy 28:12; Psalm 90:17)
Blessed To Be A Blessing
Receive blessings from others (the fourth blessing) and return blessings to others. We are blessed when we bless.
(Ruth 2:4; 1 Peter 3:9; Proverbs 11:25)
The Gift of Rest
After hard work, God provided Ruth with a short rest in a shelter. Work hard, yes, but take time to rest, refresh, and reflect on how God is moving in the situation. Rest is a blessing from the Lord. Let us make sure we do not neglect to receive this blessing, for in receiving and refreshment, we find ourselves accepting that the good in our life is grace.
(Ruth 2:7; Matthew 11:28–29; Hebrews 4:9–10; Psalm 23:2)
Protection When We Go Out and Come In
God protects His own. In verses eight and nine Boaz compels Ruth to remain in his field. There, she will be safe.
(Ruth 2:8–9; Psalm 91:1–4; Proverbs 18:10)
Living Water for the Thirsty
Boaz instructed Ruth to drink from the men’s water jars. We can hear in this verse Jesus saying, “Drink and be filled, for I give you living water.” Rest, shelter, protection, refreshment… and the day is only half done.
(Ruth 2:9; John 4:14; Isaiah 58:11; Revelation 7:17)
God Pay Scale
In verse twelve we find God’s pay scale. “May the Lord repay you.” We don’t know how much or when God will repay for the work we do, but He is faithful to recognize our work. And if God sees, because He is good, we will receive a good reward if we do not give up.
(Ruth 2:12; Hebrews 6:10; Matthew 6:4)
Rich Rewards On Earth from Heaven
How do we know God will reward us? Boaz answers us. “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord.” God is faithful to reward His children.
(Ruth 2:12; Jeremiah 31:16; 1 Corinthians 3:14)
Take Refuge In the Lord
Shelter is good. Protection, comforting. But living behind walls of protection with guards at the gates and angels encamped around us—that is the kind of refuge that allows us to sleep in peace. Boaz speaks to us when he says, “The God of Israel, under whose wings you have come, provides refuge.” This is a promise. This is the God who loves us.
(Ruth 2:12; Psalm 91:4; Psalm 46:1)
Comfort, Joy, Peace in His Presence
In response to the goodness of God as shown through Boaz, she replies, “You have given me comfort.” In response to the message that life is a hard-slog-to-the-grave, Jesus says, “Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest. I will comfort you. I will care for you.”
(Ruth 2:13; Matthew 11:28–29; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4)
The Power of Kind Words
God speaks with kindness. Ruth says, “You have spoken kindly to your servant.” Not harshly, not rudely. This is Jesus: kind, comforting, compassionate.
(Ruth 2:13; Ephesians 4:29; Proverbs 16:24)
Fun In Fellowship
“Have some bread. Dip it in wine.” Verse fourteen hints at the upper room the evening before Jesus was crucified. And how did He address His disciples? “I call you friends.” Friends… Fellowship… We are made for community, for gathering together, for sharing a meal and both sorrows and laughter. Of all the blessings we receive, this may be the greatest. Why? Because heaven is a great gathering and hell is an endless separation from God—yes—but also from everyone we’ve known and loved.
(Ruth 2:14; John 15:15; Acts 2:42)
God Gives Us Our Daily Bread
In addition to gathering leftover barley, Boaz offered Ruth roasted grain. He prepared a meal for her. He invited her to his table. His act is reminiscent of Jesus’ parable of a king who prepares a feast and invites those from the streets, highways, and byways.
(Ruth 2:14; Luke 14:21–23; John 21:12)
Fully Satisfied
At the table of Boaz, Ruth ate until she was full. God satisfies our deepest desires. In fact, if we’re filled with His Holy Spirit, He places His desires in us in order that He might fulfill these desires. In the case of Ruth, she ate all she wanted and had some left over. That’s abundance. That’s God’s heart of blessing.
(Ruth 2:14; Psalm 107:9; Philippians 4:19)
No Shame, No Blame
Boaz sought to protect Ruth from shame and ridicule. “Don’t embarrass her.” When others seek to bully, shame, and mock us, God’s hand of protection falls upon us. Jesus was also mocked and ridiculed. In response, He did not open His mouth. Rather, Jesus let His Father gain glory for Him. And God did. Now Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father. All things are placed at His feet. At the name of Jesus every knee will bow. If we trust in God to fight our battles, we will find in time we are victorious over every enemy.
(Ruth 2:15; Isaiah 50:6–7; Philippians 2:10–11)
Gentle Correction
When we misstep or overstep, God is gentle in His response. “Don’t rebuke her,” Boaz says to his workers. The character of God is kindness, a gentle reproach, a word of encouragement amidst correction.
(Ruth 2:16; Psalm 103:10–14; Isaiah 42:3)
Share: The Purpose of Prosperity
Ruth gathered leftovers for herself and received so much she had an abundance left over to share with others. This is one of the core principles of the abundant life Jesus promised. We gather to satisfy our daily needs and God expects us to share our abundance with others. When Jesus fed the 5,000 and later the 4,000, He commanded that nothing be wasted. All scraps gathered. Someone, somewhere, needs our leftovers. Ask the Lord to lead us to that person.
(Ruth 2:17–18; Luke 9:17; 2 Corinthians 9:8)
Bless: The Purpose of Abundance
But in offering our leftovers—our abundance—to others, do so with a grateful and loving heart, not out of duty. Show tenderness mixed with humility. Do not act in a haughty, prideful manner. What do we have that we have not received? When Ruth arrived home, she brought out and gave to Naomi what she had left over after she had eaten enough at the table of Boaz’s harvesters. This is the attitude of one living an abundant life. Enjoy and give to others out of our excess.
(Ruth 2:18; Acts 20:35; 1 Corinthians 4:7)
Be Kind, For We Were Once Dead
God has not stopped showing kindness to the living and the dead. He comes to all. Before we put our faith in Jesus, we too were dead. But now, in Him, we are alive. Always assume that God’s kindness working through us will revive the heart of someone dead. We never know when resuscitation will begin in a life.
(Ruth 2:20; Ephesians 2:1–5; Luke 7:15)
Redemption for All!
Boaz was Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer. But he was not Ruth’s. Her people were Moabites—a people who descended from Lot by incest, worshiped the pagan god Chemosh, and participated in child sacrifice. The moral codes of the two countries could not be more different. And yet, Boaz redeemed Ruth. And because he did, Naomi found redemption. Jesus came first to the Jews, but in this age of grace Jesus is the Savior of the Gentiles. We should never forget that the Jews, God’s chosen people, are His first love. The story of Ruth points to how, through the Gentiles, even today God’s people—the Jews—can find redemption.
(Ruth 2:20; Romans 11:11–15; Isaiah 59:20)
Endure Until the Harvest is Complete
Boaz commanded Ruth to remain with his workers “until they finish harvesting all my grain.” This is our blessing today—to remain in God’s field, harvesting all we need for ourselves and others until the harvest is complete. At the end of all things, the command will go out to harvest the earth. The sickle will swing, and the grapes will be gathered and tossed into the winepress of God’s wrath. But for now, in this age of grace and abundant living, we enjoy God’s abundant harvest for our daily needs.
(Ruth 2:23; Revelation 14:15–20; Matthew 13:39)
God Gives the Increase
Finally, notice how Ruth did nothing to produce the harvest or prepare for the harvest. She simply went into the field to gather. This is the final blessing from God. Chapter two is a great example of this truth: where He leads, He feeds. Even in a field picked over by others, we find abundance when God leads and blesses. The Gospel of Grace to all is the heart of Jesus. Let us make it our heart, too.
(1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Ruth 2:17; John 4:38; Deuteronomy 6:10–11)
