Ruth Gleaning in Boaz’s Field: A Picture of Grace
Ruth’s story is one of faith, redemption, and divine providence. After leaving Moab with her mother-in-law Naomi, Ruth found herself gleaning in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband (Ruth 2:2-3). According to the Mosaic Law, the poor and the foreigners were allowed to gather the leftover grain in the fields after the harvesters had passed (Leviticus 19:9-10). This provision was not just an act of charity but a symbol of God’s heart for the outcast and needy.
Ruth did not know that she was stepping into the field of her future redeemer. Her simple act of gleaning, done in faith, positioned her within God’s plan of redemption. Boaz, a wealthy and kind landowner, noticed her diligence and extended his favor toward her, ensuring she had more than enough grain to sustain her and Naomi. This act of grace foreshadowed something far greater—the mission of Christ in gathering lost souls into His kingdom.
Jesus’ Call to the Harvest
In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus looked upon the crowds and declared to His disciples:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”
Jesus saw the spiritual hunger of the people—like Ruth, they were searching for provision, sustenance, and hope. His words revealed a powerful truth: the world is like a vast field, ready for harvest, filled with people longing for redemption. But just as Ruth needed Boaz to invite her in and provide for her, people today need workers—messengers of the Gospel—to gather them into God’s kingdom.
The Gospel: Gleaning in the Field of Grace
Just as Ruth was a foreigner in need of grace, every person apart from Christ is spiritually destitute. We enter God’s harvest not by our works, but by His invitation. The cross of Christ is the great field where grace is freely given, and just as Boaz took notice of Ruth, Jesus calls every soul to Himself.
Boaz ensured Ruth had abundance—not just scraps from the field, but generous provision. Likewise, Jesus offers abundant life (John 10:10), securing salvation for all who come to Him. The connection between Ruth’s gleaning and Christ’s mission reveals three key truths about the Gospel:
- God’s Grace Finds Us – Ruth “happened” to glean in Boaz’s field (Ruth 2:3), but it was not coincidence; it was divine direction. Likewise, no one comes to Christ by accident—He draws us to Himself (John 6:44).
- Jesus is Our True Redeemer – Boaz, as Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, points to Jesus, who redeems us from sin and welcomes us into His family (Galatians 4:4-5).
- We Are Called to the Harvest – Just as Boaz instructed his workers to provide extra grain for Ruth (Ruth 2:15-16), Jesus calls His disciples to labor in the harvest, ensuring that others receive the Bread of Life.
A Call to Action: Join the Harvest
The story of Ruth invites us to see God’s generosity at work in salvation. If Jesus declared the harvest is plentiful, then we must step into the fields, just as Ruth did. Whether through prayer, evangelism, or acts of kindness, every believer is a worker in God’s field. Will we answer the call?
Just as Boaz welcomed Ruth and provided for her, Jesus welcomes all who seek Him. And just as Ruth found a place in the field, may we also labor in the harvest of souls, bringing many into the eternal joy of Christ’s kingdom.
