Ruth Gleaning

Ruth Gleaning

By James Tissot

“And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. May the LORD reward your work, and may your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

Ruth 2:2, 12  

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The Book of Ruth is a story of faith and faithfulness. For more than a thousand years, it has been read in Jewish worship during Shavuot, the harvest-time Festival of Weeks, or Pentecost. Its narrative beautifully illustrates the Hebrew word hesed—variously translated as “lovingkindness,” “steadfast love,” or “mercy”—an attribute in which God Himself is said to “abound” (Exodus 34:6–7).

Unlike the grand historical sweep of much of the Old Testament, Ruth tells the story of ordinary people facing familiar experiences: marriage, loss, family relationships, poverty, leaving home and returning home. It reminds us that, even when our circumstances appear bleak, God’s mercy still abounds, and He is still working out His purposes in our lives.

Ruth is a widowed Moabite woman living with her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. Destitute and bereft of both husband and sons, Naomi determines to return to her homeland in Israel and urges Ruth to remain behind, where she might have a better chance of remarrying and beginning again. Instead, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, declaring, “thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Together they travel to Bethlehem—the “House of Bread”—with little idea of what awaits them.  Doing what little she could to improve her lot while awaiting God’s blessing, Ruth goes into the surrounding fields to glean.

Under Israelite law, landowners were commanded not to harvest the edges of their fields or retrieve grain that had fallen during the harvest. What remained was to be left for the poor, the widow and the stranger. Gleaning, however, was difficult and often dangerous work. It meant searching carefully for scattered stalks, gathering whatever could be found and trusting that a meager harvest might be enough.

Ruth did this faithfully, working “from the early morning until now,” with only a short rest. Her diligence attracts the attention of Boaz, the wealthy owner of the field. In time, Boaz marries Ruth, bringing security and abundance to both Ruth and Naomi. Their son Obed becomes the grandfather of King David—and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

Among the many lessons in Ruth’s story, one stands out: when faced with difficult circumstances she could not fully control, Ruth took faithful action while hoping for something better.

Her life had changed completely through no fault of her own. Once she had a husband; now she was a widow. Once she had a home; now she was a foreigner. Once her future may have seemed predictable; now almost nothing was certain. Yet Ruth did not surrender to despair. Instead, she humbled herself, exercised faith and went to work. While waiting for God’s provision, she gleaned.

Perhaps our circumstances are not what we hoped they would be. Perhaps we are waiting for healing, direction, opportunity, reconciliation or simply for life to become easier. Sometimes all we can do is make it through another day. Ruth teaches us that waiting on God does not have to mean standing still.

There is always something to glean: a small opportunity, a lesson, a friendship, a moment of grace, a little strength for the day ahead. The work may be difficult, and the harvest may seem small. But God saw Ruth in that field gathering what she could, and He sees us in ours. His hesed—His steadfast, covenant love—has not disappeared simply because the harvest is hard.

So when you cannot yet see what God is preparing, gather what is before you. Be faithful with what you have. Trust His lovingkindness. Glean while you hope.

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