Week #2: Kindness in the Fields
Blog Series Intention Recap
The book of Ruth is a short but powerful narrative that reveals the loyal and redeeming love of God at work in the lives of ordinary people. Through grief, risk, and uncertain futures, God provides a way forward that is both personal and redemptive. This series traces Ruth’s journey from loss to legacy, highlighting how God uses faithfulness, sacrifice, and community to bring about His divine plan. Ruth is more than a love story—it’s a glimpse into how God’s grace quietly transforms lives..
This page is a post in the series “Loyal Love.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into Week #2:
Unexpected Grace: When Faithfulness Meets Favor… Boaz both celebrates Ruth for her service to Naomi and to the “family” overall, by giving her special security and treatment. God doesn’t always move in the ways we might imagine, but if we are attentive, we’ll find that He does move. We never know when God might return our kindness to others back to us and the form it might take. So, we must make habits of compassion and costly personal generosity and trust that God will provide at just the right time.
Why it Matters:
God’s provision is often found in ordinary places—like a barley field.
Ruth’s character draws the attention and protection of Boaz.
Boaz’s generosity models how to reflect God’s kindness.
We should give generously, trusting God to care for us in His timing.
Go Deeper:
Ruth 2:8–20
The fields of Bethlehem held no guarantees. For a Moabite widow like Ruth, gleaning was risky and exhausting. But her faithfulness to Naomi had already set her apart. As she bends to pick up leftover grain, God is arranging an encounter—one that will remind us that kindness matters, that generosity changes stories, and that God sees.
Gleaning and God’s Law
In ancient Israel, God made special provisions for the poor and foreigner. Leviticus 19:9–10 commanded landowners not to reap to the edges of their fields but to leave gleanings for the marginalized. Ruth enters these fields as both poor and foreign—but she doesn’t enter alone. God’s law has already made space for her. His Word makes a way before His people ever step into the scene.
A Man Named Boaz
Boaz is introduced as “a worthy man” (Ruth 2:1), a term that speaks of wealth, strength, and honor. But he proves even more worthy in character. When Boaz arrives and notices Ruth, his actions go beyond the law. He doesn’t merely permit Ruth to glean; he ensures her safety, speaks with respect, and offers her water and protection.
“Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field… I have charged the young men not to touch you.’” (Ruth 2:8–9, ESV)
Boaz uses his position not for personal gain but for someone else’s peace.
Ruth’s Reputation of Loyalty
Ruth is stunned by the favor she receives. Her humility and confusion are palpable:
“Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” (v. 10)
Boaz’s response is telling: he has heard of all she’s done for Naomi. Ruth’s reputation precedes her. Her loyalty has already made waves.
Kindness has a ripple effect. What she gave in Moab comes back to her in Bethlehem—through the generosity of someone she hadn’t yet met.
Boaz: A Shadow of the Redeemer
In many ways, Boaz foreshadows Jesus. He sees the outsider. He invites her in. He offers protection and provision without requiring merit. He treats her with dignity. Ruth does not need to earn his kindness—she simply needs to be near it.
Boaz’s words to Ruth sound like a blessing but also a prayer:
“The Lord repay you for what you have done… a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (v. 12)
Boaz sees Ruth’s faith. He acknowledges that her real refuge is not his field, but God’s mercy.
The Kindness of the Kingdom
The way Boaz treats Ruth models how God’s people should treat others. He doesn’t take advantage of her vulnerability. He empowers her through respect and generosity. He doesn’t just tolerate her presence—he ensures her well-being.
In an age where kindness is often rare, Ruth 2 calls us back to a different ethic: one of intentional generosity.
God’s Hidden Hand
There is no miracle in this chapter—just a string of small providences. Ruth “happens” to glean in Boaz’s field (v. 3). Boaz “just so happens” to arrive that day. These are not coincidences; they are subtle notes of divine direction.
God may not always move in visible ways, but He always moves.
How does this help me understand, “Loyal Love?”
The God Who Works Through Kindness
When Ruth returned to Naomi that evening with arms full of grain, she didn’t just bring food. She brought proof that God still sees, still provides, and still uses the faithfulness of His people to bless others.
Our role is not to control the outcome but to offer compassion in the field. When we do, we might just find that our kindness leads to something more than a meal—it leads to a movement of redemption.
Be Generous Without Knowing the Outcome
We often think of generosity in terms of what we can spare. But Boaz shows generosity as investment. He doesn’t know what will come of his kindness—but he gives anyway.
Our kindness today may be part of someone else’s breakthrough tomorrow. We are called to serve without strings, love without expectations, and trust that God will provide.
God’s Economy: Sowing and Reaping
Naomi, once empty, now receives bread and hope through Ruth’s arms. Ruth, once a foreigner, now finds refuge and dignity. Boaz, once just a landowner, becomes part of God’s redemptive line.
In God’s economy, faithful sowing leads to surprising harvests.
Who Can You Be a Boaz To?
Who in your life needs to be noticed, blessed, and protected? Who has quietly served without reward? Who is gathering scraps when they need an invitation to sit at your table?
Boaz used what he had to lift someone up. What has God given you that might be used the same way?
