
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
(Ruth 2:2-3, NIV)
After Ruth lost her husband, she decided to stick with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi encouraged Ruth to go back to her people, the Moabites. But Ruth refused. Ruth said in Ruth 1:16 that Naomi's people were her people and that Naomi's God was her God. The Moabites served pagan gods, and Ruth did not want to turn back to her old way of life. So, she followed Naomi.
One day Ruth decided to go into a field to pick up anything that was left over after the harvesters. She went with the intention to find favor in anyone's sight who would have mercy on her. With her father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband gone, and with Naomi being an elderly woman, it was up to her to provide.
And as the scripture states, it turned out that she ended up gleaning in Boaz's field. Now, it should be noted per scripture, Ruth had no idea she was in Boaz's field. She had no clue that God was in the midst of her decision to glean Boaz's field. All Ruth did was position herself. She knew food was needed. She knew there was a nearby field. So, she positioned herself.
She could have stayed home and prayed for God to make a way for her and Naomi, but she took the initiative and stepped out on faith. When Boaz saw her in his field, he inquired about her. His harvesters told him all about her. Thus, Boaz blessed her.
He instructed her to stay in his field to glean. He commanded the harvesters to not bother or harm her as she gathered in the field. He gave her permission to drink from their water jars if she ever thirsted. He even commanded the harvesters to purposefully pull out some of their harvest and leave it for her.
When Ruth asked Boaz why she received such favor in his sight, he said it was because he had heard of her story. He had heard of how she stuck with Naomi after the death of her husband. Ruth had the opportunity to go home and live a more comfortable life but she decided to stay with Naomi and help her. Boaz said "may the Lord recompense you a full reward for your work."
Ruth's positioning reminds me of another woman's positioning. The woman with the issue of blood found in the New Testament also positioned herself. However, in her case, she knew exactly where she was going, and she knew exactly who she was positioning herself in front of. With all her money spent on doctor's unable to cure her, all she had left was her faith and her position.
So, amongst a crowd of many, she grabbed the helm of Jesus's garment. In a room full of people, Jesus asked who touched Him. Not because other people in the room didn't touch Him, but because this particular touch was a touch of purpose.
Christ said in Luke 8:46 "Somebody touched me for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me". When we position ourselves in front of Christ, we must do it with purpose. Think about it. There were plenty of people in the room with Jesus. But as far as we know, the woman with the issue of blood is the only one who touched Jesus with such dynamic faith.
Listen to me ...
You can be in the same room with Christ but not receive your blessing because you aren't in position to receive it.
If Ruth had never gone to the field to glean, she would have never met Boaz. If the woman with the issue of blood had never positioned herself to touch Jesus, she may have never received her healing. I am telling you to get in position.
Get before God in prayer. Not those quick prayers that you say before bed or those millisecond prayers you ramble off before a meal. I mean get in some deep prayer with God. Seek Him continuously. But don't just position yourself to speak to God. Position yourself to listen to God as well.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Romans 10:17, KJV)
If you want to hear from God, read the Bible. Position yourself in front of His Holy word. How can we ask God to lead us if we don't listen to Him? He can only show us the way to go if we position ourselves in front of Him in prayer and in reading the Word of God. And in some instances, you may need to take it a step further and position yourself by way of fasting (see article Fasting: The Underrated Breaker of Chains).
So, that's all I have for you today guys. Position yourself. And just as Ruth found favor in the sight of Boaz, you will find favor in the sight of God. Just as her work was noticed and rewarded by Boaz, your work will be noticed and rewarded by God. Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Position yourself before God, and He will position you to have favor in the sight of God and men (Proverbs 3:4).
May God bless you and keep you is my prayer. Amen.
I'm glad it blessed you! Thank you for reading and may God continue to lead you, guide you, and bless you.
Thx for explaining this in such detail. I appreciate it. I am like the high court official in Acts 8 "How can I understand, unless someone guides me". May God bless you!