Day 22 –Who is in your field?

“While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said. “The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied. Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?” Ruth 2:4-5 NLT

Upon his return, Boaz immediately noticed someone in his field unfamiliar to him, and his foreman answered his query in a few ways. First, he mentions Ruth was a Moabite woman. For a noble Hebrew like Boaz, this might have been jarring as he would have remembered his people’s dysfunctional history with the Moabites. (Deuteronomy 23:3-4)

Secondly, he was informed that Ruth came with her mother-in-law leaving her home country of Moab behind. In ancient times, pagans often believed deities were bound to geography, meaning that the gods she served were left behind in her old life. Boaz did not know at the time that Ruth told Naomi that God would be her God too.

Lastly, the foreman informed Boaz that Ruth had been there all day working in the field with only short breaks, confirming her character and commitment. She didn’t come back with Naomi to be a burden, but a faithful helper.

When examining Ruth’s identity as Boaz might have, the cultural and economic chasm between them seems great. One was a devoted Hebrew, the other from a tribe known as the enemy. One was the owner of the field and the other gleaner. One had the ability to save, the other needed great mercy. In our fields, there are challenges. Your once enemy might be called to work in your field too and the story of Boaz is a beautiful example of how we all work together in the fields of the Lord. Our pasts, nationality, or race shouldn’t define who we are in the eyes of others, because we are ALL called to work together in unity for the Kingdom.

Prayer: Father, thank You for teaching us through the actions of Boaz how we should treat others in Your field regardless of who they are. We are all Your chosen ones working towards the good of Your Kingdom. Let us take hands with everyone in our field through Your mercy and love. Amen.