Lessons from Ruth

Though the land of Judah was familiar to Naomi, for her foreign daughter-in-law Ruth, it was an unfamiliar country. Ruth asked for her mother-in-law’s permission and went out to glean in the fields, hoping to find favor with someone who might be kind to her. Ruth then followed the harvesters and picked up the leftover grains, and it "happened" to be in the field of Boaz, a prominent man from the clan of her deceased father-in-law, Elimelech (Ruth 2:1-3, Modern Korean Bible). As I meditate on this passage, several thoughts come to mind:

• It seems that daughter-in-law Ruth always engaged in conversation

and actions with her mother-in-law Naomi.

• Ruth's reason for coming to work in the foreign land

seems to have been to provide for the elderly Naomi (4:15).

• Although the Bible describes Ruth's chosen field as happening

to be one belonging to Boaz, a relative of her deceased father-in-law Elimelech,

from a human perspective it may seem like a coincidence,

but in the sovereignty of God's providence, we believe that God led Ruth to Boaz's field.

• Ruth went out seeking favor from someone, but ultimately

she found favor with Boaz (2:10).

The lessons we learn from these four meditations are:

• We need to engage in frequent conversations with our parents.
• We should take good care of our elderly parents.
• We should trust in God's providence.
• God extends His grace to us through individuals like Boaz.