WHERE HAS THOU GLEANED TODAY?

SCRIPTURAL PORTION - Ruth 2: 19

Ruth the Moabitess had made the choice to follow Naomi, her mother-in-law to the land of Israel. She accepted Jehovah as her God, and chose to deny her pagan gods.

Ruth settled down with Naomi, in a land, where it's people and it's culture and traditions, were completely new to her. She was confronted with the nuances of everyday life and also the major decision of finding a livelihood.

As a family, their very first priority was to find a way for their daily sustenance. It was the time of the barely harvest (Ch 1:22). According to the custom of the land, she could go out in the morning and glean the fields. The easiest way would have been to choose a plentiful field and go glean behind the reapers. But Ruth prayerfully seeks permission, for this very insignificant decision. It was nothing compared to the major decisions she had previously taken, yet she depended on the Lord for the trivial decisions and in her daily chores, which is reflected in Ch 2:2, "Let me now go...glean...after him in whose sight I shall find grace."

God answered her plea. She was led to the field of Boaz (Ch 2:3), unaware that he was her husband's kinsman, who would later become her redeemer and husband. That small prayer of dependence on God brought her hope and blessings manifold.

Blessings of Ruth's dependence on God.
The field of blessing - that is where her humble prayer led her. Boaz, came to visit the field to monitor the progress of the harvest. Among the many ladies, that probably gleaned there, Boaz happened to notice Ruth working hard in the field. He invited her and brought her into his household and she was bestowed with many blessings.

1. Privilege (verse 8 - "Go not to glean in another field")
She was given the privilege to be a part of the harvest, till it ended, like a guest, and not like a poor lady who required the master's favor. She received more than she needed, not just for herself, but for her family too.

2. Protection (verse 9 - "..have I not charged the young men.. not to touch thee?")
Gleaning was an activity that the poorest families in the land resorted to. And by no means was it dignified. The young men, who harvested would probably hustle and shove the gleaners around. But for Ruth, the master himself had offered her, his protection. She was completely secure and did not have to be afraid that she was a loner in a foreign land.

3. Provision (verse 9, 14 - "When thou art athirst, go unto the vessels" ; "At mealtime come thou hither and eat")
The Master provided for her physical needs, perceiving her needs even before she voiced them. The Master also brought parched corn especially for her. All that she needed to complete her tasks in the field was provided for.

4. Prescience (verse 11 - "It hath fully been shown me")
Ruth was in the presence of a master, who knew everything about her, and accepted her as she was. The Master, knew the ups and downs in her life and fully understood her. What a relief it must have been for her, for she did not have to explain anything to him.

5. Peace and Comfort (verse 13 - "Thou hast comforted me")
Ruth found peace and comfort in the Master's field. She had prayed for grace, but found assurance. She only wanted to glean, but brought home a huge measure of barley, as though she reaped. (She brought home an ephah of barley, equivalent to 15 kgs - verse 17)

Her mother-in-law was astounded at the measure of barley, and asked her, "Where has thou gleaned today?"

We have a Master, who beckons us to himself, to his presence, and into the sweet fellowship with him. All the blessings that Ruth received also awaits us, if we depend on him, for even the trivial things of our daily routine. Ruth looked to God for grace, before she began her day. How much more should we commune with the Lord, ask for his grace, and his leading, before we begin our day!.

The word of God is ripe with his directions and blessings. When we sit and meditate, we glean the precious word, for our spiritual nourishment. If we approach the Master's field, we find grace and guidance, for a blessed day ahead.

"WHERE HAVE YOU GLEANED TODAY?"