Ruth 2:6-10: a reflection

6The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. 7She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she rested a little in the house.” 8Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens. 9Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.” 10Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”

Ruth, a foreigner and a widow, gleaning in the fields to feed herself and Naomi, receives unexpected kindness from Boaz, the owner of the field. He tells her to stay in his field, to glean safely among his workers, to drink freely when thirsty, and he ensures she is protected. And Ruth's response is one of humble wonder: she falls on her face and asks, Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should notice me, since I am a foreigner? She receives the kindness with grateful astonishment, not entitlement.

Notice two things here: Boaz's kindness to the outsider, and Ruth's humble wonder at receiving it. Boaz did not have to notice Ruth, a foreign widow with no claim on him; but he showed her generous kindness, protection, provision, welcome. And Ruth received it not as her due, but with humble amazement: why have I found favor, since I am a foreigner? She was astonished to be shown such unmerited kindness, and received it with gratitude.

Both are worth taking to heart. Boaz's kindness to the outsider models a generosity that notices and cares for those with no claim on us, the foreigner, the vulnerable, the overlooked; a kindness we are called to show. And Ruth's humble wonder models how we should receive kindness, and above all the grace of God: not as our due, but with grateful astonishment. Show kindness, like Boaz, to those who have no claim on you, the outsider and the overlooked. And receive the kindness shown to you, and above all God's grace, as Ruth received Boaz's kindness: with humble wonder, astonished to be shown favor you did not earn. Grace received with the wonder of one who knows it is undeserved is grace received rightly; do not take God's kindness for granted, but marvel at it, as Ruth marveled that she, a foreigner, should find such favor.

Lord, Ruth, a foreigner and a widow gleaning to survive, received unexpected kindness from Boaz, who told her to stay safely in his field and provided for her; and she received it with humble wonder, asking, why have I found favor, since I am a foreigner? Help me take both to heart. Boaz's kindness to the outsider models a generosity that notices and cares for those with no claim on me, the foreigner, the vulnerable, the overlooked; a kindness I am called to show. And Ruth's humble wonder models how I should receive kindness, and above all your grace: not as my due, but with grateful astonishment. Help me show kindness, like Boaz, to those who have no claim on me. And help me receive the kindness shown to me, and above all your grace, as Ruth received Boaz's: with humble wonder, astonished to be shown favor I did not earn. Grace received with the wonder of one who knows it is undeserved is grace received rightly; keep me from taking your kindness for granted, and help me marvel at it, as Ruth marveled that she, a foreigner, should find such favor. Thank you for grace I did not earn, Lord.