And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not (Ruth 2:15–16, KJV).
Redemption on Purpose
The story of Ruth is one of redemption. While the book is called “Ruth,” the story is really about God’s answer for Naomi. Just like Naomi, God desires to redeem all of us, from whatever state we’re in. No matter how lost or empty we feel, God will always reach for us and call us back to Him.
How We Can Live a Life Full of Faith
We Believe Everything We Need is in the House of Bread
Naomi and her husband originally dwelt in Bethlehem Judah (Ruth 1:1); Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” They left in a time of famine and dryness in the land and traversed to the land of Moab. In Moab, Naomi’s husband and sons died, and she wasn’t left with anything to her name. She finally returned home, and upon her arrival told everyone to call her Mara, for she was bitter. Naomi left full and returned home empty (Ruth 1:19–20).
What should realize the “House of Bread” is the church. This is a place where the presence of God dwells and has an atmosphere that can change. We cannot allow the weather to affect where we’re living. Regardless of the “dry” times or the rain, God is still positioning us for a blessing in Him. We will always endure seasons in our life, but we must trust God and stay in the “House of Bread.” It’s better to have a dry morsel and peace than a house full of sacrifices and strife (Proverbs 17:1).
We Believe God Reaches on Purpose
When Ruth went to provide for herself and Naomi, she began to glean in the field of a man named Boaz. The law allowed the poor to gather from the leftovers in the field, but Boaz was intentional in telling his men to drop handfuls of food on purpose for he to retrieve. When Ruth returned home to Naomi and explained what had happened, Naomi had a deeper understanding that Boaz was a kinsman to them. She instructed Ruth to continue to glean in his field as God was doing something in their life (Ruth 2:20). God doesn’t do anything on accident—everything is on purpose. If we’re submitted to God and follow His Word, He will not only bless us but will do all that we request (Ruth 3:10).
We Believe God Has a Destiny in Mind
Even when we try to change God’s plans, the Lord will make the bad work out for our good (Romans 8:28). God doesn’t ever stop seeing a destiny for our lives, no matter what we’re doing or how long we’ve been in our “Moab.” God knows the plans He has for us and desires to give us an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).
At the end of the book of Ruth, Ruth and Boaz have a child. It is given to Naomi to raise up (Ruth 4:17). She called his name Obed, and from this lineage came King David and the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Naomi had returned back to the “House of Bread” empty but didn’t realize God was getting ready to pour out a blessing in her life she could never have imagined. We must remember, there’s always bread in the House for us!
