The Alpha of Gleaning

UV 3039/10000 The Alpha of Gleaning
Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

Ruth 2 v 8

Boaz in this uni-verse is a type of Christ. He is the God-designated saviour for the helpless and hapless Ruth. Ruth’s faithfulness to her forlorn, destitute widowed mother-in-law despite she herself being a young widow touches the heart of God as it touches her unknown kinsman-Redeemer Boaz. Like Boaz spoke unto Ruth and allowed her to glean the portion she needed for herself and Naomi in his own fields, the Lord allows us to glean our portion of spiritual food in the fields of His own word. Every blessing we desire, every need that we have, every truth of God that we should learn can be gleaned therein. We need not look elsewhere or try to find it in religions or the books and wisdom of this world. As we glean, the Lord will instruct His workers, the angels and His servants to protect us.


We need to glean from His word which is vast and deep the grains of truth that we need to equip us, feed us, empower us, meet our deepest need. We need to pick up therefrom whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is praiseworthy, excellent, helpful, wholesome, virtuous and consume it to make it a part of our being. Ruth was able to gather an ephah of grain, enough to feed Naomi and self. The Word likewise is the spiritual and holistic seed that meets all of our need- physical, intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional and psychological. By gleaning in the field of Boaz, Ruth got his attention and won his favour. Likewise, when we regularly and daily return to the field of the Lord we get His attention and His favour. Boaz heard the request of Ruth and granted it more than she even asked for. He even instructed her servants to allow her to take from the harvested sheaves of grain and to drop handfuls of grain that she can collect while gleaning. Similarly, the Lord drops His blessings and bounties on the very path that we walk that we might think that we chanced upon it.

Like Ruth lay at the feet of Boaz and he covered her with his sheet, we need to lie at the feet of the Lord and He will cover us- a metaphor for His presence, His overflowing blessings and grace. Like Ruth was invited to eat at the table of Boaz, we are invited to eat and fellowship with the Lord every day of our lives. Like Ruth entered into wedlock with Boaz, we are called into a covenant relationship of eternal love and commitment to the Lord all the days of our lives and beyond into eternity.