The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ruth (2:8-12), “Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.’

9 ‘Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.’

10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

11 Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth and came to a people that you did not previously know.”

12 “May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

There is a huge amount of “disguised cover” and intention to this interchange between Boaz and Ruth. Ruth was previously married, but probably not for long. Her former husband, Mahlon, had died leaving her without any children. Thus, it is more than likely that being married and having children was still her desire.

It’s always desirable, too, to have relatives who are comfortable with one’s desire for marriage and children. What’s pitiful are parents who don’t want children and/or children who don’t want the parents they’ve been given.

Yet, Boaz has undoubtedly thought of Ruth as a viable marriage partner. He has allowed her to glean what the reapers either missed or intentionally dropped and told her to stay in his fields.

We would all do well to work and “stay in the fields” of the LORD, being ever and always an example to others of His love and grace while resting ourselves in His loving and gracious protection.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom