Bottom line up front: Faithfulness in the ‘small’ things is rewarded by God. In short, God sees all, not just what we sinners tend to think of as the big-ticket items.

Historical context: Ruth continued to glean the field faithfully: “So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley” (Ruth 2:17, ESV).The last verse of chapter two is crucial: “So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvest. And she lived withher mother-in-law” (Ruth 2:23, ESV).

***In other words, Ruth demonstrated a pattern of consistent humility, hard work, loyalty, and trust. She was as good as her word. There was nothing secretive, hidden, or clandestine about Ruth. Everything about her was open to review. And the kinsman-redeemer Boaz was taking notice.

Ruth’s obedience: Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, had instrutcted her (Ruth) in the proper protocol, namely, lie down beside Boaz at the proper time, and listen for instructions:

“But when he lies down, observed the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lied down, and he will tell you what to do” (Ruth 3:4-5, ESV).

I love Ruth’s words here: “All that you say I will do” (Ruth 3:5, ESV). In other words, Ruth faithfully discharged her duties. She kept the faith. She was finishing her course faithfully.

Boaz’s response: The kinsman-redeemer continued to take notice, and he would both show grace and marry this widow: “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich” (Ruth 3:10, ESV).

Boaz tells Ruth that he is indeed a redeemer. Just let that sink in. This story that began in famine, death, widowhood, lack, etc. is now turning to a story of harvest, life, marriage, and progeny.

This paragraph is so beautiful:

Ruth and Boaz Marry

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. ¹⁴ Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! ¹⁵ He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” ¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. ¹⁷ And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:13-17, ESV)

Encouragement: Naomi went from spiritual bitterness to sweetness. Ruth went from abandonment and widowhood to adoption and marriage. From childlessness to fertility. The line of the ultimate Redeemer (Christ) was continually unfolding through the likes of Boaz. What do we see through it all? We see God take notice of the small daily steps of obedience to the revealed will of God. We see God bless faithfulness in the end. We see God continue to unfold His covenant mercies to His people. Be encouraged, Christian pilgrim: God sees you and He loves you and He uses our sufferings to draw you to Himself.

Reminder: Naomi was stuck in a foreign land. She was now a widow, and a mother-in-law to two women. One of those women (Orpah) left. But one remained (Ruth). Both Naomi and her daughter-in-law were women of courage, of endurance, of tried faith.

Follow Me: Ruth did not rest; she was industrious. She asked her mother-in-law Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain” (Ruth 2:2 ESV). Why? Enduring faith in the providence and goodness of God.

And what do you know? A character of redemption, a man who came from Bethlehem, owned the field. Boaz was his name. He took notice of Ruth’s industriousness (Ruth 2:5-7). In short, he saw. This character of redemption (Boaz) took notice of the faithful servant (Ruth). That’s rather important.

Ruth’s Response:

¹⁰ Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” ¹¹ But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. ¹² The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” ¹³ Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” (Ruh 2:10-13, ESV)

Humility Precedes Honor: This widow, Ruth, was not only noticed by the character of redemption (Boaz) but also provided for.

But in the bigger picture, the humble servant of God is being provided for by the ultimate Redeeemer (the Lord).

Ruth knew herself to be a nobody. She described herself as “a foreigner” (v. 10), a “servant” (v. 13).

Encouragement: God delights in exalting the broken and humble.