Hey Carpool Crew. I'm Pastor Justin, and welcome back to Carpooling with Heroes of the Bible. Last time, we met a courageous woman named Ruth. She left her home, her country, and everything she knew, to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi and follow the God of Israel. Now Ruth and Naomi have arrived in Bethlehem. But guess what? They have no food, no jobs, and no money. Things still feel hard. But Ruth is about to step out in faith, and meet someone who will change everything. Let's jump in. When Ruth and Naomi reached Bethlehem, it was barley harvest season. A time when the fields were full, the sun was hot, and people worked from morning to night gathering grain. Now harvest time in ancient Israel was not just hard work. It was a community event. Families, servants, and hired workers would all go into the fields to cut down barley with sickles, those curved blades, bundle it into sheaves, and stack it for drying. And scattered behind them? Little bits of grain that fell to the ground. And guess what? That leftover grain had a very special purpose. Leviticus 19:9 and 10 says, 'When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge, or gather what falls. Leave them for the poor and the resident alien.' God had created a system called gleaning. So that widows, foreigners, and people in need could gather food without being embarrassed or dependent on charity. Ruth heard about this and said to Naomi, 'Let me go to the field and gather fallen grain behind someone who allows me to.' That is Ruth 2:2 in the CSB. Even though she was new to the land, new to the people, and new to this faith, Ruth was ready to work. She did not wait for food to come to her. She went out to find it, with faith and courage. Let's hit pause and talk about how radical this was. In that time, foreign women were often ignored, or even mistreated, by landowners. But God's law was different. He said, 'Let them eat. Leave grain for them.' The Hebrew word for this kind of kindness is hesed. A big word that means loyal love, mercy, and generosity all wrapped together. Ruth did not know it yet, but God was about to show her hesed in a big way. Ruth went out to glean. And as the Bible puts it, 'She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz.' Ruth 2:3. Let's be real. She did not just happen to end up there. God was guiding her steps. Now who was Boaz? Boaz was a relative of Naomi's late husband Elimelech. He was a landowner, a man of integrity, and someone who lived out his faith. He greeted his workers by saying, 'The Lord be with you.' And they answered, 'The Lord bless you.' Ruth 2:4. That is the kind of boss Boaz was. One who brought God into everyday life. When Boaz saw Ruth working hard in the field, he asked, 'Who is that young woman?' The workers replied, 'That is the Moabite woman who came back with Naomi.' Boaz immediately walked over to Ruth. He said, 'Don't go to another field. Stay right here with my female servants. I have told the men not to touch you. And when you're thirsty, drink from our jars.' Ruth 2:8 and 9, paraphrased. In that time, women like Ruth were vulnerable to harassment and mistreatment. Boaz made it clear. You are safe here. Ruth was shocked. She said, 'Why are you so kind to me, even though I am a foreigner?' And Boaz answered with something beautiful. Ruth 2:11 and 12 says, 'Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband's death has been fully reported to me. May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.' Boaz saw her heart. Her loyalty, her sacrifice, her bravery. He recognized that Ruth was not just trying to survive. She was choosing God. When lunchtime came, Boaz invited Ruth to eat with his crew. They dipped bread in vinegar, a common dipping sauce back then, and Boaz gave her roasted grain until she was full. Then he told his workers, 'Let her glean even among the bundles. Don't stop her. Pull out extra stalks for her.' Ruth 2:15 and 16. Boaz was not just obeying the law. He was going above and beyond. That is hesed. That is what God's kindness looks like. Ruth worked until evening, beat out the grain, and returned to Naomi with about 30 pounds of barley. That is a lot. Naomi was stunned. 'Where did you gather today?' she asked. When Ruth said the name Boaz, Naomi's face lit up. She said, 'This man is a close relative. One of our family redeemers.' Ruth 2:20. Uh oh. What is a family redeemer? We will get into that next time. But let's just say. God's plan was already moving. And Ruth's ordinary day in the field? It was about to lead to something extraordinary. Sometimes God shows up not with thunder, but through people who live with kindness, honesty, and faith. Ruth did not know what would happen when she stepped into that field. But God had already gone ahead of her. So here is the question for today. Where in your life can you take a step of faith, even when you're not sure what is going to happen next? Maybe it is being kind to someone new. Maybe it is helping a sibling when no one asks you to. Maybe it is just doing the right thing, even when it is hard. When we move in faith, God moves in kindness. That is it for today, Carpool Crew. Ruth showed up in the fields just hoping to find enough food to eat. And she found safety, kindness, and the beginning of something big. Next time, we will learn more about this guy Boaz, and what it means to be a redeemer. And remember. God sees every step you take in faith. He is already at work, even when you don't see it yet. See you next time on Carpooling with Heroes of the Bible.
