February 14, 2025 - Ruth 2:15,16 - Handfuls of Purpose

Ruth 2:15,16

"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."

Everything that happened to Ruth happened on purpose. Just as with us—if we are the Lord’s—it didn’t just happen; it was according to God's eternal purpose. That’s a key theme in Scripture that many in our generation overlook. Yet we dare not miss it, because if we belong to the Lord, that is the only reason. He purposed it (Romans 8:28).

Here, we see a picture of how God commands all things for the good of His children—those He has purposed to save. When Ruth got up to glean, it says, "when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded." Consider the word: "commanded." She was unaware of it; she had already left. This highlights our need for the Lord to teach us repeatedly. We often think that God acts based on what we do or refrains from acting because of our failures. But that is a false god. The word "commanded" is strong. Nowhere do we see Boaz inviting Ruth to do something as if saying, "If you will, Ruth, would you please, then I will." That is the small "g-o-d" of our generation. Too often, preachers plead with sinners as if God desperately wants to act but cannot—because people won’t allow Him.

In verses 15 and 16, the word "let" appears twice, but it is not Ruth letting Boaz do anything. Rather, it is Boaz commanding. When we read about "handfuls of purpose," it says that he "commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not." That is Boaz letting her; he has given the authority. The word "let" connects directly with the word "command." If we have come to Christ, it must be that He ordered it, or else we would never have come. If we can in any measure enter into who Christ is—partaking of the bread and wine, symbols of His body and blood—and enjoy fellowship with Him, sitting at His table, then it must be because He ordered it. Otherwise, it could never be.

There are times when we may question, "Am I the Lord's or not?" Doubt yourself, but do not doubt Him. How do we even know anything about Him—how do we have even the smallest desire for Him? It must be because He has drawn us. Otherwise, we would be like the rest of the religious world, perishing and never coming to Christ. As our Lord declared, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44).

Salvation is of the Lord, from beginning to end, according to His eternal purpose. God had purposed that Ruth be brought to Boaz, whom she would discover to be her Kinsman-Redeemer, as a type of the LORD Jesus. Therefore, when Boaz instructed his servants in verse 16, "Let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her," it was because he had already set his love upon her and would provide for her every need. This was something done on her behalf—a command given. Again, this is not as religion falsely teaches: "You just need to let go and let God." That is their little "g-o-d." No—if God wills, then it is God purposing that you do what you do, according to His will.

The Hebrew text refers to a bundle of grain, not just a handful. Don’t picture a small handful. This refers to a large bundle of grain that was prepared and left for her to simply pick up. It is a unique word, found only here in Scripture, and speaks of a very generous bundle. Here, we pause to consider God's distinctive grace. It is unique. We could reflect on the fruitfulness of Boaz's fields or the law stating that when harvesting, they were not to cut the corners of the field (Leviticus 23:22). Some might say that is the picture here. But this is different. This grain was already cut and laid there for her to pick up. That is what the Lord does for us. There is no work on our part to merit His grace. It is unique and distinctive. We find the work already complete—just as when the Spirit of God opens the eyes of one of His elect. They discover that the work was already done, that Christ had already accomplished everything for them. His righteousness was earned and established for them already. He died for them before they even knew anything about Him. God had already justified them through Christ’s death on the cross (Romans 5:8-11). Everything had already been done for Ruth, and by the Spirit of God leading her, she discovered the bounty that had been purposed for her through Boaz, whom she came to know in time.

The word "purpose" here means "to draw out"—even in the sense of preparing it so that when she picked it up, there would be nothing to harm her. If you have ever harvested barley or other grain, you know it can be itchy and prickly. It’s as if Boaz instructed his servants, "Fix it so that when it is left there, all she has to do is pick it up and carry it." That is a picture of the work of grace that the Lord does. It is deliberate. It is because of His unconditional love. Boaz loved Ruth. God’s grace is ordered—deliberate order. It is by free and unconditional grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When the text says, "Reproach her not," and "Rebuke her not," what comes to mind? Romans 8:1—"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Later, Paul declares, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" No amount of jealousy of wicked men against us because of God's distinctive Grace in Christ can affect God's love for those He has chosen in Christ. Can anything separate us from the love of God? Stop and consider: This is the grace that the LORD has given His people in Christ! What a glorious picture of God's unconditional grace in Him.