Ruth 2:2,3

Ruth 2:2,3 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. Ruth and Naomi returned to Israel during the barley harvest. Barley was the first grain to ripen and was also the cheapest and most plentiful grain. The nation of Israel did not have a welfare system to take care of poor people. It was the responsibility of the wealthy land owners to take care of the poor. These land owners would allow poor people to come into their fields after they had been harvested and glean. Gleaning was picking up left over grain that had been overlooked. It would take the poor people more time and effort to find the lost grain down between the cut stalks, but at least they would have something to find and something to eat. They were not just freeloaders getting free food. They worked for what they got – even harder than the original harvesters. Everyone benefitted by the system. The poor were taken care of and the land was carefully harvested at the same time. And God worked it out so that Ruth just so happened to glean in one of the fields that belonged to Boaz, one of Elimelech’s relatives. God was once again at work. He always is, you know.