How does Ruth 3:15 connect to God's provision in Deuteronomy 15:10? Setting the Verses in Context • Ruth 3:15 – “He also told her, ‘Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.’ And when she did so, he poured six measures of barley into her shawl and put it on her. Then he went into the city.” • Deuteronomy 15:10 – “Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so; and because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand.” Key Connections Between the Two Passages • Boaz’s six measures of barley embody Deuteronomy 15:10’s call to give “generously” and cheerfully. • The text highlights Boaz’s immediate obedience without reluctance; Deuteronomy warns against a “grieved” heart in giving. • Ruth is a foreign widow, fitting the very people-group Deuteronomy 15:10 aims to protect—the needy. • Both passages reveal God’s design that His people become channels of blessing rather than cul-de-sacs of self-interest. Boaz’s Generosity Mirrors Mosaic Commands 1. Freewill Generosity – Deuteronomy 15:7-8 commands opening the hand to the poor; Boaz opens both hand and storehouse. 2. Proportional Blessing – Deuteronomy 15:10 promises blessing on the work of generous givers; Ruth 4 later shows Boaz blessed with a family line leading to David (Ruth 4:21-22). 3. Protecting the Vulnerable – Deuteronomy 24:19, Leviticus 19:9-10 require leaving gleanings; Boaz goes beyond the bare minimum by sending Ruth home loaded. Practical Takeaways for Today • Giving is not optional philanthropy; it is obedience rooted in God’s law and character (Proverbs 19:17). • Generous acts become divine appointments that weave into God’s redemptive plan—Boaz’s kindness eventually links to the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:5-6). • God blesses the giver, often in ways that reach far beyond material return (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). God’s Heart Revealed • Ruth 3:15 shows God’s tangible care for individuals through the faithful obedience of His people. • Deuteronomy 15:10 reveals that God’s economy multiplies blessings through generosity, ensuring both giver and receiver experience His provision. |
    |