Climbing Jacob’s Ladder

“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” — Genesis 28:12

The Torah portion for this week, Vayetze, is from Genesis 28:10–32:3 and Hosea 12:13–14:10.

The Jewish Sages teach that when Jacob was on his journey to the city of Harran, he ended up somewhere that he had not intended to go. But it was late, and so Jacob found a few stones, made a pillow, and went to sleep. As providence would have it, the place where Jacob slept was the holiest place on earth.


There, he had his famous dream in which Jacob saw a vision of a ladder resting on earth, stretching up to heaven. Angels were going up and down on it. When Jacob woke up he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Genesis 28:16). Jacob had unintentionally, but providentially, stumbled upon a virtual stairway to heaven.

Ruth Gleans in the Field

Scripture Passage : Ruth 2:1-23

INTRODUCTION: The first chapter of Ruth demonstrates the great need and lowly condition of both Naomi and Ruth. This chapter begins to give hope and demonstrates the wonderful grace of God. In chapter one, Ruth claims Naomi’s God as her God (Ruth 1:16). In chapter two, Ruth begins to understand what it means to come under the wings of the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12).

1. RUTH GOES TO GLEAN IN THE FIELD (Ruth 2:1-3
   )
1. The Introduction of Boaz (Ruth 2:1
   )
1. A kinsman of Naomi’s husband
2. A mighty man of wealth
2. The Determination of Ruth (Ruth 2:2
   )
1. She determines to glean grain in the field.
2. She is not only loyal to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-18
   ), but she is also willing to work.
3. The law commanded those who harvested a crop to leave the corners of the field so the poor and the stranger could gather the remains to meet their needs (Leviticus 23:22
   ).
3. The Providence of God (Ruth 2:3
   )
1. This passage speaks of “her hap”; this refers to good fortune, luck, happenstance (thus, the word hap).
2. Yet we see God’s working in everything that happened. It was part of God’s providential working in Ruth’s life (Romans 8:28
   ; Proverbs 16:9
   ).
2. BOAZ DISCOVERS THE IDENTITY OF RUTH (Ruth 2:4-7
   )
1. Boaz Checks on the Reapers (Ruth 2:4-5
   ).
1. Boaz’s godly relationship with the reapers (Ruth 2:4
   )
2. Boaz’s curiosity about Ruth (Ruth 2:5
   )
2. The Servant’s Report about Ruth (Ruth 2:6-7
   )
1. She is a Moabite (Ruth 2:6
   ).
2. She asked to glean among the reapers (Ruth 2:7
   ).
3. She has worked from morning with little rest (Ruth 2:7
   ).
3. BOAZ INSISTS SHE GLEAN IN HIS FIELD (Ruth 2:8-9
   )
1. He Requests That She Not Glean in Another Field (Ruth 2:8
   ).
2. He Promises Her Protection and Provision (Ruth 2:9
   ).
1. The young men shall not touch you.
2. Drink water of the vessels they draw.
4. BOAZ EXPRESSES HIS ADMIRATION FOR RUTH (Ruth 2:10-13
   )
1. Ruth Is Amazed at the Grace Shown by Boaz (Ruth 2:10
   ).
1. That he took knowledge of her (cp. John 1:48
   )
2. That he considered one who was a stranger (cp. Ephesians 2:11-13
   )
2. Boaz Tells of His Admiration for Ruth (Ruth 2:11
   ).
1. Her devotion to Naomi
2. Her departure from her family and land
3. Her coming to a strange land
3. Boaz Blesses Ruth (Ruth 2:12
   ).
1. May the Lord recompense her work.
2. May the Lord reward her trust in Him.
3. NOTE: She, as a Gentile, has come to trust in the God of Israel and has placed herself under His care.
4. Ruth Is Overwhelmed with Gratitude (Ruth 2:13
   ).
1. His favor
2. His comfort
3. His friendship
4. Despite her being foreign
5. BOAZ TAKES SPECIAL CARE OF RUTH (Ruth 2:14-17
   )
1. He Provides for Her at Mealtime (Ruth 2:14
   ).
1. Boaz provides the meal.
2. Boaz serves corn to Ruth – “reached her parched corn” means that he reached in and got it for her lest she be too modest to get it for herself.
2. He Provides for Handfuls of Purpose (Ruth 2:15-16
   ).
1. She is to be allowed among the sheaves (Ruth 2:15
   ).
2. She is not to be reproached (Ruth 2:15
   , 16).
3. She is to be left handfuls of purpose (Ruth 2:16
   ).
3. Her Daily Harvest Amounts to an Ephah (Ruth 2:17
   ).
1. She gleans until evening.
2. She beats out the grain.
3. She has an ephah of barley.
4. NOTE: This is an amazing amount for one who is simply gleaning the fields. Though the records vary, it is said to amount to from 30 to 50 pounds of grain.
6. RUTH TELLS NAOMI OF HER GOOD FORTUNE (Ruth 2:18-21
   )
1. Ruth Returns to Naomi (Ruth 2:18
   ).
1. She shows her the bountiful harvest.
2. She gives Naomi the remainder.
3. NOTE: Naomi (the Jew) is now getting her blessings from Ruth (the Gentile). See Acts 15:11
   .
2. Naomi Discovers Ruth’s Benefactor (Ruth 2:19-21
   ).
1. His name is Boaz (Ruth 2:19
   ).
2. He is near of kin (Ruth 2:20
   ).
3. He has offered continued help (Ruth 2:21
   ).
4. Naomi sees God blessing again (Ruth 2:20
   ).
7. RUTH GLEANS UNTIL THE END OF HARVEST (Ruth 2:22-23
   )
1. She Is Encouraged by Naomi (Ruth 2:22
   ).
2. She Continues through the Time of Harvest (Ruth 2:23
   )

CONCLUSION: Grace and provision have been shown to Ruth and to Naomi through Ruth. Boaz (the type of Christ) has been the source of it all. However, full redemption has not yet been made. That comes in the last half of the book. Then, of course, comes the marriage. What a blessed book!

David Reagan and Andrew Ray

http://www.learnthebible.org/sunday-school-outlines/ruth-gleans-in-the-field.html