Handfuls of Purpose
By Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.
"And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and
leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not." (Ruth 2:16)
This
verse contains the unusual instruction of Boaz to his servants concerning Ruth,
after she asked if she could glean after the reapers in his field of barley.
Not only did Boaz allow her to do so, but also commanded his
servants to "let fall some of the handfuls of purpose" for her,
thus making her task easier.
It is
interesting that the same Hebrew word, basically meaning "take a spoil,"
is used twice in this verse, once translated "let fall" and
once as "of purpose."
The
word for "handfuls," used only this once in the Bible,
evidently refers to a hand's "grip."
Although all the translations seem to have difficulty with it, Boaz
seems actually to be saying, in effect, to his servants: "Grab as though you were taking a spoil for her from the bundles
of sheaves, and leave them as a spoil for her."
This
was to be a deliberate and purposeful gift on Boaz's part, but Ruth was not to
know, so that she could assume she had gleaned it all on her own.
Boaz,
therefore, like his distant descendant (through his soon-to-be bride, Ruth),
Jesus Christ, provided that which represented the bread of life as a gracious
gift to his coming bride.
In
this, as in other ways, Boaz is a type of Christ, and Ruth is a type of each
believer destined for union with Him.
But
the sheaves also represent the Word of God from which we daily can glean
life-giving food for our souls.
Our
God has been pleased to leave us many "handfuls of purpose" along
the way in the fruitful
Our heavenly "Boaz" has paid the price
to take the spoil for us, but as we kneel down to glean each morsel, we "rejoice
at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil" (Psalm
119:162).
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