There were two big differences: 1) Pocahantas was a teenager and Indian princess. Ruth was a young widow traveling with her her mother-in-law, Naomi, another widow. 2) Indians sold grain to the white settlers, whereas the Hebrews gave the Moabites (Ruth and family) grain. Here's a portion of the story:
Ruth 2:12" "The Lord recompense thy (Boaz's) work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. 13 Then she (Ruth) said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. 14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. 15 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: 16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD..."
This is the story of Thanksgiving! It was a day when enemies set aside their differences and loved each other. Boaz opened his heart and gave of his profit. Ruth and family were blessed by the generosity of Boaz. Friends were made for life. It was surely a time for Thanksgiving. Not only were enemies new friends, the hungry were fed and all were blessed.
Also Ruth was blessed at this time, and as Ruth is still blessed to this day. She was the great-grandmother of David by her marriage to Boaz! What a day of thanks when Boaz shared with this Moabite family! It was a day of thanksgiving for her, but for us as well. It's the greatest Thanksgiving ever! Thanks to the generous heart of Boaz we have Jesus!
Matthew 1:4 "And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6And Jesse begat David the king;"
Matthew 1:1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David (line of), the son of Abraham."
Matthew 9:27 "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us."
I'm Thankful for Ruth this day. I'm thankful for Boaz. On this early day of Thanksgiving there was a plan at work. The generosity of Boaz to this poor widow woman changed the world forever! They were antecedents of Jesus. Thanks to Boaz's generosity, I'm now saved! Without Boaz, Jesus would not be.
Boaz's New World counterpart was Capt. John Smith. Although Smith never married the Indian Princess (John Rolfe did)! The heirs of Pocahantas are millions. America was founded on her line and the marriages into her line. Likewise, if you're a Christian today. you're an heir of Jesus. You're an heir of Ruth! What does the Book of Ruth have to do with Jesus? Everything! We are to love our enemies. We're to provide for the widows and orphans, and most of all, the common lady Ruth was the "mother" of Jesus who saves us still!
Now, that's Thanksgiving! Truly "Blessed be he (Boaz) of the LORD!" as Naomi said to Ruth!
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