Great Grace
30 Days in Ruth and Esther - day 5
The story of Ruth takes a beautiful turn in chapter two. Here we are introduced to Boaz. Typologically, many Bible teachers see an echo of Christ in Boaz. He is a relative of Naomi’s dead husband, Elimelech. As such he holds the legal status of a “kinsman redeemer.”
Boaz is portrayed as a man of great honor and integrity. Though wealthy, he is kind and generous. He cares for the poor and needy. He doesn’t resent those who come to reap in his fields. Instead, he comes to bless them and says to them, “The LORD be with you.”
And when he came to his fields one day he took notice of Ruth.
On the surface this doesn’t seem noteworthy. At first glance, this seems like a small detail. A landowner notices a worker in his field. But in the story of Ruth, nothing is accidental. And this moment is full of grace.
Consider who Ruth was. She was a Moabite. The Moabites were the enemies of God’s people. Not only was she a Moabite, she was a poor widow as well. There was nothing about Ruth that would naturally draw Boaz’s care and affection...no status, no claim, no advantage.
But care and affection is exactly what Ruth received from Boaz. It came to her, not because there was something in her that merited it, but because there was something in Boaz that moved him to give it.
Boaz comes to the field, he initiates, he speaks blessing, he draws near...
Just as Boaz came to his field and set his favor on Ruth, so Christ has come into this world and set His love on sinners.
This is what grace looks like.
Is there a better picture of Biblical masculinity apart from Christ than Boaz? I've often wondered how he did not figure into our children's ministries as prominent as Samson.