While the humbling field experience served as a reaping ground for - TopicsExpress

While the humbling field experience served as a reaping ground for Ruth, it was a proving ground for Boaz. Before Boaz ever said “I do” — he did. As Ruth worked to sustain herself and her mother-in-law, God used that time not only to establish Ruth’s reputation as an honorable believer within her community, but to allow Boaz an opportunity to exhibit the five essential components of his character. He proved himself to be a provider, a protector, an intercessor, a coverer, and a redeemer. Though Boaz was a man of wealth and power, he was humble enough to respect a converted Gentile woman, and wise enough to admire her courage, devotion, kindness, and fidelity to Naomi (Ruth 2:11). He considered himself blessed to be wanted by a woman who he believed could have gone after a younger man (Ruth 3:10). Boaz’s kindness and admiration was so overwhelming that at one point Ruth asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me– a foreigner.” (Ruth 2:10) Like many of us Ruth felt that her past, her poverty, and her status as a foreigner in Bethlehem made her less than the other women. Yet, Boaz “noticed” her. In Hebrew the word “notice” means to “acknowledge with honor, to understand.” So it wasn’t that Boaz simply saw her, he understood and revered her. He understood that Ruth was more than the culmination of her past misfortunes and present dire circumstances. He honored the woman she was within and the woman that she could become if he became her coverer and redeemer.