Dear friend,
God’s word is alive and active and it changes. Seriously, I’ve been an avid bible reader for YEARS now and sometimes I’ll go to read a well-known story, such as found in the book of Ruth and I’ll *sigh* and think…how many times can you read this story. Please join me in stopping this mindset when it comes to God’s word. The stories change! They morph to fit your circumstances and God speaks to you through His word no matter how many times you’ve read it.
I don’t know how many times I’ve read the book of Ruth over the past couple of years but the other day I read it AGAIN and God spoke something completely different to me. I’ve read the story from the point of view of Naomi the widow, the loss, the discouragement. I’ve read it from the point of view of Ruth, the daughter-in-law. The love she had for her dear friend Naomi. I’ve read this story and stood on my soap box about strong women in the bible and how they stick together. I read it last summer as a love story and fell in love with the fairy tale and romance of it all. But recently God opened my eyes to see it from the point of view of Boaz! Seriously, this is a MAN!
Boaz heard about Ruth’s devotion to Naomi and he admired that dedication. Boaz was kind and blessed Ruth. At the nudging of Naomi, Ruth took a pretty big risk and approached Boaz to be her ‘kinsman-redeemer’. She went to him and was basically asking Boaz to take on all her past baggage and to restore what was taken from her and her family. Boaz received her gently saying “Don’t be afraid…all my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:10-11)
There is a Boaz that is sure to turn up in my life. He may be watching me glean from the fields of life now; he may just see that God is creating in me a woman of noble character and he may approach me to glean in his field only…oh the fairytale of it all. Either way here is what I’ve learned from Ruth and how to recognize a Boaz when he comes.
- A Boaz respects you. Boaz was a man of respect, his godly character and respect showed in his response to Ruth “The Lord bless you, my daughter…I will do for you all you ask”. Sweet man.
- A Boaz is patient with the process. The law God gave put into place a certain process that was to be respected in cases like Ruth. Boaz waited until he knew Ruth was free to redeemed by him and he took his bride.
- A Boaz will handle your ‘baggage’ with care. Boaz was not only willing to buy the land that belonged to Ruth’s dead husband but he was also willing to honor it as his own. This cost Boaz a lot financially and emotionally. Unlike others along the way Boaz was willing to accept all the ‘baggage’ that came along with marrying Ruth. We all have some baggage, it’s a matter of finding the Boaz that is willing to care for it and unpack it with you.
- A Boaz notices more than just beauty. Ruth was a looker. She stood out among the crowd but Boaz saw beyond that to Ruth’s heart and cherished more than her looks.
You may or may not be looking for a Boaz. But I hope if nothing else you might take away this little truth. Boaz is a symbol of Jesus as our ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer. Jesus brought us back from the enemy of our souls. Just like Boaz, Jesus can handle all the baggage of your life. He was picked just for you to take care of your wounds and take you as His own. May you recognize that you have not been left without a redeemer, the restorer of life and sustainer of all has chosen you! May that bring you hope and security and peace!
~Loved