In the days of the judges lived Boaz. For him, God is everything. He greeted the workers in his field with, “The Lord be with you.” Amid a broken nation, Boaz is imbued with love and loyalty to the Lord. Hence, his greeting to his servants and maidservants. Even if he is rich, Boaz is not stingy. His attitude towards Ruth, a poor stranger who gathers from the ears of corn left on the field in her struggle for survival, speaks volumes.
He allows the woman to gather from the bounty, even offers her a job, and then falls in love with her. As you read this article, you will discover that Boaz is important because he was chosen by God to confirm and fulfill Naomi’s prayer and to be spared her daughter-in-law’s poverty and pain. At the same time, we also learn that Ruth pursued Boaz but was pushed back by her mother-in-law. I wish you an enjoyable reading and hope you truly understand the beautiful story of the true biblical man, Boaz.
Why is Boaz important in the Bible?
Israel received from God a land flowing with milk and honey. In return, they had to love and serve Him. However, during the time of the judges, everyone did as they pleased and served idols. God commands that the heavens are closed and the earth does not yield fruit. Moab was unblemished from his youth and rested without fear on his lees. He was not poured from one vessel to another nor carried away into bondage. Elimelech would probably have only wanted to live in the land for a short time.
Boaz is important in the Bible because he is a man of God, compassionate, and supportive of the needs of others. And through him, God worked to answer Naomi’s prayers.
A departing believer does not immediately seek to conform to the world, but gradually Moab seems more and more attractive to those who have left Canaan. Elimelech becomes an inhabitant of this land and soon dies. We cannot measure the dire consequences of the first step in the wrong direction.
We can see that son goes much further down the path of disobedience than his parents. Mahlon and Chilion take as their wives girls from Moab. Now away from God’s people, they live another ten years in Moab, after which they also pass away without having children. This is why Ruth came to Bethlehem because her husband died. And she met Boaz, God’s great and essential man and follower.
What does Boaz symbolize?
Naomi is left alone, without her husband and children, in a foreign land. It’s hard to imagine a more complex situation. But He who upholds the widow will take care of her through Boaz. She hears that the Lord has visited His people to give them bread in due time. Today, God still sends his messengers to proclaim salvation made possible by Christ’s work on the cross to the whole world.
Boaz symbolizes a servant of the Lord who will indirectly answer the prayers of Ruth’s mother-in-law. He embodies a character of compassion, for when Ruth was torn apart, he offered her relief.
For God to restore us, we must dissociate ourselves from worldly things. Naomi returns to the people God has chosen for her, and she goes, even though her faith is weak. Our repentance is often imperfect, but God watches over us while we are still far away, encouraging the first movement toward Him. After which, He will emphasize His work in us.
Was Ruth attracted to Boaz?
Naomi won the affection of her daughters-in-law, and they wanted to follow her. Ruth and Orpah have gained her blessing and are willing to care for her. The prospects for the two daughters-in-law are different from Naomi’s. She returns to the land, her home, and her God, while Ruth and Orpah are forced to leave their families, friends, and idols to go to a people they did not know.
Ruth was attracted to Boaz but wanted to keep it a secret. But her mother-in-law, Naomi, told her to tell Boaz to marry her because she was her closest relative.
So that’s why things worked out much better than Ruth or Naomi expected. But in His sovereignty, God will use Naomi’s spiritual coldness to show the actual state of Ruth and Orpah. They are at a crossroads, facing the most significant decision. Their choice will depend, it seems, on their eternal fate, which Ruth gained through Naomi and Boaz.
How was Ruth faithful to Boaz?
It was the beginning of the first year’s crop, just after Easter. There would be even richer harvests to follow, and God would make the widow’s heart full of joy. Soon, Naomi would recognize that she never had ceased¹ to be the object of His attention. The God who does justice to the orphan and the widow, who loves the stranger and gives him food and clothing, has left instructions to this effect. Next, Ruth, in her poverty, is ready to gather ears of corn from the one to whom she will gain passage. But first, she, humble and submissive, asks Naomi’s permission, for she recognizes her experience. Naomi encourages her: “Go, my daughter.”
Ruth gets to know Boaz and is faithful to him by reflecting her loyalty to Naomi through her behavior and choice to follow her wherever she goes. Led by God’s sure arm, Ruth comes into contact with Boaz. This powerful and wealthy man is a picture of Christ. Full of grace, he speaks to this stranger’s heart and comforts her.
What was the age difference between Boaz and Ruth?
Now matured through suffering, Naomi will teach Ruth nothing but good. And first, she reveals Boaz’s beautiful character. This is a close relative who has the right to redemption, and it will soon become apparent that this is the only one, like Christ, who can and will redeem. In particular, we don’t know many details about Boaz, but we know that he was a man of God.
The age difference between Ruth and Boaz is 40 years.
What some call: the age gap. Ruth was 40 when she met Boaz, and he was 80. Boaz’s words are imprinted on Ruth’s heart. He also said, ” Stay with my servants until they reap. Of course, she had to follow them closely to reap the ears of corn intentionally dropped at Boaz’s command. But Naomi, who is affectionately watching over Ruth’s reputation, unwittingly endorsed² Boaz’s other claims, saying: It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his handmaids and that no one meets you in another field. Later, Boaz would be able to tell Ruth, as one who had watched her behavior, that she was a remarkable woman.
Primary Takeaways
- The path to Boaz is precisely traced to Ruth: Go down to the threshing floor. Mark your place where he lies down, and you will lie at his feet. And Naomi shows her confidence in Boaz.
- Boaz embodies the image of Christ.
- He is a man of faith.
Key Verse
“Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name [was] Boaz.”
Biography of Boaz
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