When we read the Bible, we
have the privilege of allowing our imaginations to go wild, and in
order to understand some of the wonderful stories that lie within the
Bible, we must put ourselves in the place of the characters and try
to understand their thoughts, feelings and emotions as they go
through their life circumstances. We have been doing so with Naomi,
Boaz and Ruth as we have studied this wonderful book, and since we
have been looking at this blooming relationship between Boaz and
Ruth, we have found time after time where their relationship
parallels the relationship of Jesus with all who will believe in Him.
Today we continue our story with Ruth's reaction to Boaz' as he
offered for her to stay in his field. It says in chapter two and
verse ten:
Then she fell on her
face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I
found grace in your eyes, that you should take knowledge of me,
seeing I [am] a stranger?
Ruth's
first response is, “she fell on her face, and bowed herself to
the ground.” What a mighty act of worship this is. As Ruth
humbles herself before the lord of the field we immediately see the
worship of him and the recognition of unworthiness within herself.
She demonstrates “humility”, and postures “servant-hood.” Can
we see in our mind's eye the shock and dismay of Ruth at Boaz'
proposal that is so strong that it brings her to the ground where she
looks below as unworthy to him. She is more than likely bowed in a
kneeling position that gives Boaz reverence, and her attitude is one
of gratefulness rather than entitlement. Ruth humbles herself in
body, and then speaks to the one who has given recognition to her.
Ruth
“said unto him, “Why have I found grace in your
eyes...”? It's as if Ruth doesn't quite understand for a
moment. She has no reference to believe that Boaz should have any
grace upon her, and she denotes that his eyes are upon her and this
grace or “unmerited favor” is a surprise to be offered to her at
all. She knows that Boaz owns the field. She knows that Boaz
legislates the rules of the field, and yet, this wonderful owner and
legistlator of the field has isolated and chosen her for favor. We
might imagine that Ruth is quite in awe that this is happening to
her.
Finally
Ruth continued, “that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I
am a stranger?” Ruth couldn't reconcile Boaz' favor. It wasn't
supposed to be for her that he would even acknowledge her at all. Her
quandary as to why Boaz would even look her way was because “I
am a stranger.” Ruth knew the “rule” that Jews had no
dealings with the gentiles, and although Ruth was loyal to Naomi, she
was still a Moabite, and nothing would ever change that fact. She was
a foreigner, an outcast of sorts, and one that should not be
acknowledged at all, but there was something about her that Boaz
enjoyed beyond the “gentile, outcast” rule. Boaz extended grace
to Ruth, acknowledged Ruth, and offered to her provision and
protection well beyond her own ability to comprehend this wonderful
gesture.
Can we
once again see the parallels in this story to our kinsman redeemer
Jesus? The owner of the world, Jesus, has extended grace to us which
is “unmerited favor” by not only looking our way, but also by
dying on the cross for us. Not only does He own the field and govern
over it, He also is able to show favor to whomever He desires, and He
still has chosen us. When we consider the privilege that Jesus Christ
has given to all who will simply believe in Him which means to “trust
in, rely upon, and cling to Him”, it should bring us to
prostrate ourselves and bow our faces to the ground. It should humble
us in gratitude that the owner of the field has cast His eyes upon
us. May our prayer be, “Lord Jesus, we who have recognized your
grace and acknowledgment worship and adore you for your loving
favor.”
Next
time we will discover Boaz' response to Ruth , so read ahead in this
exciting story, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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