BOAZ

BOAZ

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 

Ruth 2:1 

       Boaz was a mighty man. He is here so stated.  His might is here stated in regard to wealth.  We are not told how many, but the reference to his reapers is plural.  They were most likely a large number with many fields to reap.  He was not only mighty in wealth, but he was also mighty in character.  He is one of the few men in scripture that has no blot recorded against his character.  He was a Godly man.  When he came to where his reapers were, He said to them, "The Lord be with you."  2:4  He was probably also mighty in body and physical prowess.

           He was a good employer.  He acknowledged God even with them.  He, the picture of capital, sat down with his reapers, the picture of labor, and talked together.  He invited Ruth among them.  See 2:14  "And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left."  It is good when capital and labor can have this kind of relationship.

           He was here also a man in love.  In verse 5 he noticed Ruth.  He inquired as to who she was.  The fact that she was Naomi's daughter-in-law and a widow was also intriguing to him. Next, he personally approached her in verses 2:8, 9 "Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:  Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn."  He already knew about her 2:11 "And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore."  From then on he found time to be with her.  See Verse 14 quoted above in regard to capital and labor. When I was courting my wife, I said that any time wherever I was the shortest way home was always by her house.  He also began to provide for her :15, "And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:" 

           How wonderful is this love story.  Had it not happened as it turned out it would have blocked the whole plan of salvation.  Why do I say that?  Because from the descendents of this marriage came Jesus.