by John O’Malley
“Then said Boaz unto Ruth…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” (Ruth 2:8-9).
Ruth listened with delight, as Boaz’s words seemed to go from his heart straight to her heart. She knew this was unusual. The lord of the harvest, himself, had taken interest in her.
Ruth knew there was nothing comely about her heritage, her homeland, or her history. She wondered, “What could he see in me? I am simply a Moabite by birth and an Israelite by grace.” She knew her own background. It took no effort for her to revisit that hopeless feeling that was buried six feet deep in her heart. The day her husband died, many things died within her heart as he was buried in the sands of Moab.
Hope had been dormant for what seemed like an eternity; yet, Boaz’s words seemed to kindle hope’s fire in her bosom. She considered and contemplated Boaz’s words. This was more than simply an employer speaking with an employee. Boaz had taken special interest in Ruth, and she reacquainted herself with hope again.
Ruth pushed back the hair from her brow and looked at Boaz’s heart through his eyes. She could see Boaz cared for her. Though she could not understand why Boaz would care so much for her, she graciously nodded her head to signal to him that she understood. Inwardly, her heart was about to burst with thanksgiving to God for His gracious providing of her needs.
Those who have tasted of the heavenly gift know well the feelings Ruth experienced at that moment. We look at ourselves and ponder why our Eternal Boaz would love us so much. Like Ruth, we look at our heritage, and we are ruined. We look at our homeland, and we are scarred. We look at our history, and we have nothing to offer.
Though we are unworthy, our Eternal Boaz still speaks words of grace that reach our hearts from just outside the city’s gate on Calvary’s cross. His words kindle eternal hope in our hearts. Our unworthiness of receiving His grace is aptly described in the song, “Sinner, Saved by Grace.”
If you could see what I once was, if you could go with me,
Back to where I started from, then I know you would see,
A miracle of love that brought me to His warm embrace,
He made me what I am today, a sinner saved by grace.
I’m just a sinner saved by grace!
— Gaither/Humphries
Never forget that it was His grace that brought you from Moab to His fields. It will be His grace that keeps you in His fields. Rest assured, at life’s end, it will be His grace that will escort you home.