by John O’Malley
“That thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?” (Ruth 2:10).
Ruth’s past hung around her neck like a medallion. Her speech revealed she was Moabite. Her clothing may have revealed she was a Moabite. Ruth’s reputation indicated she was a Moabite.
Her words and their message were clear. “I am a stranger in this land.” In Ruth’s thinking, her past affected her present; yet simply spending a few moments with Boaz made her past fade away and her future look bright. This sense of assurance bred adoration in Ruth’s heart for Boaz.
Mankind’s past is marked by God’s separation. Our father, Adam, incurred the wrath of God. Because of God’s wrath, we were expelled from the place and presence of His fellowship; even then, we were never expelled from the promise of His fellowship if we would only return to Him in faith.
Man’s problems could not deter the love of our Eternal Boaz. Mankind stood before God with the problem of unforgiven sin, an unmistakable scar from our sin, and in an unfortunate situation because of our inability to settle our sin. Jesus Christ died on the cross to forgive our sins and take our scars. With His blood, He settled our debt with God.
The family of man stood in poverty before our Eternal Boaz. We saw the debt, but we could not pay. We knew the payment, but had nothing to pay. We could not cover our spiritual indebtedness. Mankind stood before him shameful and bankrupt of righteousness. Our sinful marring did not deter the grace of our Eternal Boaz. He loved us when we were unlovable. He took knowledge of us and loved us in spite of ourselves.
How is it “that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?” May we never wander from this truth! I was a stranger. My Eternal Boaz took me and loved me, though poor and with a troubled past. How great is His love for this impoverished and problematic Moabite! Consider the hymn, “O How I Love Jesus!” When pondering the goodness of our Eternal Boaz, sing these words throughout this day:
There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear,
The sweetest name on earth.”
--Fredrick Whitfield