Who in the world is Boaz?

I have to admit right off the bat that I grew up going to church EVERY Sunday and on Wednesday nights so you would think that I would know a thing or two about the Bible...you would think! Don't get me wrong, I know the basic stories like Adam and Eve; Noah; David and Goliath; Joseph and his coat of many colors, etc, etc. You know, basic stories that give you the basic idea of God and basic Christianity. But I have to admit that the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz (found in the book of Ruth in the Old Testament) was not a story that came across my path, at least that I remember. I do recall hearing the name Boaz in church but it was referring to a city in Alabama that was known for some great outlet shopping back in the day. That's about the extent of my past with Boaz.....there is none!

So let me just cut to the chase here and tell you that Boaz has officially found his way into my life! (Thanks to Kelly Minter's study Ruth.) And he is not any ordinary guy by any stretch of the imagination!!
He's actually kinda dreamy, in a very respectful kind of way....

Let me introduce you to my new found friend/crush/role-model for my sons/ take your pick..... He is the knight in shining armor that comes to redeem Ruth and Naomi from their collective pits and distresses (such a chick-flick story line). He is a man that is not found too often in our present day world or maybe we're just too skeptical to notice.

Boaz was quite a bit older when he met Ruth. By today's standards, it would have been very similar to a 55 years old man crossing paths with a woman young enough to be his twenty-something year old daughter. (So many directions I could go here but I won't....) He actually assumed that she was married when he first laid eyes on her until he asked his foreman about her. Again, this could go in so many different directions here.

Moving on...

When Boaz greeted Ruth for the first time he was very gracious and greeted her respectfully going as far as to acknowledge their age difference in the way the he addressed her. Showing that he was not attempting to pursue her in any way. As if that was not enough, he then offered her immediate physical protection by telling her not to work in anyone else's field but his. This sounds quite antiquated now but in those days he was extending her his full protection against the threat of rape that was common against women working in the fields during the harvest season; the fact that she was a foreigner would have increased the odds of this happening as well. Again, he had not met her until this very first conversation and didn't really know much about her but yet was so kind. He had no agenda, no ulterior motive; he was just genuinely kind. Refreshing in a way...

May my two sons learn to be so kind to the girls that cross their paths, not for something in return but because it's the kind thing to do. Especially this day in age where making the unwise choice is running rampant in our schools and in our society as a whole.

Ruth continues ,for the next seven weeks, to work in Boaz's field under his protection during the harvest season. She would gather what she could carry on her own, eat at Boaz's table during "lunch break", drink from the cistern of water that was meant for the workers and then take her barley home to Naomi so that they could eat.

Eating at Boaz's table and drinking from the water cistern was another huge deal for Ruth. The field owner's table was not meant to be shared with workers or gleaners (those that picked up what the harvesters dropped while in the fields).
This simple act of kindness by Boaz on Ruth's behalf meant that she fell under his provision and protection. This act was also a public announcement to his workers as well. He used this time to tell the workers that they were not to touch her physically or reprimand her verbally again, something that being a foreigner may unfairly bring about.

Again, he did it out of pure kindness.

There's nothing profound in these scenarios it's just pure and simple kindness that we don't see much anymore. He's a strong man not ashamed of his values as you see in the beginning of the 2nd chapter of Ruth:
"a man of standing, whose name was Boaz." In this verse, standing refers to: wealth, social status,respect according to Holman. He was well know in town probably because of all three of those qualities. Sure, he probably could have gone a long way without the respect part but would he have been any different than any other land owner in Bethlehem? Who knows...but the respect is for sure an added bonus because it's not something that you just have it's earned.

He's admired by his field workers:
"Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, 'The Lord be with you!''The Lord bless you!' they called back." (Ruth 2)
His greeting to his workers shows his commitment to the Lord because it's the first thing he speaks of when he addresses them (Holman). When you look at the conversations that he has in this book, they either mention the Lord or reflect the love he has for the Lord. He's the epitome of treating others the way you want to be treated, something that Jesus lived while here on this earth.

I could talk about Boaz for hours, there's so much more I could say about him....
He's just an amazing example of what I ultimately want my boys to be and the husbands that I want for my girls.

I encourage you to get lost in the pages of Ruth, it's truly a girls story as I said it's a basic chick flick story line. As my friend puts it (so well I might add!!!): "God knew he needed a story that would help women "get it" when it comes to Jesus and what He has done for us. I do not think this was written for men. It was for all the ladies out there." I think she hit the nail on the head! It's truly a story for EVERY woman no matter the age or stage of life. So grab a cup of coffee, get comfy and enjoy!!!