God’s Favor

Ruth 2:1–23 (CSB)

Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character (Wealth, Stature, Power, Importance, Good Reputation) from Elimelech’s family. (Israelite) His name was Boaz.

Ruth the Moabitess (Humbled Foreigner, Widower, Poor) asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain (Like picking up aluminum cans in order to provide, picking up scraps to feed a family) behind someone with whom I find favor?” (Deut. 24:19–22) Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”

So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened (By chance/accident, as luck would have it [the right place]) to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.

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Later, (Behold!, like an announcement of surprise…a coincidence [the right time]) when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The Lord be with you.” “The Lord bless you,” they replied.

Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”

The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab.

She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has been on her feet since early morning, (Likely she waited for an answer/permission before gleaning [patience & determination]) except that she rested a little in the shelter.”

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Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants.(Status in his household)

See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you? (Protection) When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.” (Women drew water, now she is encouraged to drink from water already filled.)

She fell facedown, bowed to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor (immense generosity & Devotion) with you, so that you notice me, although I am a foreigner?” (You have treated me as if you have known me before. “noticed the unnoticed, recognized the unrecognized.)

Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left your father and mother and your native land, and how you came to a people you didn’t previously know.

May the Lord reward you for what you have done, (Prov. 19:17) and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

“My lord,” she said, “I have found favor with you, for you have comforted (eased my fears) and encouraged (lifted my heart with sweet caressing words, gives off idea of a romantic woo and encouraging words) your servant, although I am not like one of your female servants.”

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At mealtime Boaz told her, “Come over here and have some bread and dip it in the vinegar sauce.” So she sat beside the harvesters, [Place of honor] and he offered her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over.

When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her even gather grain among the bundles, and don’t humiliate her.

Pull out some stalks from the bundles for her and leave them for her to gather. Don’t rebuke her.”

So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley. (like how the famine ended in chapter 1, God showed his favor through Boaz and provided plenty of bread for Ruth/Naomi [abundance and satisfaction/filled])

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She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave it to her.

Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you gather barley today, and where did you work? May the Lord bless the man who noticed you.” Ruth told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with and said, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.”

Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the Lord bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers.”

Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished all of my harvest.’ ”

So Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his female servants, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.”

Ruth stayed close to Boaz’s female servants and gathered grain until the barley and the wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

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How We Experience God’s Favor

God’s favor is revealed and demonstrated in these ways:

1. God’s Perfect Timing

Right time and place (God’s Providence):

God’s hand guides events for His purposes. His loving oversight ensures all things align with His perfect will.

Example: Ruth happened to be in the right field, Boaz happened to be her redeemer, and he happened to arrive while she was waiting to glean.

2. God’s Unwavering Devotion

Loyalty and commitment (God’s Faithfulness):

God’s unwavering faithfulness to His people. His steadfast love endures through every season.

Example: Even when Naomi felt abandoned, God was working for her good through the ḥeseḏ of Ruth and Boaz, ultimately providing an heir.

3. God’s Protective Strength

Protection and provision (God’s Power):

God’s omnipotent care shields and sustains. His strength is a refuge for the vulnerable.

Example: God guided Ruth to Boaz’s field, where she was shielded from scrutiny, abuse, and vulnerability as a poor, young, widowed foreigner.

4. God’s Overflowing Generosity

Sacrifice and compassion (God’s Grace):

God’s abundant love in action. His generosity flows from His merciful and compassionate heart.

Example: Though Ruth was a foreigner and held no claim among God’s people, Boaz showed her immense favor without hesitation.

5. God’s Abundant Blessing

Abundance and satisfaction (God’s Provision):

God’s provision exceeds our needs. His kindness fills us with overflowing blessings.

Example: Ruth gleaned far more than expected, taking home not only leftovers but also a share of Boaz’s provision, ensuring her and Naomi’s needs were met.

6. God’s Comforting Love

Encouragement and reassurance (God’s Love):

God’s care restores and uplifts. His steadfast love binds the brokenhearted and brings peace.

Example: Ruth, humbled by her circumstances, found comfort in knowing that God, whom she now trusted, saw her afflictions and provided Boaz to restore and uplift her and Naomi.

7. God’s Exalting Grace

Noticed, known, and honored (God’s Sovereignty):

God raises up and dignifies His people. In His wisdom and love, He exalts whom He wills.

Example: Ruth was noticed by Boaz, known for her ḥeseḏ, and honored for her faithfulness. Through Boaz’s actions, God exalted Ruth and Naomi, bringing them dignity and restoration.

Why We Receive God’s Favor

Boaz & Christ Display God’s ḥeseḏ as Redeemers. God’s ḥeseḏ is fully expressed in Christ, who extends His favor to all who believe in Him: because we have a redeemer we experience God’s favor.

1.Because We Have A Redeemer

A. He Came at the Right Time & Place:

Comparison:

Boaz came on the scene at the right time; Jesus also came to his people according to God’s wisdom and plan.

Jesus the Greater Redeemer:

Christ came at the perfect moment in history, fulfilling God’s plan of salvation.

2. What Our Redeemer Gives Us

A. We Receive Comfort & Devotion:

Comparison:

Boaz comforted Ruth despite her lowly status he gave her hope for a future; Christ sees our broken state and is devoted to rescuing us and giving us a future.

Jesus the Greater Redeemer:

Jesus was loyal and faithful to the Father and to those he came to save He rescued us from sin and death, no matter the cost. Jesus is our eternal source of encouragement, promising hope in His return. We find peace in knowing that death is not our end, and present sufferings pale compared to future glory.

B. We Receive Provision & Protection:

Comparison:

"Boaz provided protection in the fields and he served and satisfied Ruth’s needs; Christ satisfied our need for forgiveness and redemption, protecting us from sin and eternal death."

Jesus the Greater Redeemer:

Despite His humbled estate, Jesus bore the cross, facing sin and death with power that only God possesses. his blood aid for our sins, offering us forgiveness and redemption, and he was raised to life by the power of God, defeating sin for all who would follow him.

C. We Receive Blessing & Exaltation:

Comparison:

"Boaz blessed Ruth with abundance in both status and provision (He filled her cup and bag); Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of ḥeseḏ, providing an exalted status (Servant, Child, Friend, Lover) & abundant/eternal life for all believers."

Jesus the Greater Redeemer:

Christ is exalted, and those who follow Him are noticed, known, and honored by God, elevated to a place of dignity and favor as part of His body.