Who Is That!

Ruth 2:5-13

In August of 1964, Roy Orbison released the song "Oh Pretty Woman". The song, which he co-wrote with Billy Dees, talks of a man walking down a street, and he sees what could be the most beautiful woman he has ever laid his eyes on. He wonders if the woman will notice him too, but she does not. She just walks on by. Feeling the sting of rejection the singer decides that there is always tomorrow to try and find love. Then, to his surprise the woman turns around and starts walking back to him. What happens after that is left to the hearer's imagination. Did she come back to talk to him? Did she realize she had forgot something and walk by him two times? Was he rejected or did he get a chance to talk to the "Pretty Woman"?

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5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.” 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” 10 So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” 13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”

Ruth 2:5-13

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Ruth must have been a "Pretty Woman". After Boaz greets his servants, he looks into his field and takes notice of her. Let's be real for a moment. Ruth had been working for a while when Boaz saw her. Barley harvest occurs during our month of March (the month of Nisan in Israel). The temperature averages between 65 and 75 degrees during that time. That is not terribly hot, but if you are working in a field, you will sweat. Ruth is probably on her hands and knees picking up grain so she is also dirty. Yet, Boaz takes notice of her.

He asks his servants who she is. They tell her that she is the Moabite woman who returned home with Naomi. The servants tell Boaz that she asked permission to glean grain in the field. Their report said that Ruth had worked all morning long and had only taken a little break in the house, or probably better understood the shelter.

Upon hearing this report, Boaz calls Ruth over. He tells her, "Listen to me please. Do not go to anyone else's fields. You stay with my maidservants and watch which fields they glean from. You glean from the same fields. I have told my men servants to stay away from you. If you are thirsty, help yourself to the water that my servants drink. The young men have drawn already, so help yourself." Boaz offered her provision and protection. It was a very generous offer, and Ruth realized it.

Ruth responds by bowing herself to the ground in humility. She asks the question, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?" Ruth was an outsider, and she knew it. Her people were not well liked by the Jews because of their checkered origin. There was a law that forbid Jews from marrying Moabites. She fully expected to be rejected and shunned. Instead, Boaz was doing exactly the opposite!

Listen to how Boaz responded to her question. He says, "Ruth I know your story. I have been told how you have helped your mother-in-law since the death of her husband and sons. I know that you forsook your home, family, and culture to live here. I know that you moved to a land where you do not know anyone except Naomi. May God repay you the good that you have done, and may He give you a full reward for placing yourself under the wings of His protection." Can you imagine? Boaz said, "Ruth even though you feel like a stranger, I want you to know that I know you; and more importantly, God knows you."

Ruth is truly humbled by this. Her final response is, "Let me find favor in your eyes, my lord. You have comforted me. You have spoken kindly to your maidservant, even though I am not like your other servants." Ruth realizes that she is not "worthy" of the treatment she is receiving. She is an outsider with no rights. She is humbled, and she is grateful. While she could not help which family she was born to, and she could not help which country she was born in, it did not change the facts of her reality. And yet, here was this man who was ignoring what custom dictated. He rejected what tradition said. He welcomed her into his fields and was loving, kind, and compassionate to her plight. It was comforting!

Father, there are times were are like Ruth. We are so undeserving, and yet someone shows us kindness. Other times we have the opportunity to be like Boaz and to show someone kindness that they may not be entitled to. Help us to be like him. Help us to be like You.