Chapter 5: Seen

Boaz walked toward Ruth. She looked up — and saw the owner of the field standing before her.

In that moment, Ruth had every reason to be afraid. She was a foreigner. A Moabite. An enemy. The owner could send her away. She had no rights here.

But Boaz did not send her away.

BOAZ“Listen to me, my daughter. Do not go to any other field. Stay here with my workers. I have told the young men not to touch you. When you are thirsty, drink from the water my servants have drawn.”— Ruth 2:8-9

She could not understand what was happening.

RUTH“Why are you being so kind to me? I am a foreigner — an outsider. Why would you even notice me?”— Ruth 2:10

Boaz's answer changed everything.

BOAZ“I have heard about you. I know what you did for your mother-in-law after your husband died. You left your own father and mother. You left your homeland. You came to live among people you did not know. May the LORD reward you for what you have done. May you find full blessing from the LORD, the God of Israel — under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”— Ruth 2:11-12

Under whose wings. Remember those words. They will return.

Ruth bowed her head. "You have been so kind to me, my lord. You have comforted me, even though I am not even one of your servants."

At mealtime, Boaz did something that shocked everyone watching. He invited Ruth — the foreign gleaner — to eat with his workers. He offered her bread. He let her dip it in the wine vinegar. He passed roasted grain to her with his own hands.

She ate until she was full. And she saved some to bring home to Naomi.

But Boaz was not finished.

When Ruth returned to work, he quietly pulled his servants aside. He gave them secret instructions: "Let her gather grain even among the bundles. And pull out some stalks from the bundles on purpose. Leave them for her to pick up. Do not say anything to embarrass her."

Ruth did not know. She thought she was simply lucky. But every handful of grain she found had been placed there for her.

She worked until evening. When she counted what she had gathered, it was an enormous amount — enough to feed her and Naomi for many days.

She hurried home. When Naomi saw how much grain Ruth carried, her eyes went wide.

"Where did you work today? Who showed you such kindness?"

"The man's name is Boaz," Ruth said.

Naomi's face changed. For the first time since returning to Bethlehem, hope flickered in her eyes.

NAOMI“Boaz? That man is a close relative of ours. He is one of our redeemers.”— Ruth 2:20

A redeemer. In Israel, this was a family member who had the right — and the duty — to help a relative in trouble. A redeemer could buy back land that was lost. A redeemer could marry a widow to continue the family name.

Naomi had a redeemer. And Ruth had found him.