Enter into the field of favour of Boaz

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Children of God are the recipients of God’s favour (Isaiah 61:2). However, it is my belief that accessing a deeper realm of favour requires a certain cost. Ruth is one of the few individuals in the Bible who received extraordinary favour from God. She made the decision to care for Naomi, her mother-in-law, who was left alone after the death of her husband and two sons. Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, were both given the opportunity to return to their own homes. While Orpah chose the path of self-interest, Ruth clung to Naomi, embodying a sacrificial commitment. Her declaration, “Entreat me not to leave you or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me” (Ruth 1:16-17 NKJV), reflects her unwavering sacrifice.

Typically, those in pain and sorrow seek relief through their own pleasures, as Orpah did. She chose to return to her people and their gods, hoping for a future in her own family. However, Ruth chose the difficult and narrow path. This mirrors the path Jesus described in Matthew 7:13-14 [AMPC]: “Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.” Ruth chose the narrow way, and in doing so, she qualified to receive exceptional favour from God, a favour that was not available to those who followed the broad path.

Ruth made the difficult decision to leave her homeland, her people, and the pagan gods she had once followed, embracing the God of Israel. Her resolve to stay with Naomi was firm and unwavering, and it was evident to those around her that her choice was not easy. Ruth likely faced ridicule, with questions like, “What good do you see in this woman who calls herself Mara? Why do you follow this cursed woman?” Even Naomi herself believed it was unreasonable for Ruth to follow her. Yet, Ruth remained steadfast in her commitment to Naomi, choosing to travel to Bethlehem with her.

The favour that Ruth received as a result of her selflessness led her directly to the field of Boaz, where she caught his attention immediately. Among the other women gleaning in the field, Boaz’s interest in Ruth was no mere coincidence—it was the manifestation of God’s favour. As a widow in a foreign land, Ruth could have easily felt vulnerable and anxious. A woman in such isolation is often susceptible to insecurity. Yet, Boaz extended to her unusual level of protection and security, instructing her to glean exclusively from his field and ensuring her safety from potential harm. The words of Boaz, “Do not worry about a thing” , must have brought immense comfort to Ruth, who had endured years of solitary toil. Furthermore, she was also instructed by Boaz to stay close to the other maidens in the field for added protection and companionship. No longer would Ruth have to wander aimlessly in search of sustenance; her worries about survival were alleviated. Boaz’s commands to his workers, not only to refrain from harming her but also to allow her to glean among the sheaves, a privilege typically granted to more established workers were acts of extraordinary favour.  

When Ruth asked Boaz why he had shown her such favour, his response revealed the extent to which her sacrifice had become known throughout Bethlehem. Her selfless life had elevated her to a level of favour that no ordinary Israelite could access. Strangers were generally not treated with kindness in Israel, yet this Moabite woman found favour with Boaz, an Israelite, through God’s grace. Naomi, who had long been bitter over her losses, now recognized that God had been good to them both, even in their trials. Through Ruth’s obedience and sacrifice, Elimelech’s family, once without protection and provision, was restored to God’s favour.

Eventually, Boaz redeemed Ruth as per her request, becoming her protector, provider and redeemer. Through this, Ruth was freed from striving and entered into the blessings of God. Her willingness to sacrifice, rather than return to her former life, brought her into the genealogy of Jesus, something she could never have achieved had she chosen to go back to her people. The cross of sacrifice always leads to greater blessings. 


As Matthew 16:24 (AMP) states, “For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]." Ruth’s life exemplifies this principle: through her sacrificial choices, she entered into unexpected favour. The life of Jesus speaks of the same truth.

While this write-up centers around Ruth, the deeper weight lies in the One whom Boaz points to—Jesus Christ. Boaz offered Ruth a glimpse of protection, comfort, and security, but it was only a shadow of what is perfectly and eternally found in Jesus. He is the true Restorer and Redeemer our souls long for. Boaz may have extended favour, but Jesus is not just the source of favour. He is the very favour of God, freely given to all humanity.