Ruth gains favorable notice from Boaz.

Ruth 2:5-9

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“Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” Ruth 2:5

The reapers are those who harvest the grain, which is symbolic of the followers of Jesus Christ who share His Gospel to bring others into the Kingdom of God. Our born-again experience is His Gospel written on our heart. Those put in charge of the reapers would be leaders of the Church, and Boaz would represent Jesus Christ who is head over the family of God. When Boaz saw the Moabite woman, Ruth, he knew she was not of Bethlehem, Judah, not part of the Jewish family. The Moabites served the false god of Chemosh while the Jewish people served the God of Jesus Christ.

Boaz asked the reapers in his field, “Whose young woman is this?” This would be like Jesus Christ making a distinction between those who are part of His family and those who are not, as Jesus said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24 This is also highlighted in this verse, “Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” John 4:9 The faith that people had in Jesus is what opened the door to the forgiveness of God and adopting them into His family, whether of Israel, Samaria, or anyone else.

In the days before the teaching of Jesus became rooted, the Jewish people felt that they had a monopoly on God, but our Lord Jesus brought the Kingdom of God to everyone, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29

“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. 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.” Ruth 2:6-7

The reapers explained to Boaz that the woman [Ruth] was a Moabite, who came to Bethlehem with Naomi. Although Ruth came from a land that served the false god of Chemosh, she pleaded to be allowed to glean the leftover heads of grain with the people of Bethlehem, and she worked diligently in doing that, and rested a little in the house. As non-Jewish followers of Jesus Christ, we are the “Moabites” who once lived for the ways of this world. There was a time when we came to God through Jesus Christ and desired the forgiveness of sin and to be filled with the grain of His Gospel. From that time, we have devoted ourselves to the word of God as we enter into His rest within the house of His family.

The same woman to whom Jesus said that He only came to the lost sheep of Israel is the same woman who said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Matthew 15:27 Our Lord Jesus said to the woman the same as what Boaz essentially said to Ruth, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” Matthew 15:28

“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. 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.” Ruth 2:8-9

Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not?” This is what Jesus Christ expects of us, to listen to Him in the presence of the Holy Spirit, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28

Boaz advised Ruth, “Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.” Our Lord Jesus wants us to stay in His fold, among His sheep, and not to wander off into the ways of this world, but to walk in the Spirit and not by the flesh. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Boaz advised Ruth, “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them.” Jesus wants our eyes to be focused on the Kingdom of God and His family, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”[Church Song].

Boaz advised Ruth that she would be safe from the rude approaches of the young men who would want to take advantage of a foreigner, Moabite woman, “Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?” The Holy Spirit assures the children of Christ of this, “For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.” Zachariah 2:8-9

Boaz made plenty of water available to Ruth, which was to allow her to drink and intermingle with the Jewish people of Bethlehem, Judah. In the days before Jesus Christ, the Jewish people were not allowed to interact with “Gentile”, non-Jewish people, or anyone who violated the laws of Judaism, as described in this verse, “Then [Peter] said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:28 Our Lord Jesus invites all of us to drink freely from the Water of Life, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1