BOAZ – A man of distinguished personality
This name sounds like the Hebrews for “by God’s strength.” That was a name given to the North side bronze column [pillar] in front of the entrance of the Israel’s temple. It was 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference [1 kings 7:15, 21]. Boaz was a pillar of virtue, a mighty man of wealth and prominent man of distinguished personality, a relative of Naomi’s husband [Elimelech] family who belonged to the clan of Ephrath and lived in Bethlehem of Judah. Boaz lived at a time Israel had no king and everyone did whatever that pleased them but Boaz loved and feared the Lord [Judges 21:25]. Little surprised, he was blessed beyond doubts, measures and imaginations.
Boaz was involved in agricultural business and engaged workers who worked for him at various locations. At one time of reaping of grains, he visited the farm to assess the progress of the work there. Boaz personality could be drawn from his behavior when he visited his workers in the field. He greeted his workers first with the greeting of the Lord saying, “The Lord be with you.” And the reapers responded, “The Lord be with you” [Ruth 2:4]. That expressed courtesy and mutual understanding, respect and appreciation. It was also a sign of true leadership and good managerial skill; for he who must be a leader must show good examples and wash his servant’s feet. Secondly, he asked the man in charge [his supervisor] to brief him on the state of the farm. He did not ask his subordinate or a relative undercover but the man in charged. Speaking first to his supervisor to have first hand information is a sign of good organizational set up; respect and trust for his workers. This is the quality of a leader not a boss.
Boaz was an excellent manager of people; led exemplary and was not afraid to get his hands dirty. He sighted Ruth, the Moabite among the reapers and asked his supervisor, “Who is that young woman among the reapers? Boaz was single and could have been enticed by Ruth’s beauty and cuteness. The supervisor humbly and courteously answered, “She is a Moabite woman who returned to Bethlehem with Naomi from Moab. She came and begged to glean after the reapers and she was allowed” [Ruth 2:5-7]. Gleaning was an act of gathering grains left behind by reapers. It was a Welfare system; a manner of providing means of livelihood to the poor, strangers and widows. It was a priority in ancient Israel. Preservation of the gleanings of harvest was in obedience to God’s directives [Deuteronomy 24:19-21; Leviticus 19: 9-10].
Boaz and indeed every relation of Naomi had heard about Ruth, the Moabite woman who had shown amazing love and loyalty to Naomi and followed her back to Bethlehem. He was quick to recall and match the image of Ruth with unequal goodness. Boaz then gladly showed her uncommon kindness and also heaped up for her some parched grains. She was invited to join them at meal; ate to her satisfaction and had some left-over’s. Boaz also protected her from young men who might harass her and asked that she was properly treated and fed. Ruth enjoyed great favors in the hands of Boaz and his workers. He even gave her many grains to take home, not only for her but also for Naomi.
Boaz was a jolly good man; after each day’s work, he ate sumptuous meal and topped it with some good grape wine to make glad his heart and give him good rest [Psalm 104:15]. As he lay down to sleep, Ruth approached him where he laid on the threshing floor according to Naomi’s advice. She uncovered his feet and lay down by him. By lying beside Boaz, Ruth suggested that as the goel of Naomi’s family, he should cover her with his blanket or another way of saying marry me [Ruth 3:13]. Boaz was a relative of Naomi’s through her husband’s family. So he had legal obligations to help Naomi and Ruth. However Boaz was the second in line to the position of goel in Naomi’s and Ruth family. A goel was a close male relative with the duty of looking after a family when the male head of family was absent. In earlier times, the goel of the family was expected to marry the widow of an Israelite man if she wished it [Deuteronomy 25, Ruth 2:20; Leviticus 20:20].
Ruth was an intelligent, strong, loyal and level headed woman and of course cute and sexy. Boaz was a bachelor, available and interested in her, so he ceased the opportunity and agreed to marry her but was quick to point out his position as a number two person. There was another closer relative who had a first right of claim before him. Boaz was a man who had respect for humanity and traditions; determined to ensure that things were done properly to avoid conflicts of interest. He then initiated a closed door discussion and negotiation with the other closer relative to sort out things amicably; then involved some elders of the city to bear witnesses.
As part of the negotiations, they were to resolve how to recover and restore a land that Naomi sold that belonged to her late husband, Elimelech [their brother]. Naomi was constrained to sell the land because she was destitute. It was the duty of the Kinsman-redeemer to come to their rescue and whosoever redeemed it shall acquire the dead man’s widow – Ruth; to restore the name of the dead to his inheritance. The number one Kinsman’s was incapacitated to assume the kinsman-redeemer’s role in the presence of the elders of the city. Boaz, who was the next in line, then assumed the kinsman-redeemer’s role and married Ruth and also cared for Naomi. That occasioned Boaz officially to highlight his kindness and generosity to Naomi and Ruth. God blessed the marriage with a son, Obed. Eventually, the Moabite would be the great mother of King David. Then Boaz became a husband, a father and a caring relative as well a community leader.
As we celebrate another Father’s Day in the midst of thongs and Good Friday’s world, this character and personality come to play. Boaz was a real man of distinguish personality, who obtained his strengths from the Lord. He lived in the midst of lawless people yet he was upright and obtained favor from the Lord. He earned his living in agricultural business and engaged workers whom he had great respect and cared for their welfare. He was a leader and not a boss; obey the laws of God and of the land. For example: He support gleaning – a welfare scheme in ancient Israel. Also as a goel of the family, he provided and protected for Naomi and Ruth. In his marriage, Boaz sort after a cute and an intelligent, strong woman who had a record of loyalty and perseverance. As concerning Ruth, he respected the tradition as second in the right of claim as a goel and ensured he followed the right approach. He also recovered the family land supposingly sold by Naomi in her distress. Boaz was a great family man and father and through his lineage, the Lord Jesus was born (Matthew 1:5b).
Are you a man and a father who fears the Lord and worth your salt or are you carried away by popular opinions and pressures of the deceased society? Little wonder Orison Swett Marden said, “A strong, successful man is not the victim of his environment. He creates favorable conditions. His own inherent force and energy compel things to turn out as he desires.
Can God depend on you to stand taller than your circumstances? Do you know you cannot be a father except you have a father (past or living; earthly and heavenly) and take directions from him. You do not have an authority except you are under an authority. You’re not supposed to be perfect (in human eyes) but keep your focus on the Lord and live life that glorify God and leave a legacy for the future. God said of Job, “….that man was perfect and upright and one who feared God and eschewed evil”(Job 1:1b, 8b). “My defense is of God who saves the upright in heart” (Psalms 7:10; 18:25). Learn from Boaz and be a real man and a good father. Join me this Father’s Day and let celebrate fatherhood.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill @weefreeministries.org or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272. Tel: 832-881-3929