The Faithful Ordinary: Boaz

Today we will be looking at a true hero of the faith, Boaz.

Ruth 2-4

There is no hiding the skeletons. It is presented warts and all.

In the small book of Ruth, Boaz plays a subordinate role to his wife, Ruth. The role of women in the Old Testament is often counter-cultural. In this case it is a foreign woman who takes the lead role.

The ancestry of both Boaz and Ruth contain some M rated events. Ruth is a Moabite. This group of people is named after Moab, the son of Lot and his oldest daughter. You can read the story in Genesis 19:30-38. Not an episode that we would use in Sunday School. Boaz is a descendant of Judah and Tamar. You can read this M rated episode in Genesis 38. It is interesting that Tamar, pretending to be a prostitute, is seen as the most righteous one in this episode.

God brings Boaz and Ruth together. Both would have known about the skeletons in each other’s family closet. Given the family history, it is surprising that there is no sin or failing mentioned about either Ruth or Boaz. Both act with utmost righteousness.

It is a wonderful story. It would be nice if the example of Boaz and Ruth continued down through the generations. Sadly though, David, who had so much going for him, failed badly, and repented.

Read Matthew 1:1-17, the genealogy of Jesus. There is no hiding the skeletons. It is presented warts and all. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bethsheba all get a mention. In fact, I think it is a good thing that Jesus is born into a family with lots of baggage. This is after all why he came, to redeem the world.

Pastor Andy