You already have a Boaz.
“The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in old age…” (Ruth 4:14-15)
Growing up, conferences, sermons, and Christian culture was obsessed with the idea of “finding our Boaz”. The story of Ruth was used to paint a picture of the type of men that we should all pray for, and all the ways to attract him. In the book of Ruth, Boaz is described as “a worthy man,” owning property, of good character, and of good social standing in the community. When Ruth was poor and helpless, an immigrant in a new town, Boaz prays a blessing over her (Ruth 2:12), sees to it that she is provided for beyond what would have been normal (Ruth 2:8-9, 15-16), and later becomes her redeemer. Talk about a catch! Now I don’t know about you, but hearing about excellent men when I don’t have one myself can be hard! Part of you is hopeful that one day you will know what it feels like to be loved well, while the other part wonders if God’s pick for you really exists.
What if I told you that you already had a Boaz and you just may not be looking at him from the right perspective?
What if I told you that when you were poor and helpless; unmarried and uncovered; lacking the means to repay him, there was a man who noticed you? Now you may not be aware of this, but when you weren’t looking, he commanded his servants to give you an extra portion of peace, joy, comfort, protection. All of your life he has been watching over you, praying for you from his seat (Romans 8:34). What’s more is this: while you were lost in sin, surrounded by loss and regret, he redeemed you. In the Bible days, the law of Moses made it so that if a man died, the next available male family member would take on the cost of providing for his family and land (Leviticus 25:25-30, 47-55). In the story of Ruth, Boaz was not the family member responsible for redeeming Ruth. However, because he saw that someone else had left a void, he stepped up to the plate. Your Boaz did the same for you. While your sin and shame were not his fault (he actually committed no sins of his own), he stepped up to the plate and paid the cost with his life. If you’re confused, I’m talking about Jesus! Jesus is the one who stepped in, paid the price, and redeemed us back into God’s family after sin separated us. Jesus is the one who is the lover of your soul. When you were uncovered and were left to wander the world on your own, Jesus clothes you with salvation and righteousness (Isaiah 61:10)!
This Valentine’s Day season, do not let social media or movies make you drown in feelings of loneliness or lack. Instead, think about Boaz, and how he is only a picture of Jesus. And know that before you could love him, he loved you first. On your best day, and on your worst day, Jesus is committed to loving you without fail. For my single sisters, one day you will meet the man God has for you. My prayer is that you would be so well-acquainted with the love of Jesus that you are not impressed with anything less than a man after His own heart. You’re already loved, sis. Happy Valentine’s day.
