Ruth comes to work in Boaz’s field, and in the following verses, their encounter takes place. Boaz immediately sees Ruth, and she catches his eye, even though she is not the only woman working in his field.
Ruth 2
4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and he said to the harvesters, “The LORD is with you!” And they said to him, “The LORD bless you!”
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”
6 And the servant who was in charge of the harvesters answered, “The young woman is a Moabite, who returned with Naomi from the country of Moab.”
7 And she said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.” And she came, and she has been standing there from morning until now. She has been home very little.
8 Boaz said to Ruth, “Don’t you hear, my daughter? Don’t go and glean in another field, and don’t cross over from here. Keep close to my young women.”
9 Let your eyes be on the field they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the servants not to touch you? And if you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink of what the servants will draw?
10 And she fell on her face and bowed to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found grace in your sight that you should look upon me, seeing I am a foreign woman?”
The wealthy man from Bethlehem
In verse 4, it is mentioned again that Boaz was from Bethlehem, the sixth time this place name is mentioned. Boaz is the wealthy man from Bethlehem, a picture of Christ, who was able to pay the ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:4) and to act as a Redeemer for His people.
Apple of God’s Eye
Ruth immediately catches Boaz’s attention; she catches his eye, just as Israel is the apple of God’s eye (Deut. 32:10; Zech. 2:8). God loves Israel (Jer. 31:3; Hosea 11:1), and the love story that develops here, ultimately leading to the marriage between Boaz and Ruth, is a picture of how Israel will learn to understand the Word (gleaning) and come to know her Messiah, her Redeemer. The marriage between Boaz and Ruth is a representation of the new covenant.
Grace
Ruth falls to her knees and bows before Boaz. She says she found grace in Boaz’s eyes. This is the exact same expression we find later in the prophet Jeremiah regarding the future conversion of the people of Israel.
Jeremiah 31
2 Thus says the LORD: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness, Israel, on the way to its rest.
Refuge and Savior
Boaz tells Ruth not to go into another man’s land. Thus, Israel will be brought into the land through the Messiah. Boaz also acts as Ruth’s protector, giving his servants instructions for her safety and ensuring that there is enough food and water for her. Both bread and water are representations of life and of the word of God (Matt. 4:4; Eph. 5:26).
Ezekiel 28
25 Thus says the Lord GOD: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they have been scattered, and I am sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then they will dwell in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob.
26 They will dwell there securely, build houses, plant vineyards, and dwell securely, when I execute judgment on all who despise them from around them. Then they will know that I am the GOD their God.