Favour is used three times in Ruth 2:2, 10, 13. Ruth, Looking for/expecting Favour, finding Favour, increasing and growing in Favour.
Ruth is the story of a courageous and loyal woman finding Favour with the magnanimous God of Israel, the God who loves to bless and whom we can never out give.
2 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I FIND FAVOUR.’
Ruth went out as a stranger in Bethlehem, not knowing where she was going, but hoping to Find Favour with someone who would allow her to pick the leftovers from the harvest. I believe our heart attitudes are tremendously important.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land; Isaiah 1
Ruth went out as a foreigner, looking for someone to give her permission to glean and as she went she found Favour. (Of course I believe God was with her)
5 Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, ‘Who does that young woman belong to?’
Boaz noticed Ruth, God highlighted Ruth even during the busy harvest time. But she had to step out in Faith first.
8 So Boaz said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.’
10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, ‘Why have I FOUND SUCH FAVOUR in your eyes that you notice me – a foreigner?’
Ruth found protection and Favour in exactly the right part of the harvest field! IF WE’RE IN GOD’S PLAN FOR US WE SHOULD EXPECT HIS FAVOUR AND GRACE FOR THE WORK.
13 ‘MAY I CONTINUE TO FIND FAVOUR in your eyes, my lord,’ she said. ‘You have put me at ease by speaking kindly (Kindness, the middle fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5) to your servant – though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.’
Ruth, the poor stranger, with no standing in the land of Israel, humbled herself before Boaz. She asked for Continued Favour, not just a one time blessing and she received it in a powerful measure. Ruth became the wife of the Lord of this harvest and bore him a son who was Obed, the grandfather of King David.
Ruth the stranger, looked for Favour, found Favour and received increased/growing Favour. God wants to bless His children and we’re coming into a time of great favour in the days ahead. We need to be ready and expectant for them.
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6