“Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” – Ruth 2:10

It is amazing how God has painted the picture of grace throughout the pages of the Bible. They come in albums for different occasions and instances of biblical history, ready to be opened and gleaned for divine inspiration. One such album covers the story of Ruth. It is a beautiful account of God’s grace set in the time when “Israel had no king; [and] everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25). It takes us through the workings of God’s providential hand in the life of a Jewish woman, Naomi, in Moab, and brings us back with her to Bethlehem in the company of a special Moabite woman who experiences divine blessedness. In that album is a picture that depicts the beauty of grace as seen through the eyes of Ruth, the Moabite woman (2:1-10).

In that picture, we see Ruth asking Naomi, her mother-in-law, for permission to go to the “fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor” (vs. 2). By God’s divine direction, Ruth finds herself in the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, her late father-in-law. As she gleans after the harvesters in the field, Boaz arrives and notices her. The foreman introduces her to Boaz, who immediately connects her to Naomi. Boaz assures Ruth and instructs his men not to touch her. He grants her permission to refresh herself with water from the provision of his men whenever she is thirsty (vv. 8-9). At this incredible kindness, Ruth bows and exclaims, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me – a foreigner?” (vs. 10). That’s the beauty of grace. It overwhelms when we recognize its source and setting in love.

Grace is God’s favor to the undeserving, who cannot work for or pay for it. Ruth saw Boaz’s kindness in this light, and it stunned her. As a foreigner, she could lay no claim to anything in Boaz’s field. She had no entitlement to God’s provision for His people. Neither could she imagine that her hard work could earn her any special recognition from Boaz. Could she pay for the barley she harvested, if Boaz demanded it? Not on her life! It was all grace, and that’s what made it so amazing.

Grace embraces us with her beauty when we see things like Ruth did. When we recognize that all knowledge, understanding, wisdom and ability we have come from God, we can appreciate God, and in humility, be thankful to Him. But, how many times have we strutted around in boastfulness about our abilities and accomplishments? Don’t we claim with vigor, the things we think we deserve or have worked for? How many times have we thought that everybody owes us, and that they have to respond to us on demand? And when we get slighted, don’t we get offended and angry? Where then is our appreciation for God who graciously gives us all things?

We have a lot to learn from Ruth. We are better when we recognize that we are unworthy, undeserving, and unable; but for the grace of God. That way, we can see the beauty and “riches of His grace that He has lavished on us” (Eph. 1:8). We can thank God for all things, even when we don’t get what we want or ask for.