Meat for the Hungry

“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” (Ruth 2:1 KJV) Boaz, whose name means in him is strength, was a kinsman or relative of Elimelech, connected by blood, marriage, or origin. However, in describing Boaz, God uses the Hebrew word chayil, pronounced khah’yil and translated wealth. Strong’s gives the probable definition of chayil as a force, whether of men, means, or other resources and the King James Version portrays Boaz as a mighty man of wealth. This indicates Boaz had not only money, but power and great respect in Bethlehem.

  Are you ready to see how God works in the midst of rebellion, pain or anger, and are you ready to learn of great love and redemption? Fabulous, because today we begin the study of the Book of Ruth, a touching and true story much better than Cinderella. Ruth, a Moabite, lived in the time when Judges admonished Israel, approximately 1100 BC. So, to begin, we need to set the stage.