Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

her husband’s property was no longer hers. She had one blessing overshadowing her—her daughter-in-law Ruth. However, Ruth had four things working against her chances for living successfully among the Jews. Ruth was a Moabitess, and there was a curse in the Law of Moses against the Moabites. She was a widow, meaning she had no financial assistance but had to lean on the charity of the community. However, through diligence she gained the attention of Boaz, a single landowner in the city who was the nearest kinsman to Naomi. When she met Boaz, she saw the man of her dreams. Ruth said to Boaz, “Let me find favor in your sight” (Ruth 2:13). Boaz allowed Ruth to glean in his barley field to help supply her and Naomi’s personal needs. After she obtained favor, he gave her “handfuls of purpose” (v. 16, KJV ). Afterward, he put sixmeasures of barley in the shawl that she was wearing and “laid it on her” (Ruth 3:15). Finally, she had his attention, and Boaz married her! From their marriage came Obed, the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David (Ruth 4:18–22). Favor can bring unexpected financial blessing. The nation of Israel was coming out of bondage and received their back pay from working overtime for the Egyptians! Scripture reveals, “The L ORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians” (Exod. 12:36).