I’m getting the term “spreading his wings of protection over you” from the book of Ruth.
In Ruth 2:12, Boaz said to Ruth, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Ruth 3:9 then states, “[Boaz] said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.’”
This is a metaphor referring to a mother hen spreading her wings over her chicks to protect them. Only God can truly spread his wings of protection over you (Psalm 17:8, Psalm 91:4, Matthew 23:37). But as we see in the book of Ruth, a husband is meant to symbolize the loving protection of God in the life of his wife (Ephesians 5:25-30).
So if you are a Christian woman and you are beginning to have feelings for a Christian man, how will you know if he will offer to bring you under his wings of protection? Here are 3 signs that often indicate this is his plan.
Also, I’ll just be scratching the surface on this topic in this article. For more information about Boaz’s and Ruth’s relationship and lessons you can apply to your life as woman, you may want to read my new book, Invite Him: 16 Rules from Ruth to Help Your Future Husband Find You.
1. If He’s Expressed Admiration for Your Christian Character, This Is a Sign He May Desire to Protect You as Your Husband One Day
While Ruth made a bold move in Ruth 3 to invite Boaz’s pursuit into marriage, it was actually Boaz who made the first move. In Ruth 2, he came to his field and saw Ruth working there. He then asked his manager who she was. Boaz had heard of her already since the whole town was stirred when Naomi and her came back from Moab (Ruth 1:19). He then approached Ruth and blessed her with food and an offer of protection. He warned her that if she went to another field, other young men might assault her. But under his protection, that would not happen in his field.
Ruth was in shock because of his kindness. When she asked him why he was doing all this for her, he said:
All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (Ruth 2:11-12)
Boaz was stirred to offer his protection over Ruth because he was inspired by her godly character. Likewise, if a man has expressed admiration for your Christian character, it’s very possible he also has romantic feelings for you and wants to protect you in marriage one day.
2. If He’s Seeking to Bless You Without Any Strings Attached, This Is a Good Sign He Also Wants to Offer His Protection in Marriage
Certainly a man can do something kind and not like you romantically. However, oftentimes a man will be inspired to bless a woman when he does have romantic feelings for her.
If he is a mature man, like Boaz was, he will be careful to make sure to bless you in such a way where you know you are not obligated to repay the favor. His act of blessing you while expecting nothing in return is a great sign he has the right qualities to be a husband.
This is true not because a husband should expect nothing in return from his wife when he serves her and loves her. Rather, for the relationship to be biblical and healthy, the two should voluntarily serve and love each other not because they owe to each other but because they want to do this.
This is exactly what Boaz did for Ruth in chapter 2. He didn’t express any romantic interest. He just wanted to bless her in a loving way.
3. If He’s Praying for You, This Is a Good Sign He’s Planning on Spreading His Wings of Protection Over You
In Ruth 2:12, Boaz asked that God would spread his wings of protection over Ruth. However, in Ruth 3:9, Ruth asked that Boaz would spread his wings of protection over her. And in Ruth 3:11, Boaz said he would do this very thing.
Is this a contradiction? Was Ruth tempting Boaz to replace God in her life? No. In fact, God used Boaz to answer Boaz’s prayer for Ruth. This pattern also happed in the book of Ruth with Naomi. In Ruth 1:9 she said to Ruth and her sister-in-law, “The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” However, in Ruth 3:1 she said to Ruth, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” God used Naomi to help answer Naomi’s prayer for Ruth.
Likewise, if this man is praying for you, it’s very possible that God will use this man to fulfill his prayers for you. If you know a man is praying for you, that is a great sign he may want to protect you in marriage one day as well.
For more information on finding a man like Boaz, you can check out my new book called Invite Him: 16 Rules from Ruth to Help Your Future Husband Find You.
