“And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid: for thou art a near kinsman.” Ruth 3:8-9.
What in the world was she thinking? How in the world could she do this? Why in the world would she choose to follow her aged mother-in-law to a land and place she had only heard of? This place called Bethlehem, this land called Israel, this God that cannot be seen, this people who are called “chosen”. What would she do there, she had no job, no skill, no land; how would they treat her, hard questions that must be answered by Ruth the Moabitess. But she took a risk…
Life is risky business sometimes, and the way can seem unclear and frightening. I remember years ago when the Lord lead me to move to Durham, North Carolina. I was a practicing Social Worker in my home town and the Lord just turned my whole world upside down! The Lord told me to resign my position there at Caswell Center and move to Durham…I heard his calling and obeyed; not knowing what I would find there. That obedience lead me to The Church of God and my husband of nearly 27 years, and a lot of water under the bridge! But it was risky..haha
Risky for me but not for God who knows the end from the beginning, who holds all of us in the palm of his hand, I trusted him and the journey has been bitter sweet. Back to Ruth.
At such a young age she had faced the death of her husband, not easy at any age and she now stands at the brink of an uncertain future. Who would take care of her, who would love her and share her dreams again? Of course she could turn and go back with Oprah her sister-in-law, back to her family, back to her people, back to their gods. But God had another plan for her life, an unseen plan by the unseen God.
Naoami and Ruth, going on a long journey by the hand of the God that they could not see.
Naomi had many sadnesses of her own, loss of husband and loss of both sons had no doubt made her “mara”, not the “pleasant” Naomi of old and better days. But she still knew and believed in the God of Israel, so she takes Ruth and journey on.
What would she find back home, they had abandoned The House of Bread (Bethlehem) many years ago when the famine hit the land. Her home is there no more, she’s too old to work, she has no inheritance there, what is going through her mind, her soul, her spirit? Still she travels on….
The long journey completed, Ruth goes to the fields to work and keep them alive, but unknowingly to find her future, her destiny…her inheritance in Israel. Haha..what a story, what a wonderful, wonderful story.
According to the law of Moses, the farmers had to leave provision for the poor and aliens, the welfare system that God instituted, saved their lives, but she had to work. It was risky. .but God was behind the scene. Many bad things could happen in those fields, with those sometimes uncaring and unscrupulous people around those field edges. Working with people on jobs can be risky, but some risks must be taken to survive, we must have God to go before us in all our endeavors.
With the hand of God and the aged, wise Naomi, Ruth hits pay dirt, and runs smack dab into her goel, near kinsman, and husband Boaz.
Ruth happened to come to the section of the field that belonged to Boaz, not just a close acquaintance of Naomi’s husband Elimelech, but a very “near” kinsman. (Ruth 2:20). But it was no happenstance, the unseen God was moving, directing, his plan for all their lives. So it is with us…come on …take a risk!
Ruth found favor with God and her near kinsman, he had heard of her kindness to Naomi her mother-in-law, you see people are looking at our lives, and listening to what others are saying about us. Read Ruth 2:1-23.
Naomi directs her to take perhaps the biggest risk of her life, she instructs her to a proposal to Boaz. Yes, read Ruth 3:1-18. The request that Boaz “spread his skirt over thine handmaid” is a symbolic pledge of marriage. (cf. Ezek 16:8-14). There are some areas in the Near East that still continue this custom. Risky business, she could be killed if someone saw her there, and if she got out alive, the talk….for he said “Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor”. (v14).
The elderly wealthy Boaz shows her respect and sends her home full of grain and hope for a better future and home..and so it was!
Boaz, willing and able to fully serve as the goel both in the redeeming of the field and in the marriage of Ruth the Moabitess. This reminds me of a rich savior who came and died for a improverished people, thus bringing us to Himself as his beloved Bride.
The risks that Ruth took were really in the very plan of God, and so it may be with us.
Boaz and Ruth married and had a son, “And the women her neighbors (Naomi) gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David”.
The reunion of Boaz and Ruth came the line of descendants that gave birth to King David, through whom Jesus Christ came. Ruth’s name means generous, loving and loyal, she was strong and able to take unusual risks, and was able to deal with the consequences that presented themselves to her. What a woman!
WOW….good job Ruth, your risks really paid off! Come on….Take a risk, it may be the greatest move of your life! Blessings!
