210822 Ruth 3                                                                                             

Our God not only has a plan He has a process and a purpose. Ruth was chosen by God to be the only Gentile woman in the genealogy of Jesus, His Son and our Saviour. If he can put Ruth in place so she can end up in the grain fields of Boaz and become the great-grandmother of David the King -- our God will meet all our needs.

The story of Ruth begins in a growing tragedy and moves forward to an amazing triumph. From decline and emptiness to full.

A couple of weeks ago we looked at the first chapter of Ruth. We saw the departure from Bethlehem and immigration to Moab. The death of Elimelech, the marriages of Mahlon and Chilion followed by the death of the two sons.  Last week we looked at the return to Bethlehem of two childless widows, Naomi and Ruth as recorded in Ruth chapter 2.  Let’s review the two chapters. They began with a family limited to Elimelech, Naomi (his wife) and their two sons. They have some land but what use is that in a time of famine?

Today, that distance would not be a problem because your family car would reduce the time traveled to about 2 or 3 hours.

This period in history was extremely hard. The record of the Judges concludes by telling us, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25). Political chaos was the social atmosphere and may have contributed to Elimelech’s willingness to immigrate. The nation of Moab was made up of the descendants of an act of incest between Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his oldest daughter. I suppose that makes them distant cousins of the Israelites. That was after the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. The Moabites were enemies of the Israelites and tried to destroy them while they were travelling through the wilderness. During the time of the Judges Moab was one of the nations who, for a time, ruled over Israel. The conditions in Bethlehem must have been very bad for Elimelech to take his family to Moab. It must have been hard to allow their two sons to marry Moabite women. Elimelech died after the family settled in Moab. The two sons had married Moabite women and they died leaving Naomi with two young widows. The three widows had little to look forward to.

If they had been Israelites the Law of Moses would have required the nearest male relative to take the widow as a wife, protect her and raise up children in the name of the deceased. (Deuteronomy 25:5).

It seems that the childless widows were gleaning in the fields of Moab when Naomi heard that the Lord had visited his people and gave them food. Naomi was in no mood to trust God in her situation. She had been on hand when Elimelech had trusted God, moved to Moab, and died!

Ruth and Orpah must have had a very loving relationship with Naomi. However she had no way of providing for them. She could not produce a new husband for them. For their own good she urged them to return to their family. That was the only she could see for them to be taken care of. They divided on the issue Orpah choose to go back to her family and Ruth determined to be loyal to Naomi. She said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1:16-17). Generosity and loyalty are themes shown throughout this wonderful little story.

When the two women got to Bethlehem the women of the town were amazed. They were the talk of the town! In reply to the question, “Is this Naomi?” She answered, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. ²¹ I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” (Ruth 1:21).

“Naomi” means “Pleasant” and “Mara” means “Bitter”. Ruth’s confession of faith was a rejection of the Moabite god, Chemosh! Ruth surrendered her life to Naomi and the true God, “Yahweh”.

Too often God is blamed when things seem to go “wrong”. Man is given the credit when things seem to go “right”! Naomi was in so much pain that she could not imagine Ruth as an asset. We will see about that.

Chapter one ends with a hint of how they might survive, “And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.”

There were two things Naomi and Ruth had to have in order to survive: food and family. I believe they had gleaned for food in the fields of Moab. So they knew how to “get by” but there was certainly no future in that.

Chapter two begins with, “Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. (Ruth 2:1) Ruth and Naomi may have discussed the closest relatives but we are not told that. This information may have been added by the person who wrote the account. Naomi’s comment, “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty,” certainly indicates she could not see anything positive in their situation. That should have included Ruth. In reality, Yahweh Himself was Ruth’s and Naomi’s only asset. But Naomi did not give Ruth any consideration. So Ruth takes it upon herself to provide for their needs.

Coincidence would have it, or, many would say, “As luck would have it.” I don’t believe in chance or luck. I believe in providence!

God had provided for gleaning in the Law of Moses. One of the laws of compassion allowed for the poor to glean after the harvesters. “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 24:19).

This is a practice still recognized in many countries where crops are harvested by hand.

Ruth was not looking for Boaz’s field she was just looking for food for her and her beloved Naomi. She “happened” to come to a field belonging to Boaz. It just happened! I don’t think so. Neither do I think Ruth planned to arrive in Boaz’s field. I believe God guided her there. This was not a scheme by the two widows to trap a man.

At the same time, “And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.”(Ruth 2:4) Not, it just happened that Boaz arrived while Ruth was gleaning in his field. I believe God’s unseen hand guided her to family, food and a future all wrapped up in one package. When Boaz arrived on the scene he did not ask, “Who is the young woman?” He asked, “Whose young woman is this?” The difference is subtle. Boaz did not want to know who she was he wanted to know if she was free and if not who did she belong to. 

Boaz checked in with his crew and gave them instructions then he approached her.

Boaz instructed his crew, male and female, to keep Ruth from harm and to make sure she had all she needed. She knew that this was not common practice. She was bold enough to ask, “Why”?

Ruth’s loyalty had paid off in real dividends. She could see that she was being treated like one of his servants and not like a poor foreigner.

Boaz went a step further. At the end of the day Boaz and his crew ate together. He invited Ruth to join in the meal. He even served her with his own hands. At the end of the day Ruth beat out the grain she had gathered. It came to about an ephah of barley. That would be about eleven 2 liter bottles full. Naomi was excited about Ruth’s harvest. Obviously, someone had blessed her. I am not sure she was ready to recognize God’s hand. But we know that God was her benefactor.

Barley harvest usually began about mid-April and wheat harvest extended to mid-June—a period of intense labor for about two months. This generally coincided with the seven weeks between Passover and Pentecost.

For seven weeks, or so, Ruth was working in the fields of Boaz alongside his young women. During that time her reputation was growing. Later Boaz would call her a worthy woman. That same phrase is used to describe the excellent wife beginning in Proverbs 31:10. No doubt he was smitten by her and did not know exactly what to do about it. I believe he was older than she and had likely given up on having a wife and family. This may have been one explanation of why he was not married already. Of course he was not married! God was holding him in reserve to become the great-grandfather of David the King. More about that later! Meanwhile, “She lived with her mother-in-law.”  (Ruth 2:23b) As soon as Naomi heard the name, “Boaz” she knew what to say and do. “Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. ³ Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” ⁵ And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” (Ruth 3:2-5).

The scene was set. Most of the servants of Boaz would have the day, or certainly the evening, off. Winnowing was a man’s job. The female servants brought in the harvest and the men would have separated the grain from the chaff. The fact that Boaz was there working alongside of his crew in doing the work speaks well of him.

Ruth had bathed and put on perfume. I expect she had, up till then, been dressed in the clothes of a widow. She would have put the “widows weeds” aside and with her clothing shown that she was ready to lay aside the past and get on with life. She went to the winnowing floor and let the darkness protect her identity. Following Naomi’s advice she watched Boaz very carefully. She did not want to approach the wrong man when she moved into action. She watched where he lay down and waited until she was certain he was sound asleep.

Then she softly moved to his feet and turned his robe back and lay down. In our world that would have been a very provocative act. In their world this was acceptable. I believe at least one of Boaz’s servants was awake and aware of what was happening. That servant would have been very loyal to his good master. His duties would have included maintaining a fire and watching over the gathered grain. He would have also known Ruth was worthy and to be trusted.

That would have been who Boaz spoke to when he said, ““Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” (Ruth 3:14)

In the middle of the night Boaz was awakened and he uncovered Ruth. He asked, “Who are you?” Her reply would have settled all of his doubts about her and their future.

The word she used for covering might be translated “wings”, “skirt”, or “hem”. It was the same word Boaz used when referring to her relationship with the God of Israel. Ruth was serious about her relationship with Boaz. She said, “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” ¹⁰ And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.

(Ruth 3:9b-11). Then Boaz revealed that he had been considering exactly what Ruth proposed. He had done his research.

He said, “And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. ¹³ Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.” (Ruth 3:10-13), Ruth wanted there to be no doubt in Boaz”s mind. Naomi had instructed her to let Boaz discover her and then, “But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”

Ruth did not stop with the unveiling she added, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

Boaz was a man of honor. He would make sure Ruth’s reputation was secure. He would also make sure there was no time for the “closer redeemer” to hear about the scene at the threshing floor. At the same time, he would protect her physically by having her stay until evening twilight to go home. Also he gave her an abundance of grain so Naomi could no longer say God brought her back empty. Then he promised to settle the matter immediately.

Boaz personifies Jesus who, “had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17), Jesus redeemed those who (1) were slaves to sin, “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:15–18), (2) had lost all earthly privilege in the Fall, and (3) had been alienated by sin from God All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:18–21).

Boaz stands in the direct line of Christ. This turn of events marks the point where Naomi’s human emptiness (Ruth 1:21) begins to be refilled by the Lord. Her night of earthly doubt has been broken by the dawning of new hope.

Have you recognized your need for a redeemer? One who can buy you back from the fields of this age and allow you to work alongside those who are servants of the King of the Universe? See how a citizen of a foreign nation can become a member of the people of God? Have you trusted Jesus as your Lord?

All scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2016. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.