Ruth 3

In Ruth 3 we start to see a development in our story. Naomi has been the one who has cared for Ruth, you could say that she discipled her and walked with her on the road of discovery, the discovery of the redeemer, the person who is able to set her free from her past and give her opportunities that previously were just not possible. Ruth has been on a journey that has taken her from a life of obscurity and emptiness to a life that now appears full of opportunities, security and blessing. This young girl from a foreign land has taken a risk and trusted in the God of Naomi, the God of the Israelites, the true and living God, the God who answers by fire yet speaks in the still small voice. She now finds herself in a position where she is experiencing the graciousness of a man who is able to offer her a better life, a life that is beyond an existence and subsistence to a life of purpose and wealth beyond her wildest dreams.

As we read on we actually find that to embrace the ‘new life’ was not without its risks and not without its sacrifice. Our life with Christ will always involve a cost, the question is are we prepared to travel the road that Ruth did to enjoy all that our Redeemer offers?

Let’s look at this road and the risk that Ruth took to claim her rightful inheritance, the inheritance that was hers by right. The same could be said of our spiritual journey, we need to claim the spiritual inheritance that is rightfully ours through Jesus our Redeemer.

The first thing that Ruth is asked to do is to cleanse herself and make herself ready for her encounter with her redeemer. She washes, puts on fresh clothes and perfume and sets out to the threshing floor. The threshing floor is a place where men work hard and play hard, this is not the place for a virtuous women yet we find that Ruth was prepared to put herself at risk to gain the notice of this great man Boaz. Naomi instructs Ruth to wait in the shadows until Boaz has eaten and then to take notice of where he lies down then to go and lie at his feet Ruth 3:4, where, Naomi says “he will tell you what you are to do next”. Sometimes in our Christian experience we just have to go and lie at the feet of our Redeemer and wait for our Saviour to speak the words that empower us into the next phase of our experience. Ruth follows Naomi’s advice and lies at Boaz’s feet. At around midnight Boaz wakes up and is surprised to see someone at his feet, he asks “who are you?” Ruth 3:9. Jesus asked a similar question of the man possessed by many demons in Mark 5:9 he asks “what is your name? ” Our Redeemer will always want to know our name and will require that we honestly describe ourselves and we have to answer truthfully like Ruth and the demon possessed man who both acknowledged who they were. One was called Legion, for he said “we are many” and the other said “I am your servant”. Ruth then makes a request of Boaz, she utters the words “cover me with the corner of your blanket” or as the New King James version says “take me under your wing.” What Ruth was saying was I belong to you, you are a close relative, you are my kinsman redeemer, I am willing to be counted as one of your family regardless of what others will say about me. Remember, Ruth had really taken a risk to find and know this man Boaz, this kinsman redeemer and she was not going to let anything get in the way. What makes this story even more remarkable is that Ruth, a very beautiful, young girl could have gone after younger men, men of considerable means, wealth and materialism but as acknowledged by Boaz in Ruth 3:10 she is praised for showing more kindness at the end than at the beginning. Boaz recognises her tenacity, commitment and desire to do what was right and comforts her with the words “do not be afraid, I will do all that you request.” Ruth 3:11.

// Required code