Thoughts for the Day

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing-floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 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.’ She said to her, ‘All that you tell me I will do.’

So she went down to the threshing-floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came quietly and uncovered his feet, and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! He said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.’* He said, ‘May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not be afraid; I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman. But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman*, there is another kinsman* more closely related than I. Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin* for you, good; let him do so. If he is not willing to act as next-of-kin* for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will act as next-of-kin* for you. Lie down until the morning.’

So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, ‘It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.’ Then he said, ‘Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.’ So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. She came to her mother-in-law, who said, ‘How did things go with you my daughter?’ Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, ‘He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, “Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.”’ She replied, ‘Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.’

* or one with the right to redeem

(New Revised Standard Bible)

Thoughts

Chapter 3 of the Book of Ruth is full of traditional gestures and words, and can sound strange to us. But we should remember that Naomi and Ruth have returned to the ancestral lands of their husbands, and widows have certain rights. During the two months of the barley and wheat harvests Boaz, a well respected relative has made extraordinary considerations to ensure Ruth was able to glean enough grain for the two women to live on for a year. But Naomi's goal for Ruth, has always been that she find "security in the house of your husband", and she decides that Boaz would make a good husband for Ruth. She gives bold instructions to her daughter-in-law: Ruth is to go to the threshing floor and wait until Boaz has celebrated the harvest and fallen asleep. When he awakens, he will be in a good mood, and because of the threshers who sleep nearby to protect the grain, she will be safe. Ruth will then challenge Boaz to act.

Ruth does as Naomi says but then adds her own spin. Naomi mentioned that Boaz was a close relative, so he is a possible 'kinsman-redeemer' and can purchase Naomi's husband's tribal land, thus giving Naomi an inheritance to live on and ensure that the land is kept in the clan. But Ruth, wants to do more. She means also to provide Naomi with an heir to re-inherit the land when the boy comes of age. Boaz is overwhelmed by Ruth's selflessness and agrees to her plan, though he points out that Naomi's husband has a closer relative with a stronger claim.

We are left with a cliff-hanger at the end of the Chapter 3. Will Ruth marry Boaz, or another kinsman? How will God's plans play out?

Lord God,
as we see Your plans playing out
in the lives of ordinary men and women,
who are true to the covenant they have made with You,
so may we be true to our promises made to You,
and keep faith with You.
As we begin a new year
may we strive to draw ever closer to You,
and draw strength from You
to face any challenges we may meet.
Amen.