Everybody has awkward first dates. Right?
Naomi set Ruth up on an incredibly intimate and awkward first date. First of all, she tells Ruth to go to the threshing floor. In the ancient world, the threshing floor was sometimes like the middle school bleachers. In fact, the threshing floor was often a place where folks went to make whoopee (Hosea 9:1).
But this was far from Naomi’s scheme for Ruth that night. Instead, it’s a plan to find Ruth’s kinsman redeemer (Ruth 2:20). Naomi wants to find a husband for Ruth; she wants Ruth to be at rest. Boaz was a good guy. He was a farmer. I imagine him with a weathered face and hands, and on this day he was winnowing. Winnowing meant “party time” because it’s the final step in separating the barley from the chaff. The harvest was finally ready, and he and his workers were having a well-earned celebration.
Boaz was a good boss. He worked with the harvesters, then ate and drank and celebrated with them. The boss doesn’t have to get his hands dirty, but great bosses aren’t too proud to serve when they are needed. Then he went to bed at a good hour, so that he was already asleep by midnight. He was all set to be ready for work again the next morning.
Boaz lay out in the barley that night, not because he didn’t have a bed, but to guard his harvest and to be close to work tomorrow. Naomi sends Ruth to him. And when you put a man and a woman together alone in the dark, it’s a risk, right? But Naomi knew Boaz was sober-minded and Ruth was chaste. Naomi trusted that Boaz would tell Ruth what to do.
Our dear Ruth creeps onto his farm, uncovers his feet and lies down on the hard ground, waiting for Boaz to wake up and acknowledge her. This date is completely terrifying! She could’ve easily doubted the whole thing, wondering, “What if Naomi was wrong? What if Boaz looks at me and recoils in horror? What if he rejects me?”
I imagine her lying there at his feet, watching the stars in their courses, listening to the wind in the barley, and awaiting either her doom or her redemption.
She calls to him, “I am Ruth, your servant….Take me under your wing” (Ruth 3:9). And that night Boaz sends her away no less chaste but much happier than when she came. He gives her the promise of marriage and protection.
We, too, are sometimes on the cold, hard ground of life, putting our reputation at risk, waiting for our redemption. Call out to your Redeemer, who waits to take you under His wing.
The comments helped me to understand these verses better. Thank you!
Thank you Arina. The “She Reads Truth” podcast last Monday was also very helpful in understanding the cultural significance of these verses.
Todays Ruth verses have always made me cringe— to be honest. But the devotional helped me better understand. ARIANA, also thank you for sharing that commentary. Puts things into context for me.
Ruth couldn’t know how Boaz would respond when he woke up to find her at his feet. But her faith and courageous submission was a beautiful display of obedience and loyalty to God. She appealed for redemption through total surrender. And it is through surrendering completely to God that I find a profound quietness of mind. Unlike Ruth, I know how God will respond when I lie down at His feet. There is no question if He will cover me with His protection and care. He does. And He will again. He promised. And I trust Him. Jesus surrendered all and gained the ultimate victory over darkness. And through faith in Him I have found a sacred joy. When I feel bare and uncovered, exposed to the harsh elements of this world, I bow and pray for His covering again. As I surrender to His authority I am strengthened. What worry destroys, trust in God restores. My life is in His redeeming hands. Father God, I lay down my anxious thoughts and I surrender all to You. Fill me with Your peace and joy today. Blow away the chaff. Help me to hold only the seeds of goodness and life. Selah. Maranatha. Amen.
Boaz was an amazing man. Not taking advantage of Ruth was exemplary of how men should be. Chivalry at its finest.
I know that my Redeemer lives!!! Thank You Jesus!! ❤❤✝️✝️
I love this book and see something new each time I read it. A thought that popped into my mind today – seems like Boaz may have already been pondering the situation of Naomi and Ruth and what he would do if/when he had the opportunity … to be startled awake in the middle of the night and immediately know there was a closer kinsman redeemer for Ruth. It could be that it was common procedure back then to always keep track of that sort of thing but at least for me, I would be hard pressed to pull something important from my brain out of the blue in the middle of the night.
Praying for each request as I read through.
GAYLE R – what an exciting opportunity! Praying for you as you lead the new Bible study, that it will speak to each woman’s heart – especially those that don’t yet know Jesus.
I was feeling really anxious when I woke up this morning. I didn’t feel like opening my Bible, but I’m glad I did. I will call out to my Redeemer to take me under his wing and relieve my anxiety. I will also put my trust in the Lord to guide me through today and every day, knowing that He has what’s best for me. I will trust the Lord to provide in areas where I don’t have it all figured out, and all I can do is trust and obey. I hope everyone has a blessed Monday <3