Ruth’s Appeal to Boaz
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Ruth 3:1-13, Proverbs 31:10-31, Ephesians 1:7-12
BY Rebecca Faires
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.
49 thoughts on "Ruth’s Appeal to Boaz"
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Another trait of Ruth pictured in today’s reading elevated her to another level for me to admire. Some sources say that Boaz was an old man in his 80s when all this happened, hence he addressed Ruth as my daughter, and how she did not go after the younger men but chose him. Her obedience is worthy for many women to learn from. Small yes-es of Ruth leads to a big honor that is to come. The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised! Be blessed dear sisters.
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Thank you Arina for sharing this information. I learn so much from each of you each day.
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I’ve read through Ruth a few times, yet I’ve never considered this perspective.
‘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.’
By 3:9, I wrote ‘provide for & protect me’ in my Bible. That’s what Ruth was asking. I find myself being in a place in my life now in which I, like Ruth, find myself making the same request of the Lord.
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It seems like lately I’ve been turning to my Redeemer a lot for help but a solution has always come. I am so thankful I CAN trust in the LORD for all my needs and lay all my burdens on Him.
Lord thank You for ALWAYS being there in the good and bad times, thank You for taking away ALL my cares, concerns and burdens, but MOST OF ALL for LOVING ME FOR WHO I AM!!! Amen.
Sisters, be blessed and cast ALL your burdens on the Lord.
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I don’t usually comment, but always enjoy reading others’ comments. I just wanted to let you know, @Mari, that I am praying for you in the midst of what must be an incredibly difficult situation. May God surround you with His presence, protection, and comfort today.
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“When he lies down…then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” Ruth 3:4 reminds me of the lyrics to a song, Lord I Cast All My Cares Upon You – “Lord I cast all my cares upon You; I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet; Anytime I don’t know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon You.” Just as Ruth lay at the feet of Boaz looking for answers for her future, we can come to the cross and lay all of our burdens at the feet of Jesus looking to Him for wisdom and guidance for our lives. Once we lay our burdens down – leave them there, don’t try to pick them back up again. He is our Kinsman-Redeemer. He will provide all we need, He will care for each one of us. Praise God for Jesus – I am Your servant, take me under Your wing.
Have a blessed Monday all of you She’s!
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Thank you S.
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As a now single parent, I don’t have a need to look elsewhere. Jesus is my kinsman Redeemer. Please pray as I sometimes experience anxiety of the unknown as the restraining order against the man I once called husband is approaching. I’m looking into getting it renewed.
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