Girl, I have a plan……. Ruth 3 1.One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. Naomi knew that for Ruth to have a future she would have to be married. I really do see this as Naomi putting Ruth before herself and starting to realize that her Lord was with them. We women always trying to be match makers aren’t we? 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” According to Jewish law, when a womans husband died, the closest male relative had the right and obligation to marry her and assume her late husbands name and property. Naomi knew Boaz was her next-of-kin. She gave Ruth careful instructions about how to approach him as her legal kinsman redeemer. (The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or in need. The Hebrew term for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues.) Here is the exciting part….Jehovah is Israel’s Redeemer, the one who promises to defend and vindicate them. He is both Father and Deliverer . In the New Testament, Christ is often regarded as an example of a kinsman-redeemer because as our brother (Hebrews 2:11), He also redeems us because of our great need, one that only He can fill. He rescued us and set us apart. Do you get it? He is the only One who could save us and He did- when we couldn’t save ourselves. This is the part of the love story that interests me. I love my Lord with all my heart, Why? Because He loved me enough to save me and deliver me. 5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. Ruth most certainly trusted Naomi in her life. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked.“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” 10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.” 14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he[c] went back to town. 16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” When Ruth in obedience laid herself at the feet of Boaz that night on the threshing floor, she asked him to spread the covering of his cloak over her, what is that all about? It was an act that signified his pledge of protection. He said to her, Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you what you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence Boaz again made sure to provide for her needs right then by giving her grain to take back. Women like to know they are protected and cared for and Boaz was reassuring Ruth of this. Again another thing that I love about this love story is how it shows what God does for us. He is our protector. He covers us under the shadow of His wings. When we come to Him and ask Him to be Lord of our life- it happen immediately- we are His!!! Can you sense Gods good plan at work? Did you know that God is doing the same thing for you and me? There are many times in my life that I try to make things work out- But God does a much better job so I just need to let Him do it from the beginning. Ruth could never have arranged such circumstances. What may seem senseless or hopeless is actually a part of the outworking of Gods purpose for us- it is hard I know. You cannot see the whole picture yet, just like Ruth, but you can wait in anticipation for His goodness to be revealed. I know that is difficult and I tell God all the time- I am willing to go through it if you will just let me see how it ends. But I just have to trust the protection of my Master- it sure is a safe place!
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 14:20:04 +0000
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