Ruth 3:7-13 ESV

7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

A GRACIOUS REDEEMER.

When Boaz found out that a woman was lying down at his feet at midnight, he was scared to the living daylights of him. She answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” This was a bold, daring and straightforward request, was it not? Boaz could harmed her. But, her trust for the goodness of Boaz prevailed.

In an unguarded moment like this, a person’s true character is revealed, is it not? Boaz, who has had a pure heart, had blessed and commended Ruth for showing greater kindness by her request. If not for this, Ruth wouldn’t have been that courageous to approach him, would she?

This was a whirlwind love story. Immediately, Boaz had committed himself what she asked for. For him, here was no doubt that she was a worthy woman, which means virtous or of noble character. Even, the townfolks had recognized it.

Like Boaz, Jesus is full of “grace and truth.”[John 1:16] He claimed as the only One, who can satisfy us, by saying, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” [John 6:35] Such goodness of Jesus should encourage us to draw unto Him boldly, shouldn’t we? Didn’t He challenge us, like the Samaritan woman, to ask Him the ‘living water.’ [John 4:10]

Jesus is much gracious and tender than we know. As the writer of Hebrews had pointed out, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” [Heb 4:14-16]

In the gospels, a story is told about the Canaanite woman, with a demonized daughter as a good example of one having such genuine faith in Jesus. She cried for His attention to heal her daughter. But, the disciples drove her away. Yet, she insisted. Jesus even had tested her by saying, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” [Matt 15:26-29]

The graciousness of the Savior should draw us to Himself, even the world’s worst sinner.

Ruth 3:1-6 ESV

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But 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.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.

UNRESERVED OBEDIENCE.

After Naomi saw Ruth’s blessed experience with Boaz, she became alive again. She saw a spark of hope to look at the future with optimism. She sought for the future wellbeing of Ruth. We may question her plan but God allowed it to happen.

She asked Ruth to beautify herself and clandestinely go to Boaz’s tent that evening. When he is about to sleep, she has to “uncover his feet and lie down.” No further explanation except that Boaz will tell her what to do once he discovers her. She has just to trust her words and obey her.

And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

Why did Ruth didn’t ask for any explanation? As a Moabitess, why was it easy for her to obey without rancor such ridiculous order from Naomi? Her obedience was an evidence of genuine trust as a child to his mom.

Certainly, Naomi didn’t do this should she had not known the character of Boaz. He was a kind, generous and godly. Similarly, Ruth should have had second thoughts about Naomi if she has had questions to her character. Our integrity, not our logic or rationality, does command more respect towards other people, doesn’t it? Children obey their parents not because they understand. In most cases, they have no idea yet they do it. What’s the reason? They say, “My mom said it. And mom is always good”

Is blind obedience encouraged here? Definitely, No. In a wedding at Cana when they lacked wine, Mary said to the servants, “Whatever He[Jesus] tells you do it.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.’ [John 2:5-7] Did the servants obey Jesus blindly? What are servants suppose to do?

Abraham obeyed God to go to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his only son, who was the heir of promise. Did Abraham obey God blindly? [see the story at Gen 22]

The Holy Spirit had led the Lord Jesus to go to the wilderness in order to be tempted by Satan. Did Jesus obey blindly too? [see story at Luke 4]

In all these, we see the supernatural or miracles happening only after they had fully obeyed. And the reason for them to obey is the character of the one they obeyed. It is the integrity of the person, not our understanding to the logic of the command, that should command our respect and obedience, doesn’t it?

God is trustworthy. Let’s obey Him fully.

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Ruth 2:17-23 ESV

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

FULLNESS.

Having been highly favored by Boaz, Ruth gleaned from morning until evening at his field. Freely, she gathered barley from already harvested ‘sheaves and bundles’ as much as she could. Perhaps, the most that she could carry was an ephah [about 23 liters] Like Boaz, God is lavish indeed. And, she did this until the end of the barley and wheat harvests.

Boaz’s goodness was astounding. Ruth, the foreigner and Naomi, who referred herself as Marah, were startled. Both were empty handed when they arrived Bethlehem. And in a moment, their table had abounded with blessings. Certainly, Boaz was rich and generous. Thus, they received grace. Consequently, they experienced fullness.

Boaz is the type of Jesus, the grace of God who brings fullness. Paul said, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” [2 Cor 8:9] Like Ruth and Naomi, we are all once impoverished because of our sins. Yet, He made us spiritually rich. In what way? He died for us while we were yet sinners as a demonstration of His love toward us. [Rom 5:8]

Even the apostle John had accounted how he knew Jesus, saying, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” [John 1:14-16]

Thus, Jesus as the Word is God [John 1:1]. He is full [ perfect] of glory. Yet, He is the Immanuel, the God who became flesh and dwells among us because He is gracious. [Mat 1:23] “He emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” [Phil 2:7,8] The cross was where Jesus became impoverished in order to enrich us with forgiveness and salvation.

Today, the grace of God does continue to amaze us, doesn’t it? From His fullness, He pours grace. And since we drink His grace, we experience fullness.

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Ruth 2:8-16

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 

9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” 

10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” 

11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 

12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” 13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” 14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”

GRACE. 

Ruth did not expect to receive Boaz’s favour. It did not cross her mind. He saw to it that she won’t go to another field and had tasked the other women protected and provided for her. But, the extra favour of Boaz was inexplainable. He had her dined with him as the rest so that she was satisfied with some left over. As a foreigner, she could just be satisfied as a gleaner. But, Boaz had treated her as one of his servants. Thus, she was allowed to ‘glean among the sheaves.’ Even, he tasked his men pull out some bundles for her to glean freely. Like Boaz’s favour to Ruth, God’s grace given freely is abundant and immeasurable. As Jeremiah had declared God’s goodness to a rebellious people, the Jews, saying; ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’[ Lam 3:22-23] “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” [Psa 103:8] Certainly, it was the Lord who touched Boaz to recognize the genuine faith of Ruth. That, she left everything in Moab to cling to the God of Israel alone. Thus, Boaz commended, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”[v. 12] Certainly, the Lord was honoured by her true repentance. Do you have true faith like Ruth that bears fruit of true repentance? Similarly, having been alienated before God because of our sins, God has poured His grace upon us by reconciling us unto Himself through Jesus. Paul argued, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” [Titus 2:11] He had explained this to those who had received his grace by faith, by saying, “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility “ [Eph 2:12-14]. Paul added, “ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” [Eph 2:19].

Ruth 1:19-22 ESV

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

A BITTER LIFE.

Naomi must be a known and familiar person in Bethlehem. After 10 long years she was away, the people still had recognized her so that they were stirred at her arrival specially the women. Their question of surprise, “Is this Naomi?”, implied that they didn’t expect to see her again. Nevertheless, they were excited to have her back. But, where is Elimelech and his two sons? Who is the lady with her? Perhaps, the people asked.

People, who know us, are curious to ask us questions. Some ask because they care like the friends of Naomi. Sadly, others ask in order to slight us. They want to project that they are better by putting down others. For example, after an unsuccessful business, career or marriage, they add more insult to our injury by their defamatory remarks. Like or not, people have their own perceptions toward us – either good or bad.

How then should we respond to the setbacks that happened to us?

Sadly, Naomi was overwhelmed with sorrow for a long time. Could we blame her after all her losses? Yes, she had left Moab but she had brought the pain with her. This had affected adversely her sense of identity. Naomi [pleasant] was long gone. And, after leaving home full and coming back empty, she felt not deserving anymore to be called such a name. Instead, she christened herself as Mara [bitter] She may not had been angry with God. She has had accepted her ‘fate’ from Him. In her mind, her destiny was sealed divinely already.

A person overruled with much sorrow has lost his buoyant spirit to keep him afloat in life as a punctured ball submerged in water. Naomi was just contented to step back into his own town, But, her dream of becoming pleasant and full again had vanished into thin air.

Today, are we like Naomi still nursing our hurts that happened many years ago? What happened to you may had shattered you. But, what is happening in you after what happened to you will make you miserable. Healing from pain and sorrow is at reach in Jesus. In fact, He has invited us, by saying, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” [Matt 11:28,29]

While the devil desires to keep you wallow in despair, Jesus is gentle to build your life again. Like you, ‘a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench until he brings justice to victory.’[Matt 12:20] He came to ‘bring good news to the poor; to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.’ [Luke 4:18/Isa 61:1]

It’s not what happened to us; how others look at us; and even how we look at ourselves that should define who we are. Since Jesus came down to die for us, we must be very special. Are we not? Therefore, let's look ourselves through the eyes of Jesus, not through our setbacks.

Ruth 1:14-18 ESV

14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

COMMITMENT.

While Orpah decided to stay in Moab, Ruth ‘clung’ to Naomi. Despite her mother-in- law’s insistence, Ruth was committed to follow with her back to Judah. With respect to our commitment unto God, we’re either as Orpah or Ruth. Ruth was committed while Orpah was double-minded. Thus, she turned back to Moab.

Like Ruth, our commitment to God must be very clear or certain. She knew for certain that her decision was final. Burning her bridges behind, there wasn’t turning back to her people and ‘gods.’ And that she is going to embrace Noemi’s people and God resolutely. This commitment did Paul commend the Thessalonians, saying,” For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” [1 Thess 1:9]

Furthermore, commitment is costly. Like Ruth, we must be willing to severe relationships and affections in conflict with God. God do deserve our unmitigated affections, doesn’t He? We should ‘love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind.’ [Matt 22:37]

Like Ruth, Abraham did leave his kindred and country with finality. “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. So Abram went, as the Lord had told him” [Gen 12:1, 3a] Abraham and all of God’s pilgrims, ‘are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.’ [Heb 11:14b-16]

Are you committed to follow Jesus and Him alone, today? In John 6:66-68, the multitudes who ate the bread He multiplied miraculously followed Him for a while but turned back. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Are we like Simon who answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

At another instance, a rich young man left Jesus with sorrow for he can’t give his riches away for Him as Jesus required him to do. But are we like Peter who could say, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” [Matt 19:27-29]

Since Jesus is worth above all, we do commit to follow Him with our all, don’t we? We decide to follow Jesus. And, there’s no turning back.

Ruth 1:6-13 ESV

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”

RETURN

When Naomi heard that the ‘Lord had visited his people and given them food’, she decided to go back. Her daughters-in-law wanted to go with her. However, she discouraged them not. Why? She was pragmatic, plain and simple. Their future with her is uncertain in Judah. Being young, they could stay and get married again. This was very remote to happen for Naomi knew that a Jew won’t marry a heathen like them.

The decision to return is one of the difficult decisions to do. Besides the speculations and uncertainties, our low esteem during the time of setbacks could pull us down. We’re stuck in a rut. And like the enslaved Jews for hundreds of years in Egypt, we could accept our fate and don’t dream for freedom anymore. The abnormal state of defeat and pessimism are taken as normal. Thus, they refused to go out of Egypt with Moses.

Like Naomi, the prodigal son was encouraged to return to his father because he remembered his father’s goodness to his servants. Paul has written, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [Rom 2:4]

Today, we don’t need to wallow in despair. We can fail but God doesn’t look at us as failures, does He? He looks at us as saints and not stain. [note: saint and stain come the same letters]. He can mend our broken lives as long as we give Him all the broken pieces. We don’t need to be stucked up in our past. As C. S. Lewis has said, ““You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

One writer said that a basketball player needs not to look the score during the first half in order not to be discouraged. He should remember there is a second half coming. And as Solomon had said, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.” [Ecc 7:8]

We can’t change the past failures . But we don’t need to be stuck-up with them either. Instead, we can look at our past and learn from it. Every failure can become a peg to direct us to the right path. Like Naomi, nobody among us should feel we are too old to return and have a good start.

God is still writing the story in your life now. Could you flip to the next page, please.