In spite of our information-based society, I am amazed at the perceptiveness of the younger generations.

In the passage below, young Ruth perceived that her mother-in-law was worth following after. She followed Naomi from Moab all the way home to Bethlehem. Ruth clung to her and refused to be separated, claiming that she would not leave her and that Naomi’s God would by her God.

When Naomi rejoiced at the good fortune of Ruth finding a safe place to work in Boaz’s fields, she slowly forgot her bitterness of grief and loss, restoring her hope in the LORD.

Boaz was one of their redeemers. Following a beautiful tradition of saving the widows and remnant of God’s people, the kinsman-redeemer ensured a promised heir for their fellow Israelite.

Ruth trusted Naomi’s tradition implicitly and followed her instructions on how to approach the man who could protect their future and hope.

Today, young people have to make a choice as Ruth did. They must decide between Moab (their homeland), which teaches the theology of atheism in the schools, and Bethlehem (the house of bread), which relies on the Savior’s coming to change our hearts forever.

When we have the courage to ask our Savior to spread His wings over us, then we are redeemed. This means “to buy back”. Boaz bought back Naomi’s family line (although her husband and sons had died). He gave provision and protection to her family. Most of all he provided an heir through Ruth that would carry on Naomi’s family name.

We are redeemed when Jesus becomes our Savior. He not only provides eternal life and protects us from death (separation from God) but he bought us back for a purpose -to be part of the family business. #loveoneanother

The intimacy of this passage is not lost on us. We can perceive God’s personal invitation to mankind. He has touched us ever so lightly with profound effect. -Teresa #metamorphosis

Ruth 2:19-3:13 (ESV)*

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.

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3 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.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^[c] 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.”

Footnotes

1. Ruth 2:7 Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
2. Ruth 2:17 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
3. Ruth 3:9 Compare 2:12; the word for wings can also mean corners of a garment
4. Ruth 4:4 Hebrew he
5. Ruth 4:5 Masoretic Text you also buy it from Ruth

*theOneYearBibleonline