Earlier in Ruth’s story, she was able to glean in Boaz’s field. However, this is not the greatest blessing she could receive. Ruth and Naomi wish for more. They want her to have not just salvation, but also a relationship with a man who would be her savior.
This mirrors what we have in our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. It’s about more than just salvation; it’s about having a relationship with our Savior.
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you.
Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
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.”
She said to her, “All that you tell me I will do” (Ruth 3:1-5).
Hosea mentions sexual activity that happens at the end of the harvest on the threshing floor.
Do not rejoice, O Israel! Do not exult as other nations do; for you have played the whore, departing from your God. You have loved a prostitute’s pay on all threshing floors (Hosea 9:1).
Ruth might have approached Boaz to start a courtship with him, which could lead to him becoming her and Naomi’s redeemer.
Secure and Protected
Earlier, Boaz blessed Ruth, hoping God would shelter her under His wing. Now, as Ruth approaches Boaz, she asks him to shelter her beneath his cloak.
May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” (Ruth 2:12).
So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her.
When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet, and lay down.
At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman!
He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin” (Ruth 3:6-9).
This moment shows how God uses people to fulfill His purposes. Boaz became God’s agent to protect, provide for, and redeem both Ruth and Naomi.
A Problem to Solve
As the story of Ruth and Boaz unfolds, they face a challenge. In tomorrow’s blog, we’ll explore how Boaz resolved an issue with someone else who had the right to redeem both the land and Ruth.
The relationship between Ruth and Boaz is like the one God wants with us.
He wants to save us and be our Savior. He wants us free from sin’s guilt and punishment, but also to be our friend.
There’s a challenge, though. He needs to overcome our sin problem. The cross is the solution to this issue. Through it, we can have salvation and a relationship with our Savior.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this part of Ruth’s story on YouTube today.
Real Voices 