Redemption and Expectations

Ruth 3:1-18
    1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.” 5 And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”
    6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. 7 And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”
    10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. 12 Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.”
    14 So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Also he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her. 17 And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” 18 Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”

Ruth was given direction from her mother-in-law to go to Boaz with whom she had found favor in a specific way.  Naomi wanted security for Ruth and most likely knew that this was the LORD’s doing to bring them together.  She was to follow him and wait until he slept, then lay under the blanket at his feet (not next to him, for that would be interpreted as sexual instead of relational).  When Boaz awoke, he understood her desire for protection by him as a close relative to redeem her as a widow (Deuteronomy 25:5, Matthew 22:23-24) after losing her husband in a foreign land.  Boaz knew of another who was closer and had to first see if he would redeem her, though he saw her as a virtuous and desirable young woman who could easily have sought a younger man her own age.  He swore by the LORD to perform this duty with eagerness but was also set on following God’s order of doing things.  He honored God in his actions despite his desires, and wanted likewise to honor Ruth.  He returned to Naomi very early in the morning so as not to cause a scandal, and took much grain with her as a gift for Naomi, reminiscent of a dowry of sorts.  Naomi told her to patiently await the outcome, knowing that Boaz would not rest until the matter was resolved because of his desire for her.  We see in this series of events orchestrated by the Lord that the people involved were adamant about honoring Him in their choices and actions as they followed the path set straight before them (Proverbs 3:5-6).  This example teaches us to be patient and faithful to follow the scriptures of God’s will in our walk that we might find redemption in Christ and fruitfulness through our willing obedience in sanctification afterwards.  We trust the Lord for redeeming us and finalizing it in our glorification in the end.  Therefore we live accordingly, not in our unbridled desires but in departing from iniquity and ordering our footsteps by the scriptures.  What He has for us is far better than our circumstances or expectations!