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 – Ruth 3:10

Something startled the man!

His heart raced to a sprint. What could that be? The alcohol at the harvest feast had dissipated into a deep slumber, with contentment of a good harvest. Something soft and supple touched his feet. Definitely not barley stalk; so, what is it? What Boaz discovered was a midnight delight.

Ruth had quickly become the talk of the town. Her beauty was captivating. But, more than that; she had character to hold it up. A foreigner from a despised nation, Bethlehem, had come to know her as a woman of noble character (Ruth 3:11). Yet, there was more to her pedigree. She had redefined love with Naomi, her mother-in-law, on the road to Bethlehem.

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me” (Ruth 1:16-17).

Ruth loved Naomi and would not let her alone to an uncertain future in Bethlehem. She shared her grief over the death of the men in their lives (1:3-5). She had no future with Naomi in Bethlehem. However, love is stronger than every hindrance, if the heart is in the right place.

Ruth’s heart had found a place in the God of Israel, whom Naomi may have often talked about and prayed to with unflinching hope. Besides, mother and daughter-in-law had also bonded in a way they didn’t know until the time of separation came.

That’s the test of love. You don’t know how much you love someone until you have to give up everything for their sake. That is Ruth’s story – a story of agape love to be revealed in her future descendant she didn’t know – Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

Bethlehem was harsh as expected. With no man to fend for them in that culture, and an old woman to care for, Ruth had her work cut out for herself. Besides, there was culture shock to manage. Nevertheless, no one choses the God of Israel over the world and becomes destitute. His grace abides to lead and provide in the most amazing ways.

Grace led Ruth to the field of one of their kinsman-redeemers – Boaz (2:20). Kindness begets kindness, so Ruth got a permanent gleaning field with Boaz. But what was she doing lying under the feet of Boaz on the threshing floor that night?

Boaz understood the cultural implications of Ruth’s action, and he was elated. “The Lord bless you, my daughter … You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor,” but me (3:10).

 He was a man of honor himself, and dignity defined his action on the threshing floor that night. The old man had found gold on his barley threshing floor and he would not stop until the matter was over. Wisdom led the way. The closest kinsman-redeemer bulked at the opportunity at the city gate, and Boaz stepped in to claim Ruth as his wife (4:1-12). Love made in heaven had found the two on the threshing floor. What great lessons it holds for us!

To be cont’d.