TAKING A RISK. Ruth 3 In this chapter, Naomi takes the lead. She had been deeply discouraged, but she now feels hopeful about the future. She understood the rules for maintaining ownership in Israel and the usual steps to preserve a family legacy. She told Ruth to prepare as a bride and go to the threshing floor. Ruth likely felt a great deal of fear and hesitation as she did as her mother-in-law advised.
Trust and respect are crucial when making decisions and commitments in life. She had already demonstrated this in Moab and was not going to go back on her promise, even if it caused her embarrassment and uncertainty. It is common for Christians to believe that only God can solve our problems and that He answers prayers without human effort. Since we live by faith, we may think we are free from responsibility and that there's nothing more we need to do because God is in control. We pray about a situation and then wait for God to take action. The idea behind this approach is that all we need to do is pray and trust God.
God isn't just sitting by the door waiting for us to call. He's busy working out His plans and moving people and events according to His purpose. Actually, we are the ones sitting by the phone, waiting for Him to call us. We receive our orders from Him to guide us and move us into service for Him. We are responsible for waiting on His actions and using our gifts and talents in the tasks He gives us.
Both Naomi and Ruth exemplify integrity. Naomi felt responsible for giving Ruth hope for the future. At that time, a widow depended on her family for support and protection. Naomi knew Boaz as a man of integrity, and since he was a relative, she likely believed he would provide her with the essentials of life. However, a widowed foreigner like Ruth had no one to rely on. Her caring nature led her to advise Ruth to follow the customs of the Israelites.
There will be times when people come into our lives with genuine needs that we can fulfill. Wants and needs are different. As stewards of what God has entrusted to us, it is our responsibility to manage these gifts with wisdom and grace. We must assess when someone asks for help if their request is sincere and if we are capable of helping. That is a risk we have to accept.
Naomi recognized God's hand in what was happening with Boaz and Ruth and used her common sense, maturity, and faith-driven ingenuity to seize the opportunity. She was no longer a bitter old woman or a passive one, like someone whose spirit is broken. Now, with excitement and authority, she steps up to the challenge and takes advantage of what she knows is a God-ordained opportunity. She had food and a caring relative who was concerned about the two widows. She hoped for the future because she knew Boaz had stature in the community and was fulfilling the kinsman-redeemer role. Ruth felt responsible for Naomi’s well-being and wanted to reassure her that she wouldn’t go hungry, even though she had no family to care for her.
Integrity urges us not to wait for others to do what we must handle ourselves. When the moment arrives, and we are out of options and want to turn to someone else for help, the first step is to bring the matter to the Lord in specific terms and wait for His will to be made clear. It may seem that we are called to take unnecessary risks simply because older people have advised us to do so.
However, when we have older friends and family whom we trust, even if an action seems risky to our reputation or opinion, their experience and knowledge can be very valuable when making decisions that involve risk. God has a pattern and plan for the well-being of His people, and we do well to follow that. Others can help us carry out those plans. Our Kinsman-Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, although He was God, came to earth to redeem us from sin and buy us to be His possession. This, in turn, guarantees our eternal inheritance.
Although it may seem like an aggressive attempt to pressure Boaz into acting for Naomi and Ruth, the moral integrity of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz remains unquestioned. Naomi was simply appealing to the cultural obligation relatives had toward each other. She clearly directed Ruth’s actions as a straightforward request for marriage. This aligned with the “family guardian” (levirate) law, which aimed to ensure the continuation of the family and its legacy. Romantic love was not the basis of this law. Marriage is seen by God as serving a higher purpose than mere self-gratification.
Ruth could legitimately approach Boaz as a family member with whom he had an obligation. The kinsman-redeemer was a guardian of his family and was responsible for caring for family members by marrying the widow or fulfilling the laws for her care. In that day, integrity was shown when someone met the requirements of a kinsman-redeemer and was publicly recognized as responsible. Boaz was such a person. His integrity was evident in how he treated those who worked for him. There was a good relationship between him and his employees. He also showed respect for Naomi and Ruth in his dealings with them. Although he seemed to keep his distance to protect everyone’s reputation, he knew what was happening and was willing to take the risk of making his intentions for Naomi and Ruth public.
There is no reason to believe Naomi suggested Ruth behaved seductively by going to the threshing floor outside the town where Boaz was sleeping to prevent grain theft and wait her turn to thresh his barley. In a secluded place under cover of darkness, she had the chance to do what was needed to secure her future. She acted on this opportunity with faithful ingenuity, without knowing whether she would be accepted or rejected. She simply told Ruth to act according to Israel's customs and laws.
It was common for a servant to sleep at his master's feet. Ruth was probably unfamiliar with that specific Jewish custom, but she took the risk of acting in faith on what her mother-in-law told her. Ruth assumed the position of a lowly servant by doing so, which was acceptable during those times. This was a family matter in which she indicated to Boaz that he could be her kinsman-redeemer either by finding someone else for her or marrying her. There was nothing romantic about this, although it became more so later.
We may not always understand what God will do, but we know He can do what we cannot do. It is wrong for a believer to appear evil in our interactions with others. Purity is a choice we make and must not be compromised. Often, it is a person's most attractive trait that fosters lasting relationships. A wise person guards this precious treasure of purity, which endears them to God and to godly people. Thoughtful preparation was necessary, and Naomi knew Ruth needed to "wash...perfume herself...and then dress up" out of respect for Ruth and Boaz. Ruth followed Naomi’s advice because she knew she was caring, trustworthy, and a person of moral integrity.
It is wise to heed the advice of older and wiser people. Their experience and knowledge can be invaluable to us. Ignoring the words of someone who has already traveled the road of life and maintained their integrity is unwise. Respectability comes from saying "No" to what we know is wrong and "Yes" to what is right. There is a certain dignity to be upheld that many who seek everyone's approval do not understand. Laughing at unclean jokes, accommodating the wishes of those who live carelessly, and making light of sexual innuendo can cause us to lose respectability. A person who lives by faith will understand that sometimes maintaining dignity and respectability comes with a cost, and we must be willing to pay it. Good impressions are often simply the result of preparing to please others.
Ruth put her "best foot forward" as a reflection of her character and appearance. Boaz’s response to Ruth shows that he had already considered marrying her, but there were rules of marriage to follow. He was known for keeping his word and not giving up until he completed a task. Ruth was willing to do what the older, wiser woman advised her, even if it made her uncomfortable. Being alone in a field is one thing; being alone in the dark at night is another. The reputations of both Boaz and Ruth were at stake. Ruth was quiet, determined, and faithful. We can learn practical lessons from Ruth's dedication to purity and Boaz's commitment to his dignity.
This kind of reliable person stands out in any culture or era. We will face times when we must take risks in our decisions, and it’s wise to ask ourselves some questions. Am I seen as someone who follows through on what he says? Do I keep my word and complete a task or assignment? Am I considered a person of integrity? Building this trust doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time and consistent effort. Sometimes it’s better to wait for the right moment rather than pushing too hard. When you feel at ease and content, make sure to do the right thing with the right person at the right time. Privacy shields us from embarrassment when outcomes are uncertain, because we don’t know how others will react. Creativity, opportunity, preparation, persistence, common sense, and compassion all work together to bring about the right result.
Boaz wished Ruth well when he spoke to her in the field, telling her she had caught the Lord’s attention: “Under whose wings you have come to trust (take refuge).” At the threshing floor during the night, Ruth identified herself as “Ruth (not Naomi’s daughter-in-law), your servant,” and asked him to spread the corner of his garment (his wings) over her. This would remind him of his duty as a kinsman-redeemer. The three people involved—Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz—were God-fearing, morally upright individuals. Not only was Ruth a woman of “noble character,” but the others were as well.
The law had its God-given directives that had to be followed. Priority was given to the closest relative to fulfill the law. Boaz went beyond the requirements of the law that night when he poured “six measures” of barley into Ruth’s shawl. That was like an “earnest” of his intention and his commitment to do what was right for the two widows.
When we have followed divine directives and done all we can to carry out God’s will, the right choice is to wait. “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, … and keep His way, … and He shall save thee.”