THE ROMANCE OF RUTH

Ruth 3:2-9
2 Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do. 5 "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet. 9 "Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me,since you are a kinsman-redeemer."

On-screen romances don't often mirror real life. These scenarios are more often portrayed like this:

Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl.

Boy meets girl, boy beats up the bad guy, . . . then boy gets girl.

Boy meets girl, girl dies, boy meets new girl, everybody sings.

Sometimes real-life romances take a different turn. For example, the romance of Ruth and Boaz.

Single women in biblical times often faced a life of poverty. Ruth was in the market for a new husband since both she and her mother-in-law Naomi were widows. God's plan for Ruth would give her not only the security she was so desperate for, but would also make
her an integral part of His eternal plan.

Boaz had already noticed Ruth (2:5), but now Naomi gave her a list of things to do that would help Boaz realize his responsibility to Ruth under Jewish tradition and law (3:3-9). Following these precise instructions signified more than a request for Boaz' protection--Ruth was requesting marriage!

Just a nice romantic tale? No. Ruth's obedience set a series of events in motion.

God's plan to redeem the world through His Son Jesus included Ruth's willingness to follow instructions. Her marriage to Boaz resulted in the birth of a son, who became the grandfather of King David (4:17). Many generations later, Joseph was born and became the husband of Mary. While still a virgin, Mary gave birth to "Jesus, who is called Christ." Although Jesus is not the physical son of Joseph, He is his legal son (Matthew 1:16-18; Luke 2:4-5).

Often we are limited because we see life only moment by moment, but God has the eternal perspective. Like Ruth, our responsibility is to take continual steps of obedience as part of God's perfect plan. --Cindy Kasper

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I understand how the obedience of Boaz and Ruth was a part of God's plan of redemption?
* What steps of obedience have I taken that had a result I didn't expect? What happened?

LINKS:
Visit http://www.boundless.org/ and search for "Pulling A Ruth."

bottom line: Obedience is willingness to follow God's plan.

soul journey