Boaz and Ruth

Ruth 3 & 4

Naomi recognises what has happened; that Ruth has received the attention of Boaz and that he is a family redeemer, qualified to marry Ruth. So she gives Ruth advice on how to respond to Boaz’s attention. She must go and meet him to ask him to be her redeemer – that is, to marry her and take on Naomi’s family land.
Ruth goes back to the threshing floor – a paved area near the fields where the harvested barley is beaten out and the grains separated from the chaff. The workers (and Boaz) would have a ‘feed’ at the end of a day’s work and then sleep on the heaps of grain until morning. Ruth stays around the fringes of the people and watches where Boaz lies down for his sleep at the end of the evening.
Once he is asleep, Ruth goes over and lies down at his feet. At midnight as he turns over, his foot kicks Ruth and he wakes up, startled to find her there. Ruth identifies herself and makes it known to him that she is asking him to take her under his wing as family redeemer.
Boaz responds nobly. He does not initiate sexual activity with Ruth, though the temptation might have been strong.
It was an emotional moment for both of them, as their feelings for each other were recognised and expressed for the first time. But Boaz did not touch Ruth because he was committed to acting to please God. This was not just a private moment between the two of them.
There were other public matters that had to be resolved; in particular, Boaz knew that there was another man more qualified by closer relation to be the family redeemer and to marry Ruth.
Boaz assures Ruth of his commitment to her and his willingness to redeem and marry her if it can be done justly and it is the Lord’s will.
Ruth remains at Boaz’a feet until morning and left while it was not yet light. Boaz sends her off with a gift of grain for Naomi. That was Boaz’s message back to Naomi that he was willing to marry Ruth if it could be arranged.
Naomi counsels Ruth to be patient and be assured that Boaz would work hard to settle the matter immediately. She knows more than she is letting on.
Meantime, Boaz goes to find the man who has a closer relationship with Naomi’s husband so he can resolve who has the right to marry Ruth. With some of the city elders, he begins talks with the man, informing him that he has the right to purchase Naomi’s land and that if he does not want to then he will do so himself. The man was quick to say that he wanted the land. Possibly too quick, because Boaz goes on to talk about Ruth. The man immediately loses interest because he cannot marry Ruth (perhaps he was already married, or it could have been that he did not want to risk his family inheritance going to children he would have with Ruth).
Boaz confirms that he will take up the role of family redeemer and the men exchange sandals in the presence of the elders, to confirm that the arrangement is sealed. The elders confirm the transaction and call God’s blessing to be on Boaz and Ruth.
You can only imagine the nervous wait by Ruth that day. But eventually Boaz comes to bring the good news that they can be married. Their faithfulness to God and to each other is rewarded.
Ruth bears a son.
Naomi is blessed to be closely involved in the raising of the boy, Obed.
The women of the town, who once pitied Naomi for her ruin, now celebrate with her God’s goodness in restoring her life and giving her such a daughter-in-law as Ruth (worth more than seven sons they say!) and a redeemer like Boaz.
Obed is the grandfather of King David. Jesus on his human side is descended from David.
Only now do we begin to notice how Ruth and Boaz’s lives have such a strong connection with God’s big plan. No Ruth, no Obed, no Obed, no David, no David, no Mary and no Jesus.