If this is the first post in this series you have read, I encourage you to read the previous posts here.
We’ve made it to the climax of the story. Ruth has found her kinsman redeemer. Boaz has welcomed her with generous portions of grain and abundant kindness that he is not obligated to give. He is a great picture of Christ.
In chapter 3, the harvest is over, Ruth has remained with Naomi and now Naomi decides it is time to see if Boaz will in fact become Ruths kinsman redeemer. We learn a lot about the traditions and law from this chapter. If you are interested in the Hebrew traditions and culture this chapter is a great dig for you. But, I won’t take the time to do that for you here. But I will tell you that the instructions Naomi gives Ruth are not completely unusual. It is in fact part of their culture.
There are a couple of things that jumped out at me while studying this passage that I want to share with you.
A Mother-in-Law’s Daughter
In verse 1 of chapter 3, Naomi speaks to Ruth. This will set in motion the events that make this such a remarkable story. First of all, we can’t miss that Naomi calls Ruth “daughter”. It is such an endearing term and after all they have been through it isn’t surprising the bond these two women have created.
In many ways, Naomi & Ruth’s relationship reminds me of myself and my mother-in-law. She had one child and I married him. She was always available to me when my children were young, she loved having them in her home. In many ways, she became a second mom to me. Several years ago she had to have a brain tumor removed. The recovery was terrible. I stayed many nights with her in the hospital and then rehab and then the nursing home. For several weeks we really weren’t sure she would make it, but she did. She often told her nurses I was her daughter. I don’t say all this to brag, just to show how there can be a very special bond between a mom and her sons wife. Just like Naomi, my mother-in-law loved me as if I was her own daughter. She respected me as her sons wife and her grandchildren’s mother. She never tried to change me or rule over my role. I am so very thankful for her.
Manoach; Resting place
Naomi was most concerned over Ruth’s welfare and providing her a place of rest and we see that in verse one.
“Should I not seek rest for you?”
I love this because this word “rest” implies the kind of rest and security that is found in a home. Naomi could not do that on her own. Ruth needed a husband to provide that kind of rest. The Hebrew word for “rest” here is “manoach” which literally means a resting place. Naomi wants to help Ruth find a place of rest and Boaz would be that for her.
Though this passage is pointing towards Boaz as the source of Ruth’s rest, Ruth could also be a source of rest for him as well. This is a opportunity wives have; to make their homes a place of rest and peace for their husbands, especially if they work outside of the home. Our homes should be a place our husbands can come find rest rather than turmoil.
New Creation
Naomi instructs Ruth to wash and anoint herself and then put on her cloak because she was about to do something very important. Before now, Ruth is known as the Moabite widow. The instructions to wash herself and change her clothes are seen a step towards that new life. She’s done mourning and she’s walking into a hopeful future. She puts on the cloak of new life.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new [creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Naomi gives her very specific instructions and to all of them she simply says, “All that you say I will do.” I can only imagine what Ruth is thinking. “I’m to lay at his feet?” There is no record of Ruth questioning Naomi, just obeying. I love her trust in Naomi.
Ruth does what Naomi says. She goes to Boaz at end of his work day. Harvest is finally over, it is time to rest. While he is sleeping, she uncovers his feet and lays down. This simple act was a beautiful display of humility and submission. Ruth was telling Boaz, “I am your servant, completely submitted to you.”
What a sweet reminder to us of how beautiful our submission to our Redeemer Christ, is. When we are fully submitted our heart posture is pointed to Christ. We are focused on his will for our life, not our own. Our submission to Christ ultimately brings our souls rest, just as we will see in the life of Ruth.
When he awakens and see’s her at his feet is appropriately surprised and asks who she is. Her response is great!
“I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”
She calls herself his servant and she calls him a redeemer…not her redeemer, just A redeemer. This reminds us that this meeting is not all there is to the story. It gets even better.
I know all of this sounds very odd, this link may help explain the significance of all that is happening here.
In the mean time, Boaz allows Ruth to remain there for the night. At first sign of morning she begins to leave, but not until Boaz illustrates his godly character once again. He takes her cloak and fills it full of grain, then sends her home. I love all of the reminders we have here of God’s gracious and generous love for us.
Her cloak represented a new life and now her redeemer is filling that cloak with grain. What a mighty God we serve!! God gives Ruth a new life and through her submission and obedience she finds abundance and rest.
Chapter 3 was a sweet reminder to me of the importance of many things in my life.
Rest, I need to seek rest, but resting doesn’t mean not doing anything, it simply means to stop striving. Our souls need rest. Our bodies need rest.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said,” Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Submission is critical. Often, we want God to do all of these great things for us, but we don’t want to submit to him. Ruth is a beautiful picture of what happens when we submit. The Holy Spirit is free to move in our heart and mind. Through our submission, we can find rest for our souls.
Obedience should be a discipline of the believer. Ruth obeyed Naomi without question. I’m afraid often, we abuse grace through our lack of obedience. If you know and understand God is sovereign, then you know his plan will always come about. But, the problem is when we stop seeking him through his Word, our hearts can become harden and sin can creep in. Thoughts such as, “does it really matter if I obey?” begin to take hold. May we never become women who stop obeying God. There are abundant blessings in store for us when we obey God. Look at what happen to Ruth because she listened to Naomi. Through her obedience, Ruth ultimately found rest.
Like Ruth, God can give you a new life and through your submission and obedience to him you can find abundance and rest.
Dana Bailey 