ancestors. Then what would happen to the poor girl? Should Naomi sit by and watch Ruth dedicate her life to gleaning rather than running a household and raising up children for the Lord? Should she do nothing about Ruth’s future? Wasn’t it a mother’s place to stoke the fires a little? Who else but her and God would care about the future of this precious young woman?
So, Lord, what are we going to do about her? How do we shake up that quiet old man and get his blood moving again? If we wait on him, what chance is there?
Supposing she did think up a plan that would turn Boaz’s head. Would Ruth agree to carry it through—whatever it was? Ruth would have to agree!
Naomi spent the next days and nights thinking about Ruth’s future and what a good husband Boaz would make. Toward the end of the wheat harvest, she thought of a plan so bold it was certain to capture Boaz’s attention. Just imagining his reaction made Naomi laugh. But would Ruth trust her judgment? Would her daughter-in-law heed the advice of an old woman who’d made so many mistakes it might seem a way of life?
In the confusion of her feelings, Naomi could not be sure about her motives. She knew only that the Lord could sort it all out and make things right. She loved Ruth as she would a daughter of her own womb and wanted to see her happily settled, but she also wanted a grandson to claim Mahlon’s inheritance and carry on his name. She wanted to make amends to Boaz for the pain she had caused him when she was a young girl. And what better way to do that than by offering him a beautiful young wife with many years of childbearing ahead of her?
Was it right to ask so much of God when she’d spent most of her life walking behind Elimelech?
Ruth and Boaz. Boaz and Ruth. Don’t You think they’re right for each other, Lord? I grant she is much younger than he, but what better blessing to give a righteous man like Boaz than a quiver full of children in his old age? And what children they would have! You would not see their sons and daughters bowing down to baals!
She pleaded their case to the Almighty and longed for an answer. How fortunate Moses had been to hear The Voice from a burning bush. Naomi knew better than to expect God to give her an audible answer, but she couldn’t trust any of her friends with the questions tormenting her. Was this plan right before God? If it wasn’t, what might be the cost to Ruth?
Let the cost be on my head, Lord.
When the harvest came to an end, Naomi knew the plan had to be put into action now or never. Boaz had been given plenty of time to notice Ruth’s virtues, and Ruth had great respect for him.
“My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. I intend to find a husband for you and get you happily married again.”
Ruth laughed. “And who would marry someone like me?”
“The man I’m thinking of is Boaz.”
“Boaz!” Ruth spilled some of the grain she was pouring into an earthen container and stared at her. “You can’t be serious!”
“I know he’s old . . .”
“He’s not old. ”
“Homely, then. Is that why you object?”
“Mother, he’s the most respected man in all Bethlehem! He stands among the elders at the gate! He’s a rich man with land and servants!”
“All the more reason to consider him.”
Ruth shook her head, half in amusement, half in consternation. “I know you love me, Mother, but your esteem for the widow of your son is beyond bounds. How can you possibly think I would be worthy of Boaz? The idea is ludicrous.”
“You were good enough for my son. You’re good enough for Boaz.”
Ruth went back to pouring grain into the earthen container. “Not even if I threw myself at his feet would the man notice me.”
“You don’t think he’s noticed you? Ha. He noticed you long ago.”
“In kindness.”
“More than in kindness. Have you no eyes in your head? He admires you. From too
So, Lord, what are we going to do about her? How do we shake up that quiet old man and get his blood moving again? If we wait on him, what chance is there?
Supposing she did think up a plan that would turn Boaz’s head. Would Ruth agree to carry it through—whatever it was? Ruth would have to agree!
Naomi spent the next days and nights thinking about Ruth’s future and what a good husband Boaz would make. Toward the end of the wheat harvest, she thought of a plan so bold it was certain to capture Boaz’s attention. Just imagining his reaction made Naomi laugh. But would Ruth trust her judgment? Would her daughter-in-law heed the advice of an old woman who’d made so many mistakes it might seem a way of life?
In the confusion of her feelings, Naomi could not be sure about her motives. She knew only that the Lord could sort it all out and make things right. She loved Ruth as she would a daughter of her own womb and wanted to see her happily settled, but she also wanted a grandson to claim Mahlon’s inheritance and carry on his name. She wanted to make amends to Boaz for the pain she had caused him when she was a young girl. And what better way to do that than by offering him a beautiful young wife with many years of childbearing ahead of her?
Was it right to ask so much of God when she’d spent most of her life walking behind Elimelech?
Ruth and Boaz. Boaz and Ruth. Don’t You think they’re right for each other, Lord? I grant she is much younger than he, but what better blessing to give a righteous man like Boaz than a quiver full of children in his old age? And what children they would have! You would not see their sons and daughters bowing down to baals!
She pleaded their case to the Almighty and longed for an answer. How fortunate Moses had been to hear The Voice from a burning bush. Naomi knew better than to expect God to give her an audible answer, but she couldn’t trust any of her friends with the questions tormenting her. Was this plan right before God? If it wasn’t, what might be the cost to Ruth?
Let the cost be on my head, Lord.
When the harvest came to an end, Naomi knew the plan had to be put into action now or never. Boaz had been given plenty of time to notice Ruth’s virtues, and Ruth had great respect for him.
“My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. I intend to find a husband for you and get you happily married again.”
Ruth laughed. “And who would marry someone like me?”
“The man I’m thinking of is Boaz.”
“Boaz!” Ruth spilled some of the grain she was pouring into an earthen container and stared at her. “You can’t be serious!”
“I know he’s old . . .”
“He’s not old. ”
“Homely, then. Is that why you object?”
“Mother, he’s the most respected man in all Bethlehem! He stands among the elders at the gate! He’s a rich man with land and servants!”
“All the more reason to consider him.”
Ruth shook her head, half in amusement, half in consternation. “I know you love me, Mother, but your esteem for the widow of your son is beyond bounds. How can you possibly think I would be worthy of Boaz? The idea is ludicrous.”
“You were good enough for my son. You’re good enough for Boaz.”
Ruth went back to pouring grain into the earthen container. “Not even if I threw myself at his feet would the man notice me.”
“You don’t think he’s noticed you? Ha. He noticed you long ago.”
“In kindness.”
“More than in kindness. Have you no eyes in your head? He admires you. From too
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