So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. Ruth 3:14-15
“You would really do that for me?” I asked my friend as we stood in the computer store. My friend confidently reaffirmed her instructions to pick the laptop that I needed at her expense. My computer had died not long after our family had moved internationally to serve on the mission field. A laptop was an essential tool for me, but our budget did not have room for this unanticipated expense. My friend saw my need. She knew she had the means to meet it, and didn’t hesitate to step in and take action.
Ruth needed a provider.
She discreetly went to Boaz late at night. She asked him to act as her kinsman redeemer by marrying her (Ruth 3:9). Boaz agreed to take up this responsibility but arrangements could not be finalized until the next day (Ruth 3:11,13).
Early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking (Ruth 3:14), Ruth prepared to return home. Before going, Boaz instructed Ruth, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out” (Ruth 3:15). The garment was a wide cloak that women wore, also sometimes referred to as a veil. Boaz then measured out “6 measures of barley.” The exact amount of barley he gave her is debated among theologians, but it was likely a large amount. Mathew Henry stated in his commentary on Ruth, “whatever the measure was, it is probable he gave her as much as she could very well carry.”
Boaz had already agreed to care for Ruth by taking her as his wife and thus continuing her late husband’s family line in accordance with Mosaic law. As a sign of just how much Boaz was willing to do for Ruth, he gifted her with grain that would more than meet her and Naomi’s immediate needs. Boaz displayed a heart of righteousness with his willingness to care for the foreigner and the widow (Deuteronomy 27:19, Exodus 22:21-24) and a heart of generosity with his gift to Ruth. God knew Boaz’s heart. He had put together a plan to redeem Ruth and Naomi’s situation before they even arrived back in Israel.
When we are in the midst of a struggle, it can be hard to see how God is working for our good (Romans 8:28).
Ruth began her journey with Boaz focused on putting food on the table so that She and Naomi would not starve. She took the lowly and humble position of one in poverty, gleaning in someone else’s field (Ruth 2:2). There is no way she could have known that a short time later the owner of that field would be lavishly providing for all of her needs. But God knew.
God asks us to trust him (John 14:1), no matter in what circumstances we find ourselves.
Whether we can see it or not, rest assured, God is working in our lives. In his way, and his timing, he will reveal what he has been doing on our behalf.
When God called our family to return to the United States from the mission field it didn’t seem to make sense. I felt like I was just getting started, and was on the cusp of really reaching people. Three months after we returned, the rest of the American staff in our organization were required to leave the country due to political turmoil. The situation in country has continued to deteriorate. The work our family was doing for the missions organization is no longer possible. Leaving when we did allowed us to exit in a time of relative peace. This meant we could close out our time in country well.
Have you experienced a time in your life when nothing seemed to make sense, but later you could look back and see how God was orchestrating everything? Or, are you facing a struggle right now, and it seems like God is no where to be found? Are you willing to trust that he is working on your behalf even though you can’t see it?
Iee Robinson says
Thanks for the reminder. Never hear that too much