Ruth 3:1-6 ESV
Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.
UNRESERVED OBEDIENCE.
After Naomi saw Ruth’s blessed experience with Boaz, she became alive again. She saw a spark of hope to look at the future with optimism. She sought for the future wellbeing of Ruth. We may question her plan but God allowed it to happen.
She asked Ruth to beautify herself and clandestinely go to Boaz’s tent that evening. When he is about to sleep, she has to “uncover his feet and lie down.” No further explanation except that Boaz will tell her what to do once he discovers her. She has just to trust her words and obey her.
And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
Why did Ruth didn’t ask for any explanation? As a Moabitess, why was it easy for her to obey without rancor such ridiculous order from Naomi? Her obedience was an evidence of genuine trust as a child to his mom.
Certainly, Naomi didn’t do this should she had not known the character of Boaz. He was a kind, generous and godly. Similarly, Ruth should have had second thoughts about Naomi if she has had questions to her character. Our integrity, not our logic or rationality, does command more respect towards other people, doesn’t it? Children obey their parents not because they understand. In most cases, they have no idea yet they do it. What’s the reason? They say, “My mom said it. And mom is always good”
Is blind obedience encouraged here? Definitely, No. In a wedding at Cana when they lacked wine, Mary said to the servants, “Whatever He[Jesus] tells you do it.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.’ [John 2:5-7] Did the servants obey Jesus blindly? What are servants suppose to do?
Abraham obeyed God to go to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his only son, who was the heir of promise. Did Abraham obey God blindly? [see the story at Gen 22]
The Holy Spirit had led the Lord Jesus to go to the wilderness in order to be tempted by Satan. Did Jesus obey blindly too? [see story at Luke 4]
In all these, we see the supernatural or miracles happening only after they had fully obeyed. And the reason for them to obey is the character of the one they obeyed. It is the integrity of the person, not our understanding to the logic of the command, that should command our respect and obedience, doesn’t it?
God is trustworthy. Let’s obey Him fully.
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