Ruth Awaits Boaz While God is at Work

Is waiting in peace for God to answer a prayer difficult? It can be challenging for every Christian. Join the podcast today as the Book of Ruth shows us that God is at work even when we don’t see the answers yet, so we can His rest in peace. We will cover these points:

Wait Time* Time has passed between Chapters two and Chapter three of Ruth—between two and three months. * Waiting often prepares our hearts to what’s ahead in life. * Time and love prepared Naomi and Ruth for God’s blessing and challenges that were about to come.

Wash and Anoint Yourself (Ruth 3: 1-5)* Naomi wants a husband and home life for Ruth. * She reminds Ruth that Boaz is the kinsman and landowner who just happens to be winnowing barley that night. * Naomi gives Ruth four instructions and Ruth obeys. * Uncovering his feet, was signaling Ruth wants to be his wife and he, her kinsman redeemer!

Boaz was Startled! (Ruth 3: 6-13) Boaz was startled to find a woman lying at his feet. * By asking him to spread his cloak over her, Ruth was repeating Boaz’s words of Ruth 2 when he blessed her for seeking refuge under the wings or cloak of God. * In Ezekiel 16:8, God even uses the same phrase saying he will spread his cloak over Israel in covenant love to protect the nation and make the nation his forever* just like the covenant commitment in a marriage. * Boaz says he will marry her and spread his cloak (meaning provision, protection and warmth) over her; everyone in the village knows she is a worthy woman (in Hebrew word haill) which means honorable, noble and excellent.

Problem: Another Goel * Boaz agrees to marry Ruth but says a closer kinsmen exists who legally has the first opportunity to marry her and claim the land of Elimelech that might have gone to Mahlon. * Boaz likely had been considering his obligation all along- he knew he was in line to be the kinsman-redeemer.

Provision and More

• Boaz, in his display of hesed love, gives Ruth 60 pounds of Barley to take back to Naomi.
• Naomi would understand the gift of barley to mean Boaz was giving his word in agreement with God’s laws.
• She said to Ruth, wait my daughter, let your heart be peaceful, you can count on Boaz to work this out.

Personal ApplicationWhat impacts you most from Ruth 3?

1. Surrender & Trust. At one point on the threshing floor, Ruth came to complete trust and complete surrender to God and his laws. She did everything she knew to do and now would trust the rest to God. Proverbs 3: 5-6 reminds of the same: Proverbs 3: 5-6 reminds us we can count on God. Surrender you needs to him and trust he is leading you as you walk forward.
2. Wait in Peace, God is at Work. Remember that while waiting for God to answer but not seeing answers yet, God is still at work. We can pray with Psalm 27: 13-14 that reminds us God will answer, He is at work while we wait. Our Savior Jesus will “settle the matter for us” always. Even if you feel empty like Naomi did, wait on God and His son Jesus. You will see that He will settle the matters for you. Proverbs 16: 3 also assures us of this. Repeat these Scriptures daily, declare them to yourself and pray them.

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