Naomi passed to Ruth practical instructions on how she might propose marriage to Boaz without public embarrassment to either of them. The process had risks, even danger. But Ruth knew that this was Naomi's area of expertise—and so far Naomi had been right about Boaz. So Ruth took those risks. Instead of rape, she received a blessing (3:10). Instead of refection, she received a gift (3:15-18).
Passing on our wisdom is worth the effort. Whether it is how to make grandmother's lemon pie, gauge the long-term trends of the stock market, or keep a growing relationship with God, we owe our children the heritage of our experience. But we also owe them the freedom to use or ignore that information (fresh-squeezed lemon might not be practical in their time-crunched microwave world). Even if our adult children do not follow our counsel exactly, a relationship of trust and respect allows them to draw on our wisdom in unexpected ways. Ruth and Naomi trusted and respected each other. This kind of relationship will aid the process of parents deciding what to share—and children deciding what to use. (See also Genesis 13, 14; John 3:1-21.)
Ruth 3
Naomi Makes Plans for Ruth
3 One day, Naomi said to Ruth: It's time I found you a husband, who will give you a home and take care of you.
2You have been picking up grain alongside the women who work for Boaz, and you know he is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be threshing the grain. 3Now take a bath and put on some perfume, then dress in your best clothes. Go where he is working, but don't let him see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4Watch where he goes to spend the night, then when he is asleep, lift the cover and lie down at his feet. He will tell you what to do.
5Ruth answered, "I'll do whatever you say." 6She went out to the place where Boaz was working and did what Naomi had told her.
7After Boaz finished eating and drinking and was feeling happy, he went over and fell asleep near the pile of grain. Ruth slipped over quietly. She lifted the cover and lay down near his feet.
8In the middle of the night, Boaz suddenly woke up and was shocked to see a woman lying at his feet. 9"Who are you?" he asked.
"Sir, I am Ruth," she answered, "and you are the relative who is supposed to take care of me. So spread the edge of your cover over me."
10Boaz replied:
The Lord bless you! This shows how truly loyal you are to your family. You could have looked for a younger man, either rich or poor, but you didn't. 11Don't worry, I'll do what you have asked. You are respected by everyone in town.
12It's true that I am one of the relatives who is supposed to take care of you, but there is someone who is an even closer relative. 13Stay here until morning, then I will find out if he is willing to look after you. If he isn't, I promise by the living God to do it myself. Now go back to sleep until morning.
14Ruth lay down again, but she got up before daylight, because Boaz did not want anyone to know she had been there. 15Then he told her to spread out her cape. And he filled it with a lot of grain and placed it on her shoulder.
When Ruth got back to town, 16Naomi asked her what had happened, and Ruth told her everything. 17She also said, "Boaz gave me this grain, because he didn't want me to come back without something for you."
18Naomi replied, "Just be patient and don't worry about what will happen. He won't rest until everything is settled today!"
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc. All rights reserved. Excerpted from The Bible for Today's Christian Woman, CEV, pages 286-287. Used by permission. For reprint information call 630-260-6200.
