“I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. Ruth 3:5
My perception of the relationship of Naomi and Ruth is much as the evangelist and the proselyte. One who has walked the path and one who seeks to follow in the footsteps in faith. To the Gentiles of the world, this message is of vital importance; we have access to God by the faith and instructions given by the faithful. This is why it is important that our preachers, teachers and missions be grounded in true Faith and hold dear to their hearts the ways of Christ and the Father by the Holy Spirit before they impart on us the lessons of Faith.
Naomi tells Ruth to put on her finest garments, one such as she would have worn on her wedding day. I only have to look to Matthew 22:1-14 to see the parallel between the invitation of Christ to the Wedding Feast of Salvation and the request of Naomi for Ruth to go to Boaz. Ruth is not asked to wear her normal “working clothes” but the best she has. She then is asked to summit herself as a slave to Boaz by lying at his feet just as we are asked to summit to Christ as servants of His Mercy. She knew that by going and sleeping at the feet of Boaz, she surrenders herself to him and is completely at his mercy. Just as we, when we are to lie at the feet of Jesus, surrender ourselves to His Grace.
The statement of Ruth, when questioned by Boaz, is our expression to God as we seek His protection. “Spread your wings over your servant, for You are [the] Redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9) Place yourselves in the shoes of the woman with the hemorrhages who sought only to touch the hem of Jesus, (Luke 8:41-48) and let the grace of Jesus, Your Redeemer, touch you. Another “unclean” woman was the harlot who washed the feet of Jesus with perfume and wiped them with her hair, a woman rejected by the priests of the temple. By what right do we, the unclean and the rejected of the world have to come and rest at the feet of the Most High God? We have the right of invitation. And we are to go boldly and ask for His Name’s sake. In the submission of Ruth to Boaz, he has the right to accept her or to reject her with disgrace.
The action of Boaz is the grace that comes only from God. He does not send her away but gives her the promise of the Redemption that is given only to the Israelites. To sweeten the offer, he gives to Ruth extra measures of barley so that she may not return to Naomi empty handed and to tell her that Boaz has found favor in her character. The very words of Boaz, “…as the LORD lives, I will redeem you,” (Ruth 3:13) is the Promise that God gave to the people of Israel in the wilderness. They are the words of Jesus to the gentiles and the fulfillment of the words of the prophets and David. The Father of Creation will redeem the people of the world by the Word of God through the Son of Man, Jesus.
Looking to Boaz as the Christ representative, we see that he is a man of integrity. His yes is yes and his no means no. He is respected and honored by his servants and his word is heard and obeyed. Boaz is sensitive to the needs of others and gracious beyond measure (six measures of grain is an undetermined amount). As an Elder in Bethlehem, he is respected and given honor by Israel. His acute sense of responsibility goes beyond the “faithful” but is extended to the “foreigners” such as Ruth just as Christ offers His Salvation to us, the foreigners to the “Law” of the Torah. While the Law was given to the Sons of Israel, the Word is fulfilled for all who seek to “lie at the feet of Jesus”.
As we are challenged with the choices of the world, we can seek redemption through the blessings and acceptance of Christ even to become His brides. We can come to Him in full submission, without fear, and place ourselves at His Ever-loving Kindness just as Ruth went to Boaz. We can rely on the Promise of Acceptance and be blessed with the Grace of Salvation and be given honor among the Family of God. You can go to God knowing that, “He will shield you with His wings, He will shelter you with His feathers. His Faithful promises are your armour and protection.” (Psalm 91:4).
I want you to take note of the fact that even after Boaz discovers Ruth, he does not send her away but tells her to stay the night. Ruth should have been fearful at this time because Boaz could have taken advantage of her. But her faith in the God of Naomi was great enough that she did not hesitate, but remained there still resting at his feet. There is no fear in trusting God, nor is there any reason to doubt in Jesus. God does not abuse the faithful. God gives to us a safe haven in which we may find sanctuary and perfect Peace. The Message of Christ is “come and abide with Me, and I will give you safe habitation”. That safe habitation is not of this world but of the Kingdom of God. This is the Message that is given to the people: By the bloodline of Ruth and Boaz, JesusChrist who is the Redeemer of all men, comes that they may seek Him out and be blessed in full measure beyond their dreams. As Boiaz was faithful to the Promise of God to Moses, we enter into the same faithfulness through Jesus, the fulfiller of all of God’s promises to men.