This week we had the opportunity to read through the book of Ruth. This was of course a brief reading, going through it in just two days, but I was struck again by what a beautiful story it was, so I thought I’d focus on that story for my blog entry this week.
It begins with three women, in a far-away land, hopeless and helpless without their providers. My heart goes out to these women. In that society, they were poverty-stricken, simply because they were women, and their men died. The striking similarity to the sinner apart from God is obvious. There was nothing they could do for themselves – utterly without hope.
The next thing we see is a clear decision to be made. Ruth and Orpah both need to decide whether to continue to stay with Naomi or not. Orpah leaves her, Ruth stays. I must say, it’s hard to know what to make of this. Clearly, there’s the very simple lesson of remaining faithful to those closest to you. And in that, it’s certainly a touching example
After this, Ruth and Naomi are merely trying to stay alive. And that’s when grace appears. I love the contrast between their complete inability to do anything for themselves, and the grace that was extended to them by Boaz. He gained nothing from it, but a relationship with them. Truly a beautiful picture.
And in return? Ruth goes and lays at Boaz’ feet. A strange reaction? Well, perhaps in our culture it would be. Yet, it seems like, in that culture, what was really saying was “I submit to you, and ask you to rule over my life.” Sound familiar? Sounds like a textbook example of what it means to turn to Christ in need.
And Boaz responds. He humbles himself to go and ask his kindred for permission, and then redeems them. They go from nothings, to being in the very line of Christ. Very simple, and yet so, so sweet.
