Unshaken (13 page)

Could he stand before the Lord if he allowed such a thing to happen to Ruth? Could he look into her eyes if he allowed shame to be poured on her because he wasn’t vigilant to do what was right? No! He must protect her reputation, even if it meant giving her up to another man. His heart sank at the thought. Gritting his teeth, he struggled with his desire to have her for himself. But how could he overlook the Law? No matter how much he wanted Ruth, he must obey the Lord.

You know I want her, don’t You, Lord? Is that why You’re testing me now? Oh, Jehovah-tsidkenu, give me strength not to give in to my desire to have her. Keep me to Your path, for if I step off, I am lost! Help me show Ruth the kindness she has shown me, and establish her
.

“Yes,” he said to her. “There is another relative who must be consulted. Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, then let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will marry you! Now lie down here until morning. No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.”

Ruth lay down at his feet again. Boaz felt her presence so acutely, his stomach hurt. He wondered if she slept, for she made no sound at all. Nor did she move. He longed to touch her, to talk with her, but withheld his hand and kept his silence.

He prayed instead.

Oh, Lord, Lord . . .

He didn’t even have words for the feelings stirring so strongly in him. He was shaken by her presence, shot through with hunger for her to be his wife. How many years had it been since he’d felt like this? Not since he’d thought himself in love with Naomi.
It’s been more than twenty years!

The hope of loving Ruth made him afraid for the first time in years.

Ruth came abruptly awake when a gentle hand brushed the hair back from her forehead.
“Shhhhh.”
Boaz put his finger over his lips. He was down on one knee beside her, and it was light enough to see his smile. “Everyone’s still asleep,” he mouthed. Dawn was coming. It was time for her to leave before any of his servants awakened and saw her there.

“Bring your cloak and spread it out,” he whispered. She followed him to the pile of barley that had been purified of all the tare seeds. “I can’t send you home without a present.” He shoveled grain into her shawl until there was more than a bushel and a half. Then he tied it and laid it on her back. “For Naomi.”

His generosity never ceased to amaze her. She could not have carried any more. “Thank you,” she whispered and looked up at him. When her eyes met his, she felt the jolt of recognition and connection. He wasn’t just looking at her the way a man looked at a woman he found attractive. He looked at her as though she already belonged to him. The way he studied every detail of her face made her heart quicken. She blinked, stunned by the realization that this man, so far above her station, wanted her.

When Boaz reached out, she drew in a trembling breath. Though she stood still, waiting for his touch, he withdrew his hand. His smile became almost fatherly, his tone faintly reproving. “May it be as God wills.”

As soon as Ruth was out of sight, Boaz awakened Shamash. “I’m going into the city. I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

Shamash started to rise. “Is there trouble?”

Boaz put a hand on his shoulder. “No trouble, my friend. There’s a matter of business I need to take care of this morning. It can’t wait.”

“It must be important. I’ve never known you to leave the threshing floor.”

Boaz had no intention of explaining. He didn’t want anyone speculating about Ruth’s visit to the threshing floor. By the end of the day, she would have a husband. He intended to do all he could to make certain it was him. Whether he succeeded would be up to God. He squeezed Shamash’s shoulder. “Pray for me, my friend. Pray what I want is what God intends.”

A quick frown flickered over Shamash’s face, but he responded quickly. “May the Lord give you wisdom in every circumstance.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears.”

Boaz strode down the road toward Bethlehem, his mind racing with the plan that had been forming in his mind.

Ruth was home before the sun had risen and surprised to find Naomi up and watching for her. “Have you been waiting all night for me?”

“Could I sleep on such a night? Well? What happened, my daughter?”

Uttering a mirthless laugh, Ruth lowered the grain. “It’s not settled yet, Mother. Boaz told me there’s another relative more closely related than he is.” She kept her face averted, for she didn’t want Naomi to see how disturbed she’d been by that news. “But he said not to worry; he’ll take care of all the details. He said if this other man won’t marry me, then he will. Boaz swore by Jehovah that he would.” She couldn’t hide the sudden rush of tears. “What if he can’t work it out and I have to marry this other man? I don’t even know who he is!”

Frowning heavily, Naomi tapped her fingertips against her lips.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Ruth stared. “You knew, didn’t you? You knew about this other man and still sent me to Boaz?”

“I want you to have the best of men.”

Did Naomi know something about this other man that made him undesirable as a husband? “Who is this man?”

“He is a man like any other man, but not the man I would have for you.”

“Oh, Mother. What does it matter what you and I want? It’s out of our hands now.” Ruth wept, the tensions of the night taking their toll on her resolve. She wished she had never agreed to go to the threshing floor. “Weren’t we doing all right by ourselves? Wasn’t God providing for us each day?”

Naomi embraced her. “Oh, my sweet girl, you needn’t worry. Boaz wants you!”

“How can you know that?” Perhaps she had been mistaken by what she thought she saw in his eyes.

“Look at all this! Do you think the man would have sent so much grain home with you if he were indifferent to the outcome? Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has followed through on this. He will settle it today.”

Boaz strode quickly through the city streets until he came to his house. Several of his servants were up and doing chores. The house was in good order; it smelled of bread baking. “Bring me water, Avizemer, and have Yishmael bring me a new tunic, mantle, and sash.”

He washed carefully and donned fresh clothing. Drawing his prayer shawl over his head, he prayed again, beseeching God for wisdom and strength to do what was right. He didn’t hurry in speaking with the Lord, but remained in a chamber by himself until the sun was well up and he knew he would be at peace with the outcome, whatever it was.

When he came out of his inner chamber, his servants were huddled together, whispering. They glanced up in concern. “Yishmael, I have an errand for you.” Boaz smiled at the others. “Everything is fine. Go back to your work.”

They did as he bid them, but he could sense their curiosity. His mouth curved in a rueful smile. It wasn’t every day their master came racing into his house in the manner he had. No wonder they were concerned. They were more accustomed to seeing him come home late in the afternoon, dusty from work, ready to wash, eat, pray calmly, and go to bed. Every day had a sameness about it.

But today was different!

He gave Yishmael the names of ten of the chief men in the city, men who were good friends and honest in their dealings with everyone. “Ask them to meet me at the gate of the city.” Most of the men would be easily found at the synagogue. They often met in the morning before they began their business transactions for the day. Several might already be sitting in the gate, hearing and helping to settle disputes between citizens. “As soon as you’ve spoken to them, go to Naomi and Ruth, the Moabitess. They live in a—”

“I know where to find them, my lord.”

“Good. Bring them to the gate right away.”

Boaz went down to the marketplace to find Ruth’s and Naomi’s relative. He knew more than he wanted to know about the man’s reputation but was determined not to judge him on gossip. He intended to present Ruth’s case in a way that would test the man’s character. He walked among the booths until he spotted Rishon, son of Oved, brother of Elimelech, talking with several young men while his wife scooped barley from an earthen container and poured it into an old woman’s woven basket. The two women argued. Scowling, Rishon turned, said something to the older woman, and gestured impatiently. The woman turned away with a defeated frown.

Stiffening, Boaz stood still for a moment, breathing in slowly and reasoning with himself. What he witnessed was not necessarily all it seemed to be. He needed to keep his mind clear for the discussion ahead. Rishon’s children were in the booth with his wife. He counted three, including the baby cradled in Rishon’s widowed mother’s arms.

“Rishon,” Boaz called, going no closer. When the younger man turned, he beckoned. “Come over here, friend. I want to talk to you.” He kept his voice casual, as though what he wanted to discuss was of no great importance to him.

Rishon came readily, blushing and looking faintly guilty. “I take it you saw that woman. She’s always expecting more than—”

Boaz raised his hand to stop the flow of excuses. “It’s another matter I would discuss with you.”

Rishon looked visibly relieved. “Another matter? What matter?”

“Come,” Boaz said, holding his hand out in welcome. “Sit with me where it’s cooler.” He caught the glint of speculation in Rishon’s eyes when he sat down in the shade of the city gate. Rishon sat down with him. Boaz called the names of the ten men who had gathered in the gate. “Will you agree to be witnesses to whatever is decided here today?”