Unshaken (17 page)

Authors: Francine Rivers

“So I had to come to you and propose on the threshing floor.”

“And you wouldn’t have done so if Naomi hadn’t pressed you into it.”

“I’m glad she did. May the Lord bless her forever for it!” Ruth shook her head and let out her breath softly, her smile softening. “I never thought I could love another as I did Mahlon, and what I feel for you now is so much more. Oh, Boaz, God is merciful! He is kind and generous.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gazed up at him with adoring eyes.

Boaz cupped her face and drank in the sight of her love. “The Lord is all that and more, my love.”
Oh, Lord God, You amaze me! Never would I have dared dream of having such a treasure as this.

Leaning down, Boaz kissed Ruth with all the love he had stored for a lifetime.

And the women were saying . . .

“I thought she was pretty before, but even more so now. Have you ever seen a more beautiful woman than Ruth?”

“It’s love that’s done it.”

“It’s the clothes. It’s got to be the clothes. Anyone can be beautiful when you’re married to the richest man in town.”

“If you put sackcloth on that girl, she’d still shine.”

“She’s a lamp on a stand.”

“Have you seen the way she looks at Boaz?”

“Have you seen the way
he
looks at
her?
”

The women giggled.

“I should be so lucky.”

“Naomi must be proud of her matchmaking.”

“A word here, a nudge there.”

“Boaz didn’t need much prodding.”

“Are any among us more deserving? Has anyone been more generous to the poor than Boaz?”

“Has anyone shown more devotion to her mother-in-law than Ruth?”

“Ah, but it is God who has poured His blessings upon them.”

“Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

And the men were saying . . .

“I rejoice at our brother’s happiness!”

“As do we all, brother!”

“Boaz waited a long time for the Lord to answer his prayer.”

“A good wife is more precious than rubies.”

“Beauty doesn’t last.”

“True, but Ruth is a young woman who fears God and respects her husband.”

“And loves him. Anyone with eyes can see.”

“She is to be highly praised.”

“May our brother’s household increase.”

“May their sons be like Boaz, and their daughters like Ruth!”

“From your mouth to God’s ears.”

And the assembly at the gate all said,
“Amen!
”

THIS is the family tree of Boaz, beginning with his ancestor Perez: Perez (whose mother was Tamar), Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and David, who became king of Israel. And from the line of King David came the Christ, the anointed One of God, Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

DEAR READER,

You have just read the story of Ruth as perceived by one author. Is this the whole truth about the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz? Jesus said to seek and you will find the answers you need for life. The best way to find the truth is to look for yourself!

This “Seek and Find” section is designed to help you discover the story of Ruth as recorded in the Bible. It consists of six short studies that you can do on your own or with a small discussion group.

You may be surprised to learn that this ancient story will have applications for your life today. No matter where we live or in what century, God’s Word is truth. It is as relevant today as it was yesterday. In it we find a future and a hope.

Peggy Lynch

SEEK GOD’S WORD FOR TRUTH
Read the following passage:

In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a man from Bethlehem in Judah left the country because of a severe famine. He took his wife and two sons and went to live in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. During their stay in Moab, Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her husband or sons.

Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.

But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes instead of coming with me. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.

“No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.”

But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has caused me to suffer.”

And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi. “See,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”

But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” So when Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her.

RUTH
1:1-18

There are many life-changing events that come into our lives. List all the life-changing events you find in the above passage.

How many of these events were the result of Naomi’s choices?

What is her response to these events?

What do you learn about Naomi’s daughters-in-law?

What choices did they make?

With whom do you identify?

FIND GOD’S WAYS FOR YOU
What life-changing events have you experienced?

Who helped you through these events?

What kind of counsel did you receive?

Naomi and Ruth needed wisdom to make their decisions. Contrast worldly wisdom and godly wisdom from the following passage:

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

J
AMES
3:13-18

STOP AND PONDER
Based on your contrast of wisdom from the passage you just read, which kind of wisdom do you seek? Which kind of wisdom do you impart to others?

SEEK GOD’S WORD FOR TRUTH
Read the following passage:

So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was stirred by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why should you call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy?”

So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

R
UTH
1:19-22

When Ruth and Naomi arrive in Bethlehem, how are they received?

What is Naomi’s attitude? Whom does she blame for her misfortunes?

Read the following passage:

Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.

One day Ruth said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the fields to gather leftover grain behind anyone who will let me do it.”

And Naomi said, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.” So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

R
UTH
2:1-3

Describe Ruth’s plan to take care of her mother-in-law.

Who owned the field where she worked? Who was he?

Read the following passage:

Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the women working in my field. See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to bother you. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.”

Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “Why are you being so kind to me?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.”

“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully.”

“I hope I continue to please you, sir,” she replied. “You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not as worthy as your workers.”