Just Thinking....

Ruth: Week 3 – Chapter 2

In writing this week’s preliminary on Ruth, I’m going to offer my comments here instead of repeating basically what you guys have already read.  I hope you don’t mind this new approach.  I'm trying to mix things up and keep it interesting.  

When I read the Bible, besides concentrating on the words (because for my little brain to process the language, I have to pay attention), I also like to imagine the “white space”.   Not adding to the scripture but just wondering about what isn’t told.  So, here is my “white space”……….

I’ve read this chapter a few times.   It is building the story but just hasn’t gotten there yet.  I was thinking today about what to write.  I was at a little bit of a block thinking how tough it was to expound on this part of the story.   So I read a few commentaries on Ruth hoping to gain a fresh set of eyes.  In one of the commentaries (I can’t find it right now but when I do – I’ll link it), it was pointed out how in this chapter God begins to reward Ruth for her actions.  Ruth was doing what was right – following God, trusting, taking care of her mother-in-law, etc – and she did all of these things not thinking of herself.  Basically, others saw her life as a testimony, even as a Gentile woman.  She was living what she believed and it showed.   Boaz even points it out in verse 12 where he says: “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel under whose wings thou art come to trust.” (KJV) 

I really like that Boaz uses the example of “under whose wings thou art come to trust”.  It’s like a mother bird protecting her young when she spreads her wings over them. 

I wonder how Ruth felt being in a different place with no friends or family save Naomi. 

How did Ruth feel out there gleaning the fields with complete strangers?  Was she scared?  The Bible says she only rested a short while and worked all day.  I think about that and wonder if the other women rested longer than she did.  I sort of get the impression that they did rest longer simply because the Bible points out Ruth “tarried a little in the house”.  Was she trying to stay ahead of the others?  Did she feel like she didn’t belong?  I wonder if this group of women freely accepted her.

Ruth knew she was an outsider, so I think about the relief she felt when Boaz comes along and then not only makes sure she is allowed to glean as much as she needs but also ensures that she will be protected.  Kind of like God isn’t it in that He provides and protects?  He doesn’t promise that it will be without hardship but He continues to take care of us even during difficult times. 

I wonder when Ruth or Boaz met in the field, did either of them know that their lives were about to change?  Did they sense God had a plan?  Have you ever had such a moment where you could feel God working?  You didn’t know what, who, how - but you could feel it?  Maybe God showed you in one of those ah-ha!  moments.  In the white space, I like to think Boaz and Ruth knew.  I like to think that standing in the field, having that first conversation; they could tangibly feel God at work and orchestrating the bigger picture.  I mean, we all know He’s there and in control anyway but it isn’t always so obvious. 

Six years ago, I had just begun dating Kent.  Literally – we had been going out for a matter of weeks.  For those of you who may not know, my first husband left me the year before for someone else.  That day, Ken and I were sitting on his couch, having a nice conversation.  In the middle of what he was saying, I felt God say “You will marry this man.”  I must have looked confused or shocked.  I could see Kent still talking but I couldn’t believe what I suddenly knew and how it was so, so – THERE and I couldn’t understand how he didn’t know it too.  Actually, God had already pointed all this out to Kent.  I was the last to know. (Smile)  I need to say, I don’t have those moments often.  Most of what God says to me comes more in the form or a whisper, an inner thought/voice that I just know is God, or sometimes it’s a little nudge.  I almost never hear Him as loud and clear as I did at that moment.  If a neon sign had dropped out of the sky and landed in that room, it would not have been any more surprising or obvious.  And, it was in that moment that I knew that God was gonna fix it all.  All the past hurt.  The broken heart.  The mistrust.  The never feeling good enough.  The need and desire for a man that cared more about me than he did himself.  In a few brief, and almost time stopping, seconds - God showed it all to me.  Writing about that doesn’t do it justice.   I may even sound like a whacko but I’m okay with that because I know what God shared with me then and I'm looking back at it now.

When I get to Heaven, I’m looking Ruth and Boaz up and I’m going to ask them “Did you know?”

Your friend,

Kim

Your thoughts?