Ruth 3: Generous Choices
Written by Author and Speaker, Dave Hopwood http://www.davehopwood.com/
Naomi is now well and truly changed by Ruth’s kindness. In chapter one Naomi expressed concern for the future lives of her two daughters-in-law, saying she could not produce more sons for them. Now, her concern for Ruth bears unexpected fruit. Her bitterness is healing. She starts coming up with good ideas. She suggests Ruth go and show interest in Boaz.
A Daring Plan
Naomi has found for Ruth a possible husband.
She tells Ruth to change from her mourning clothes and dress herself up to catch his eye and show that she is willing to marry. Then to go and see him late at night, after the partying at the end of the harvest season.
It’s an unusual and daring plan but Naomi seems hopeful and confident. Why?
Because Boaz is an honourable man, who will accept Ruth’s approach. And this bears out when Boaz responds well to Ruth’s proposal of marriage. He also tells her to leave before the sun rises so that no one sees her leave him and jumps to the wrong conclusion.
Sowing Good Ideas
We don’t know what God is doing here. We’re not told and we don’t hear God’s voice directly in the story. But very often God is behind what just seems like a good idea to us.
I once heard the parable of the Sower (Mark 4:3-9) described in terms of Jesus being a sower who goes out sowing good ideas into our lives.
In World War II, submarine Captain Rupert Lonsdale and his crew were trapped on the seabed. One end of the sub was firmly wedged in sand on the seabed. He prayed and an idea popped into his head.
He tied a rope from one end of the sub to the other, and got all the men to climb up to add weight to the end not stuck in the seabed.
When they fired up the engines again, the redistributed weight of the men helped the submarine lift out of the sand and they were all saved.
God’s Opportunities
Boaz very likely had no idea that Ruth would propose as she did. But he was certainly honoured by this. He knew Ruth was free to choose who she married, and it gave him another opportunity to help Ruth and Naomi.
Opportunities to help others may come our way unexpectedly. We cannot always predict those times when we can help someone.
There’s a saying, “minds are like parachutes…They work best when they are open.”
It’s a good idea to pray for open minds so that when opportunities arise we can see them – and seize them.
Ruth 3:10-11
“The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character…”
Reflect
Generosity can be risky, like Naomi’s plan here. What do you think about that?
What do you think about the suggestion that God sows good ideas into our minds?
Have you ever had unexpected opportunities to help someone?