I never thought I'd fall in love again. When my first husband died I was still young, and childless. My only comfort was my mother in law, Naomi. At least I had her. She wanted to return to her own people, so I went too. I chose her people and her God and so we came wearily to Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was beginning. Poverty was our a daily reality but the field where I gleaned was owned by someone kind. He told the men not to molest me and to let more stalks fall for me as they gathered. I often went home with double. Naomi was curious so I told her about Boaz. I think 'glint in her eye' might be an apt phrase.
I thought I knew my position - a foreign immigrant, lower than Boaz's servants, but he continued to show me favour. Naomi had a plan. Boaz was a distant relation of her dead husband's. She thought he might be persuaded to act as our kinsman redeemer. It would mean redeeming the land she used to own before the famine forced her away. But it would also mean 'redeeming' me in marriage. The more I though about Boaz the better I liked the plan. It just crept up on me. Yes he was older, but a good man. He spoke to me so gently. He was loving. He would make a good father. Could it be possible?
I did everything Naomi said. I can't say I wasn't afraid. Women didn't go to the threshing floor after dark. The harvesters were in high spirits. Eventually people drifted away and Boaz lay down to sleep. I waited a while then crept over, uncovered his blanket and lay down at his feet. I couldn't sleep a wink. It was the middle of the night when he suddenly started and woke up to find me there too, under the covers with him! To say he was startled would be an understatement! A young foreign woman, there in his bed, signalling marriage. He took me seriously though: 'The Lord bless you, my daughter. This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier. You have not run after the younger men (...) don't be afraid. I will do for you all that you ask.'
After that it all happened so fast. We were married. The baby came along. I blessed the God of Israel. The first person to cradle him, after me, was Naomi. I made sure of that.
This is a tale of redemption. From emptiness to fullness; from bitter to blessing.
Naomi is probably the most famous mother in law in the bible. She begins the story on the back foot, having lost her husband, Elimelech, and both married sons whilst in Moab where they originally fled to find food. But she has Ruth*, her Moabite daughter in law, who refuses to leave her when she decides to return to her Israelite homeland of Bethlehem (lit. 'house of food).To reflect her loss she wishes now to be called not Naomi (pleasant) but Mara (bitter).
'I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty' (Ruth 1:21).
(Is everything that goes wrong God's fault: is everything that goes right down to His provision? Interesting thought...)
But Naomi and her daughter in law arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest, a sure narrative and theological harbinger of fruitfulness to come. And that's what you keep feeling in this story: hope after desolation. It's like watching a gentle rom com but a lot better - you know everything is going to be all right.
Thanks to a fortuitous encounter with a relative from way back, Ruth and Naomi have the chance to be 'redeemed' in the manner of Levirate law regarding remarriage of widows. Boaz is the gentleman in question - a 'kinsman-redeemer' - and a jolly kind chap at that. He is willing to marry Ruth the foreigner from Moab and to count any ensuing offspring as, effectively, children for Naomi.
So although she arrived in Bethlehem a widow and childless, she ends up cradling baby Obed, grandfather of King David, in her ageing arms, whilst the women comment of the baby, 'He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter in law who loves you and who is better than seven sons, has given him birth' (Ruth 4:15).
It's never too late to be blessed.
*to be continued tomorrow...
