This story is about how a full reward was given to two widowed women having no husband, no children and no inheritance. It happened because of the good grace of a man under whose wings they came to trust. There is much to learn in observing how they got into that sad state, but the part of the story with which we are concerned is how they overcame. The outcome of blessing turned upon a man who had passed through similar circumstances in his upbringing and became both gracious and strong. When he observed the devotion of these two women to each other, he realized that any mercy and kindness shown to them would not be slighted or abused. This man was called Boaz, meaning “in him is strength”; he was true to his name. Through him two women, Naomi and Ruth, obtained a place of rest and security under the “wings” of the God of Israel, as well as securing a son born that belongs to the royal lineage. The son’s name was Obed; he was the father of Jesse who begat David.
The Homeland
In the days after Naomi lost her husband and two sons, she hesitates to take her two Moabite daughters-in-law with her to her land of Bethlehem-Judah. It appears that she could not see a future for them in her homeland. Naomi sought means to persuade them to go back to their homeland. In her state of soul at that time, she little knew how one of them, Ruth, would be the means of a great restoration and help in settling their restlessness. Ruth refused all entreaties to separate from Naomi and return to her “mother’s house” in Moab. Ruth demonstrated commitment to her mother-in-law and faith in the God of Israel, in spite of the governmental judgment of the Lord on the family that had left their land of blessing. She would still willingly trade her place in Moab for a portion with Naomi in Bethlehem-Judah, even though in Bethlehem-Judah Ruth would be a foreigner. Moreover, Naomi could not provide any means of recovering the inheritance of her husband, which was left behind at the time of the family’s departure from Bethlehem-Judah.
A Husband
At the time of her departure from Moab, Naomi proceeded to bless her daughters-in-law, saying, “The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband” (Ruth 1:99The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. (Ruth 1:9)). Naomi’s faith did not rise to the point that the “rest” she sought for her daughters-in-law could best be found in Bethlehem-Judah. No doubt Naomi thought that Moab would be a better place to find a husband. Having a spouse is an important factor in being at rest. Living one’s life without a spouse is not the ideal. When the Lord created us, He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:1818And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18)). But in the history of mankind, after sin came in, rest has not prevailed. God still has a plan to restore what is lost, though Naomi’s family had departed from the land of their promised blessing. After their departure, the Lord took away the companionship of their husbands.
Children
Naomi continued to reason with Orpah and Ruth, this time on the basis of how they could obtain children. She had no more sons to become a husband, and if they followed with her, having more children was out of the question. In her dire circumstances she could not see any hope for them in Israel. She saw herself only as a source of much grief for them. At this point Orpah kissed her and left, but Ruth clave to her. Her mother-in-law meant more to her than any other benefit. This is an important point. Had Naomi and her husband Elimelech realized beforehand the value of what they had with each other as a family, they likely would never have taken their children to Moab in the first place. Nevertheless, as we sometimes say, man’s failure is God’s opportunity, or, to say it according to God’s perspective, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:1818Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:18)). None of our mistakes frustrate His purposes.
When Naomi arrives in her home country with Ruth and saw what she has lost, her grief turned to bitterness. But bitterness does not lead down the road toward finding rest. Ruth, on the other hand, pursued another course; she began working to get food. She would not sit idly by, bemoaning her circumstances. She sought permission from her mother-in-law to glean for food in the fields of Bethlehem-Judah. It was the time of barley harvest, and there was the option of gleaning in the fields after reapers. Sometimes we call this food “leftovers,” but if received from the Lord, it is the best food. Moreover, she was optimistic about gleaning in the field of a gracious person. The Lord saw her situation and guided her to the field of a very caring and generous person. From the very first day she went out, this began a new chapter in her life.
Marriage
The next phase of the story given in chapter 3 of Ruth is about obtaining rest. Up to this point, Naomi had received from Ruth things she could no longer provide for herself, no doubt because of her age. Therefore Naomi considers what she can provide for Ruth. Ruth had declined the offer to return to Moab to find a husband. The devotion of Ruth and the results of her work in the fields of Boaz initiated Naomi onto a new course. Leaving her own sorrows behind, she looked out for Ruth’s welfare and rest. Both being childless widows, they devised a plan to advise Boaz, a near kinsman, of their need to have a family. Naomi’s plan was a bold action for Ruth, but it was based on a special provision in the law made for the case of one dying without children (Deut. 25:5-105If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. 6And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. 7And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. 8Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; 9Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. 10And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed. (Deuteronomy 25:5‑10)). The case called for one of the brothers of the deceased person to marry his widow and raise up seed in order that the family not perish in Israel. This case with Naomi and Ruth was further complicated in that it involved marrying a Moabite woman to restore the family lineage. Boaz was willing to do this, he himself being the son of Rahab, a stranger. He grew up knowing what it was like to live in those circumstances, and he could empathize and love one like Ruth who was a foreigner. Because of the generosity and favor of Boaz, the plan worked. The restless family found rest. The book of Ruth terminates with the lineage of David.
The intricacies of this story give a picture of what must be done for us to obtain rest in its various forms. It is a living demonstration of what the Lord Jesus has done in order to be able to say to us, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:28-2928Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28‑29)). This rest that He gives brings us back to God and will endure to the eternal day of rest — eternity.
D. C. Buchanan