Knowing a man's Character

Ruth 2:12-18

Yesterday we evesdropped on Ruth and her mother-in-law’s conversation an also listened to what Ruth and Boaz talked about around midnight, so shall we enjoy the remainder of their discussion.

The first speaker is Boaz, and then Naomi and Ruth have the least input in these conversations, enjoy.  “And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.  Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”  You have to like Boaz, a man who values Ruth’s love for her mother-in-law, who was willing to come to a foreign country, leave her friends and family and work in the fields gleaning grain, putting her safety aside to support her mother-in-law, who is not a fun person to live with.  She is also a risk taker in that much could have gone wrong in following Naomi’s advice.

So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” She replied, “Wait, my daughter until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

I do believe Naomi knew the character of her close relative Boaz, who first and foremost was a man of honor, and what he did in the darkness would hold up in the light.  Yes, he was a man of integrity and a man who valued his workers and was a take-charge businessman who made things happen.  Verse 18, makes this very clear; ” She replied, “Wait, my daughter until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice