Now, Naomi had a relative on her husband's side who was a man of standing, named Boaz. And Boaz had what we would call a wheat farm, and was quite wealthy. So, Naomi suggested to Ruth that she go to his field, as it was being harvested at this time, and collect the grain that was scattered between the rows after the harvesters went through. Many of the poor people, called gleaners, followed the harvesters and collected for themselves the bits and pieces of the grain to keep for their own families.
Ruth agreed to do this and busily picked up that which she found. But, just then, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeting the harvesters, asked his foreman, "Who is the young woman gleaning?" And the foremen replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. She asked to glean behind the harvesters and has worked steadily sine morning."
So Boaz went to Ruth and said, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Watch the field where the men are harvesting and follow after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. Whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled." Ruth bowed down to Boaz and exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner." And Boaz answered, "I've been told all about what you have done for Naomi since the death of your husband--how you left your people and homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you with rich rewards for what you have done. And may you come under the wings of the God of Israel." And at mealtime, Boaz invited her to join him for some bread dipped in wine vinegar.
When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. As she got up to glean some more, Boaz instructed the workers, "Pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, but don't rebuke her." And so, Ruth was able to glean what she and Naomi needed for their small household.
When Naomi saw what Ruth had for their cupboard, she was thrilled and asked who the people were who were so generous. Ruth said, "The name of the man I worked for was named Boaz." At the answer, Naomi became excited, and said, "The Lord bless him! He is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman redeemers!" (A redeemer is a relative who takes care of those who have been left without one to take care of them.) And Naomi had a good idea.
After some time, and Ruth had continued to glean in Boaz' field where Boaz himself would often watch as she went past his barn, Naomi shared her idea. "Tonight Boaz will be winnowing barley on his threshing floor. Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."
Ruth did as she was told--everything her mother-in-law told here to do. And when Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet.
"Who are you?" he asked. And she answered shyly, "I am your servant, Ruth. Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer." And Boaz, surprised, yet pleased, said, "The Lord bless you, my daughter. This kindness is greater that that which you showed earlier you have not run after younger men, whether rich or poor. And now my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. You will be redeemed." And so she was redeemed. This, indeed, is a happily-ever-after story.
Now, I, too, had a wonderful mother-in-law. Her name was Margrit in Swedish, but she let me call her Mom Johnson. The way she showed her family that she loved them taught me a lot. Dad Johnson worked outside often, and it was bitterly cold that morning. She took his rubber overshoes or boots and held them upside down over the flame of her gas stove to warm them for him. I never forgot that doing simple tasks for someone is a "labor of love." Mothers-in-law are the best!
Loving her, now long past,
Jo INMN
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