Ruth 3:1-5 – An invitation to rest

The moment Naomi heard that Boaz had been treating Ruth so kindly, she must have conceived a plan for the future. She then proposed a bold move for Ruth to take. The reason she felt she needed to make this move was the compelling moral obligation she felt toward her.  Naomi wanted to find her “a resting place” meaning a marriage. Ruth had been working very hard and her place should not be in the field among the hired workers of Boaz. She deserved a home. Naomi knew that Boaz was a good man, a God-fearing man. She knew that he would be more than qualified to be the kinsman-redeemer as stipulated in the law to take Ruth and continue the family line.

Naomi concluded that Boaz would be spending the night keeping watch over the barley harvest at the threshing floor. She knew that he would be sleeping over at the threshing floor, so she hatched a plan to find Ruth a resting place. So the mother-in-law instructed her to bathe, anoint herself with aromatic oil and dress up. Ruth was to go down to the threshing floor but keep away from Boaz until he had finished his evening meal and gone to sleep. She was to approach him when he had fallen asleep, uncover his feet and then lie down there. Naomi was confident that Boaz would take the necessary step to be the kinsman-redeemer.  

Ruth was confident that her mother-in-law knew best and was willing to do whatever it took on her part to be a dutiful wife. For Naomi to do what she did, meant that she was assured of her daughter-in-law’s chaste and good behaviour. She also knew that Boaz was a deeply religious man and would not take advantage of Ruth. What he needed was a gentle nudge to help remind him to perform his duty, by marrying Ruth and fulfil his obligation as a kinsman-redeemer to a dead relative.

The word rest is significant in the journey of a Christian. Rest speaks of a place of security, comfort and a state of peace and restfulness. Like Ruth, we all need a resting place. And the best resting place can be found in Jesus our Lord. He is our kinsman-redeemer. We need to find Him and abandon ourselves at His feet. Our Lord has given us an invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” He is waiting for us to respond to His invitation. Let’s pull away from the mundane and needless activities of life, and find rest in our soul by being with the Lord.