Trusting God

Ruth 3:1-10
Length: 16:55

This is a message given on November 15, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.

Trusting God

Our story of Ruth continues from last week. We left off with Ruth returning to Naomi’s house after a long day in the field. After listening to Ruth’s day, Naomi begins to realize that God is still there working in their lives. She began to understand and remember that God is loyal, faithful and merciful to His children.

Naomi knows what must be done. Encouraged by Ruth’s day in the field and meeting Boaz, Naomi instructs Ruth to seek Boaz as a provider to ensure a good future for Ruth.

Naomi knows that the crop has been harvested and Boaz would be spending the night at the threshing floor. This would be a normal activity. During the harvest season, most people would probably working late into the evening and would be so exhausted that they would just crash right there.

Not only that, but the grain had just been harvested and no doubt Boaz was spending the night there to protect it from thieves or animals as well.

Naomi instructs Ruth to clean herself up and put on her best outfit. Then head down to the threshing floor and indicate that she was willing to have Boaz as her husband by uncovering his feet. Ruth trusted Naomi and obeyed her instructions.

Now, some commentators have read more into this than there is. There was no immoral act committed here. This was simply a custom for a young women to essentially propose marriage to an older man.

Ruth was taking a great risk in doing this. She could have been rejected by Boaz. She could have been humiliated if found alone with Boaz. Her life could have even been at risk, after all Boaz was guarding his grain from thieves. But Ruth trusted in Naomi and obeyed.

During the middle of the night Boaz was startled and realized someone was there. He asks “Who’s there?” Ruth replies, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid for you are a close relative.”

This response of Ruth’s shows that she was submitting to Boaz and was willing to be his wife according to the levirate custom.

Ruth demonstrated moral excellence in her standards. She didn’t engage in any acts of immorality. She did not look to remarry outside the family. She appealed to the customs and traditions of the Jewish people. The people she accepted as her own.

In all aspects of this situation Ruth showed excellence. The same can be said for Boaz. In chapter 2 verse 12, Boaz blesses Ruth by saying “May the Lord reward your work and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

Little did he know at the time of the blessing, that God would use him to carry out and fulfill that blessing. So Boaz too is an excellent man. It is fitting then that they were perfectly matched in marriage.

Boaz is truly a kind man. A man of integrity. He too was taking a risk for Ruth. He showed compassion to her and for her.

But there seems to be a problem. Since, Boaz is a righteous man, he knows the laws and customs. It turns out that there is a closer relation than him. Boaz accepts the proposal from Ruth as long as the nearer relative was unable or unwilling to exercise his levirate duty.

Ruth spent the rest of the night laying at Boaz’s feet. Again, scripture is clear that nothing immoral happened that night. Boaz didn’t want people to think something immoral did occur, so he sent Ruth away early in the morning.

But he didn’t let her go empty handed. He gave her 6 measures of barley to take back to Naomi, while they wait for Boaz to inquiry of the closer relative. Naomi knew that Boaz was a man of integrity and would fulfill his promise with a sense of urgency. They needed to wait on the Lord to work through Boaz.

How about you? Are you willing to wait on the Lord like Ruth and Naomi?

Looking at some of Ruth characteristics, which traits would you like to increase in your life?

Ruth was a hard worker. She did what was right. She put herself out there and took risks. She trusted and obeyed. She was faithful and loyal.

There are some costs associated with obeying God today. There is always the possibility of being rejected by your friends, co-workers, or family members. More than likely you will need to forsake some worldly things and activities. Are you willing to pay the price?

Some of you have indeed made personal sacrifices in accordance with God’s will. You give of your time and money to be here or to do what ever it is you do for God. God knows what you do and you will be rewarded for your works. But we don’t do them, just for a reward.

Things don’t always turn out the way we expect them to. If we really trust God, if we really believe He loves us and has our best interests in mind, then when things seem to fall apart around us and aren’t going our way, we need not worry. Simply trust that God has it under control. Because He does.

Contentment in fact is trusting God even when things seem out of control Discontentment on the other hand is really a lack of faith and trust in God’s love and concern for us. This is like saying God has lost control or doesn’t care about us.

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Verse 19, Paul continues, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Paul trusted God completely. When things fell apart around him and it seemed as though his world was upside down and going crazy. He just kept on trusting God.

There are uncertainty’s that we face each and every day, just like Ruth did. Ruth didn’t know what was going to happen. She just trusted in God and knew everything would work out.

We too need to place our trust into God and let him handle the details. Just like Ruth did.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for another example of a faithful believer in Ruth. This time of her trusting obedience. Help us to be like her. Sometimes you ask us to step out in faith and we may not always be comfortable with that.

It may cause us fear and anxiety. Forgive us when we lack the faith to take the risk that you ask of us. Give us the courage and strength to trust and obey you. AMEN