• By Eugene Rutabagaya

AN ACCOUNT OF THE STORY OF NAOMI AND RUTH (RUTH 1, 2, 3 AND 4)

Beyond the passion and excitement that it creates, the story of Ruth and Naomi demonstrates the work of God and the dispensation of his grace even when the turns of events are unfavorable, through thick and thin, when heaven seems distant.

Chapter One : Dreadful beginning

In chapter one of the Book of Ruth, Naomi and her husband, Elimelech and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion migrate into the Moabite country due to the famine that has devastated their country, Israel, in the times of Judges. Not long after the family has settled in the new land, Elimelech dies. The two sons then marry Moabites wives, namely Orpah and Ruth. For ten years, both women bore no children to their respective families, until their husbands died, leaving two widows in the house of Naomi. The first chapter of the Book of Ruth ends in despair, with this bitter confession from Naomi : “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty… the Almighty has brought calamity upon me”.

Chapter Two : Restored hope

In the second chapter, a glimmer of hope arouses in this broken family, thanks to the presence of a certain Boaz on the scene, a close relative to the family and one among the possible kinsman redeemers. Now, in Ancient Israel, in order to ensure that land would remain within a clan, the law established that the nearest relative or kinsman had the right of preemption to redeem or recover land that was lost either through death or through poverty (Leviticus 25:25-28). In the case of Naomi, she was prepared to sell part of her husband’s land for her survival (Ruth 4:3).

Boaz showed kindness to Ruth, by letting her glean enough barley in her field, and by giving orders concerning her to his servants. So the second chapter ends on a positive note, as smile is back again with Naomi and her daughter in law, after encountering a close family relative who not only showed them love but also graciously accepted to cater for their immediate food needs. Most importantly, Naomi was enchanted with the identity of the man with whom her daughter in law had found favor. She knew that Boaz was a close relative to her deceased husband, and henceforth one of the possible kinsman redeemers.

Chapter 3 : Adventurous Naomi and Ruth

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained” ! Well, Naomi seems to have been aware of that saying early enough. She and her daughter-in-law make a risky plot. Ruth is to wash and anoint herself, put on her cloak and go down to the threshing floor and hide herself from being seen by Boaz until the later has finished eating and drinking. Ruth executed the plan to the letter, an, when Boaz went to lie down, she followed softly and laid down at his feet, exactly as per the advice of her mother-in-law.

As Boaz turns around at midnight, behold, a woman is laying at his feet ! “Who are you ?” exclaims Boaz, surprised by the incident. I am Ruth your servant, she answers with a calm voice, before asking him to spread his wings over her, and take her as a wife. But like in a movie, when the interested reader thinks that Ruth’s misfortune of being a widow for so long is about to vanish and give way to a beautiful love story, another mountain, seemingly unsurmountable, rises in her life, and the dream of a bridal union with Boaz is seriously compromised.

For in spite of all the virtues that Boaz saw in Ruth, there was another man whose rights were over Boaz when it came to exercising the duty of kinsman redeemer to the Elimelichites. What a demonstration of integrity from Boaz ! He was willing to accept Ruth as his wife and it all seemed a good cause, but not at the price of cheating. He wants justice to be done to the nearest redeemer. So the third chapter ends yet again in suspense of another setback. Manifestly, the excitement created by this indecisive situation can only rise up and again.

Chap 4 : A son is born to … Naomi

Chapter four is equally full of its share of turns and twists. Boaz takes the matter to the Council of Elders in the presence of the nearest kinsman redeemer who accepts to redeem the parcel of land that belonged to Elimelech. But there is an implication to that settlement in that whoever buys the field from the hand of Naomi, should also acquire Ruth the Moabite (Naomi’s daughter-in-law) to be his wife, in order to perpetuate the name of her late husband, Mahlon. Now, the nearest kinsman redeemer is not ready to take Ruth as his wife, on account of protecting his own inheritance. As a result, he withdraws his pledge to be the redeemer, so Boaz takes Ruth and she becomes his wife. What a relief ! At last, Ruth and Naomi have made it through the hindrances of a hazardous road. As interested readers, we are all enchanted.

But there is an ultimate hurdle : as we cheer about a happy ending to this fascinating and multifaceted story, it comes to our mind that … Ruth is barren. After all, wasn’t she married to Machlon for ten years without giving birth ? (Chapter 1:4). Some suspicion sprouts quickly in our minds that she might not bore a child to Boaz. But that is without factoring in the invisible presence of God in all this story. In fact, although God is not explicitly cited in most developments throughout the book (except for only a few actions), he is consistently at work in the background to bring about an amazing ending of events, for the good of Naomi’s family and for his own glory. In 4:13, God intervenes to enable Ruth to conceive and bore a son. The ultimate hurdle has been removed.

From verses 14 to 17 (chapter 4), there’s a notable shift from Ruth and Boaz to Naomi and the child. A story that began with Naomi’s losses in Chapter 1, is ending with attention being focused on Naomi’s gains. It began with death and it ends with birth. And whose son is it ? Obviously, we would say, it is Ruth’s and Boaz’s. But that is not what the Bible says. In verse 17 : “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Conclusion

God is certainly at work in the background of the many events that you and I are going through at present, to ensure a happy ending and give us a glorious future. He governs our lives, our growth, our marriage and our relationships. He controls fateful events such as famine, wars, loss of our beloved ones, depressions and all sorts of hindrances. But when God’s time rings, no one and nothing can stand in the way. He removes the hurdle and fulfills his purpose in our lives.