It's Story Time, Kids

Over the Labor Day long-weekend, my major assignment was to tell a Bible story in Spanish. Since it happened to be one of my favorites, I will share the English variation here.

Once upon a time, there was a family -- husband, wife, and two sons. The wife's name was Naomi (which means "pleasant"). There was a famine in their land, so the family moved to Moab. Shortly after, Naomi's husband passed away. Her two sons later married girls named Orpah and Ruth. But soon, Naomi's sons died, as well. The three mourning widows had no source of income or protection. Naomi told her two daughters-in-law to leave her and move back to their parents' land to find new husbands who could provide for and take care of them. At first, both of the younger women cried and said they would take Naomi back to her family and be with her instead. But Naomi was strong and stubborn. She argued that she would not have any more sons for the girls to marry. Orpah agreed and left Naomi.

Ruth, however, would not be persuaded. She refused to leave Naomi's side, giving a verbal contract that is now common for wedding ceremonies, and I assure you will be used in mine -- "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me" (Ruth 1:16-17). These words make my eyes burn with tears, no matter how often I read them.

Naomi and Ruth traveled back to Bethlehem to find Naomi's family during the harvesting time of year. One of Naomi's late husband's relatives, Boaz, owned a field. From my understanding of the story, Ruth sneaked into the fields after everyone had already harvested, and picked up all the leftovers in hopes that it would be enough for her and Naomi. Boaz noticed her and asked one of his men to bring her to him. Boaz told Ruth that he didn't want her to work in anyone else's field, only his. He commanded all the men who worked for him not to lay a hand on her or even rebuke her as she worked. (I know some feminist readers may disagree, but as for me, that kind of protection is pretty sexy.) Ruth was surprised at his kindness and bowed at his feet in gratitude. She boldly expressed her curiosity to him, however, asking why he had paid attention to her, a stranger. Boaz explained that he admired her for her hard, dedicated work, the kindness she had shown selflessly and sacrificially to her mother-in-law, and told her that he hoped the Lord would find it best to use him to bless her. (WOW!) Then Boaz asked her to dinner. After she had left, he told his men to leave more wheat behind for her without letting her know. (How sweet!)

When Ruth told Naomi how nice Boaz had been, Naomi planned for Ruth to dress (and smell) nicely and go visit Boaz one night. Naomi called Boaz the "kinsman-redeemer." I particularly love the peculiarity of that phrase.... sometimes used in reference to Christ.

So Ruth visits Boaz in the night. I don't think it was anything scandalous. It seemed more sweet and serving. It says that she uncovered his feet (compared maybe to taking off his work shoes?) after a long day then slept at his feet. Boaz was so taken aback by her kindness that he called her "Eishet Hayil." This name is only used twice in the Bible. The other time that "Eishet Hayil" is used is in Proverbs 31 when the actual meaning is given... hence, Ruth is the only woman in the Bible specifically stated to be a "Woman of Noble Character."

Ultimately, Boaz was so happy that Ruth had chosen him instead of the younger guys on his property. Another man actually WAS supposed to purchase Naomi's property and subsequently marry Ruth, but something else came up and the man said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself." What a God thing!!!

And yet, the neatest thing about this entire story is that after Boaz and Ruth were married, they had a son ("Obed") who grew up and had a son ("Jesse") whose son was David. Yeah, that's right. DAVID! The king! The "Man After God's Own Heart." The one I've been attempting to talk about from First Samuel.... The Beginning of the line of the MESSIAH.