God's Masterplan
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Ruth 3
Introduction
Well yesterday Joy and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary. 11 years married. Praise God. He has been so kind to us. And in thinking about our anniversary and reading Ruth chapter 3 about the threshing floor proposal, it brought me back to the time I proposed to Joy. I remember that day, pretty clearly. It’s because I fumbled that proposal. See in my head I had a masterplan. it was going to be so romantic. I spent about hours preparing my lines. beautiful words of poetry I was going to shower Joy with. I had gathered 3 of Joys closest friends to help with the proposal. A couple of friends to prepare picnic food. One friend to organise little vases with flowers stationed in specific spots on a walk through this beautiful garden. And it would lead to a spot that had picture frames that said will you marry me? And at each station i thought I’d give her flowers and tell Joy a very romantic story of key moments of our relationship and tell her wonderful poetry from Song of Songs.
but my masterplan did not go to plan. I remember that day, hadn’t really slept the night before, felt so nervous. we had a mens breakfast at church in the morning, and after that I’d go to propose. And so, we get there. Joy’s suss. of course. But when I led her down the path and at each station instead of declaring my love for her and reciting some poetry, I just took the flowers and said ‘these are yours.’ And these are yours. And these are yours. I was basically incoherent blubbering mess. but Joy was very kind. I got on a knee and asked her if she would like to take my hand in marriage. My masterplan did not go to plan but she still said yes. And here’s a photo to commemorate that day. i’ll take it off it’s a bit awkward.
This morning we come to what is a very strange proposal. And it was Naomi’s masterplan. Why this plan? well last week we met Boaz. He’s a worthy man. He’s a kind wealthy man. He took care of Ruth, Naomi’s daughter in law. He gave her food. And he provided abundantly. knew of of Ruth’s loving kindness to Naomi. And so at the end of chapter two, Naomi is no longer bitter but gives thanks to God for his loving kindness. Now what she realises is that actually he is a close relative, a redeemer. So she comes up with a masterplan.
1. Naomi’s masterplan (3:1-4)
Notice Naomi is not passive anymore. She really springs into action. She gets very proactive. Why? Well her desire is for Ruth to find rest, find security, have a future. And that’s the key issue in this chapter. it’s about rest and securing the future. look at the word rest in Verse 1 and then the final verse of chapter 3 – it’s the start and end of the chapter.
“My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
And then verse 18 when Naomi says to Ruth
“Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”
It’s the same word she used in chapter 1:9 when she told her daughters in law to leave her.
The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!”
Rest. She wants rest. she wants to find rest for Ruth and security their future. And of course, it’s the time of the Judges a time of uncertainty, where anything goes. So these are women have little protection. So she comes up with a masterplan. What is it? read on in verse 2 with me
Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”
Here's the master plan. She says to Ruth, Boaz is a relative of ours. I know his calendar. I know he will winnow barley on the threshing floor. now let me explain that concept because most of us are not farmers. The threshing floor was an open flat area where you put your stalks of grain. And the stalks of grain are threshed. That is, they are trampled on to loosen the grain from the husks usually by oxen who tread on it. And so after that, everything lays in a pile and then the farmers will winnow it. This means they use a big fork and throw it up in the air usually at night where there’s a gentle breeze to separate the grain and husks. it’s very labor intensive. Boaz is going to be there doing that.
So, have a shower, doll yourself up, put on a nice dress and go down to the threshing floor. Once he’s finished working, finished eating and drinking - see it’s all very intentional - right then at the end of the day, uncover his feet and wooolaaa get engaged. That’s Naomi’s masterplan. It’s bold, it’s risky and it’s daring isn’t it?
2. Ruth’s obedience (3:5-9)
And do you see Ruth’s response? I want you to notice it. she is obedient. she trusts her mother in law.
And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
So verse 6
So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
Now you are probably thinking, that just seems so sketchy. Why? Well I don’t know about you but as far as what we’ve read in the book of Ruth, they have just had a few conversations. So to go from gday how are you to there’s a woman lying at my feet! What in the world? And can I suggest that if you are just getting to know someone and they are lying at your feet at midnight, they are most likely not the one! It’s not ‘thing’ to lie at someone’s feet. When I proposed we took a photo, that’s a thing you do in this time, but lying at feet is not a thing in that time. And also, it’s unusual for a woman to propose to a man in that context. Maybe Boaz will be offended. Boaz could interpret this as ‘is she offering me sex?’ she is a Moabite woman after all. it’s risky. And even more than that, Ruth is put in a vulnerable position. What if someone saw them lying together? It’s all quite sketchy.
But in the whole story, they are pure. There’s no sex involved. There’s no hint of immorality at all. There’s no sin whatsoever. Naomi wants to find rest for Ruth, give her a future. See what’s actually happening is Naomi is actually showing covenant faithfulness to God. she’s actually applying God’s law, trusting in God’s covenant promises to provide a future through a redeemer. And look at what Ruth does. she trusts in God’s law herself. She is noble. Why?
Look at Ruth’s response to Boaz.
He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”
See what’s happening? She’s not saying I’m a foreigner or a Moabite. She’s saying I’m your servant. She’s saying ‘spread your wings over your servant. Or the NIV says spread the corner of your garment over me.’ that word wing/garment is the same word in chapter 2 verse 12. We saw it last week. when Boaz says to Ruth
The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
Under whose wings – that’s the phrase I want you to think about. See at one level Ruth is asking Boaz to protect her, spread his wings, care for her. But at another level she’s quoting what he said about how she took refuge under God’s wings. She gave it all up to come under God’s wings. And she’s challenging him ‘will you take me under your wings as God took me under his? Do you hear that? She’s boldly proposing. Will you marry me? she trusts God’s covenant promises. That God would provide a redeemer for Naomi’s family. That redeemer is Boaz.
Now What does this redeemer do? i’ve mentioned the word redeemer a few times. It’s a word that comes up lots in chapter 4, next week. But the idea of a family or kinsman redeemer is set out under a levirate marriage in the old testament in Deuteronomy 25:5
“If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.
You can read it there but the point is; it is the duty of a man to marry a sonless widow of deceased brother. If we were living under this covenant today, if my brother Andrew died without having a son, then God’s law would instruct me to marry brothers wife sounds weird but stay with me, so I can provide for her so she can bear a son and my brothers name, and I would be kinsman or family redeemer. The principle sounds strange but the law is a beautiful law flowing from loving kindness ensuring the widow is provided for. the family line continues, property stays in the family. And so for Ruth and Naomi, yes God has provided for them day by day with food through Boaz, but without a husband and sons to provide, the future was very uncertain. Naomi was trusting in God’s covenant. This was how she might find the hope of rest, permanent provision and protection. She is showing covenant faithfulness.
How does he respond? does he step up to the task and take responsibility? He is a willing redeemer.
3. God’s masterplan: a willing redeemer (3:10-18)
Come to Verse 10
And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.
He’s chuffed. He’s old. She could go for younger men but she doesn’t. and he says you’re showing more kindness now than before. the before refers to when Ruth left her family left everything to bind herself to her mother in law. And the now is the wanting to marry him, to bear a son for Naomi and the family line. That’s even more kindness. So he says do not fear he says I will do for you all you ask. It’s risky this whole scene but Boaz reassures her, do not fear.
But the plan hits a snag. It’s because there’s another bloke who’s a closer relative. And though Boaz could compromise and ignore that fact, he is noble, and He obeys God in the way God has set it up. See Leviticus 24-25 talks about he nearest of kin is first given the responsibility to marry and care for her. There’s someone in front of me. So he honors God. He says I’ll see if he will redeem you.
And even at this point he still cares for her. He says lie down till the morning. stay here. I can protect you if you stay with me. and verse 14-15 they are above reproach. Boaz says leave in the dark. He wants to protect her reputation. And he gives her food.
And so the scene changes and we come back to Naomi and Ruth. and this ends chapter 3. look at verse 16.
And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”
In the end, what we learn from this willing redeemer is this; two things.
1. He wants to show her he’s serious with what he’s told Ruth. He will not rest until it’s sorted out. So he gives barley as a sign of saying I’ll keep my word.
2. But secondly, he says verse 17 there, ‘don’t go back to your mother in law empty handed.’ The word is empty which is the same word in ch 1, where Naomi comes back and she’s raw with emotions and she says 1;21 I went away full but now I’ve come home empty. Now boaz is saying I don’t want you to be empty. I’m providing. There will be some else or who will redeem you.
Your future will be fine. You will find rest and provision and security. I will make it happen. I won’t rest until it happens. And if this were a TV show we’d be on the edge of our seat and it’d say ‘to be continued.’
4. Concluding reflections
But what do we learn this morning as followers of Jesus? Two concluding thoughts.
4.1 Motives are everything
Naomi pushes Ruth into proposing wedding – is that a bit dodgy?
Ruth sleeps at foot of man. is that a good idea? doesn’t that sound dodgy?
Motives are everything. You might look at this and think it’s odd.
But motives are everything.
For Naomi her desire is for Ruth to be cared for. Ruth is widely known to be noble. and their motive is to trust in God’s covenant promises. Yes it’s about finding rest but They actually trust in God’s law and so live that out. they are faithful to God’s covenant promises. And Boaz his motives are pure. motives are everything.
So goes for us. There’s a phrase in Christian we use character is king. Character motives is so important. See what’s God want us to be like?
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
We must be motivated to imitiate God. Don’t compromise. Boaz knows there’s another redeemer. he could’ve taken a shortcut just ignored it. but he trusts God’s word. covenant faithfulness. and lives it out. he takes the hard road. Ruth and Naomi trust in God’s covenant provision. They do all they can, it’s intentional the whole sketchy scene but ruth does not compromise. She’s godly. So imitiate God as dearly loved child. And your motivation? it’s in verse 2 – walk in love because Jesus he loved us. And he gave himself for us. As sacrificial and fragrant offering. Jesus was that sacrifice, he offered up himself for you and I. For the times we have messed up when we’ve compromised. That’s what Jesus died for. For you. For me. for our sins. So in light of this wonderful forgiveness live in light of it. And imitate God. And verse 3 notice what Paul says? Sexual immorality, impurity, greed, is not proper for saints – holy ones – those set apart for God. Christians. Those who trust in Jesus should not be heard of amongst us. not even named among you. Motives are everything. Don’t compromise on Gods word. That’s the first reflection.
And the second is this; the more important one.
4.2 Rest in Jesus the true redeemer:
Naomi’s masterplan was to secure a future rest for Ruth through a family redeemer. She trusts in God’s covenant promises and comes up with a masterplan to make it happen. And this is a picture of the Gospel. For God’s masterplan is to redeem a people for himself. to give them eternal rest. to be in right relationship with him. to enjoy Him forever. And Jesus has done it. For Jesus, in Titus 2:14
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
God has redeemed us through Jesus – that is he has bought us back from slavery to sin – sin is lawlessness that’s what sin is no laws, to live apart from god. And Jesus has died on the cross for our sins. Risen to give us life. we can rest in him knowing we are saved by faith.
That’s what this chapter points towards. Naomi wants a glimpse or foretaste of greater rest. And that great redeemer is the Lord Jesus. the one who died on the cross. He worked and did not resting. He died rather than lived that we might saved and rest in him. God has shown such loving kindness in sending his son. That’s the Gospel story.
Jesus is more honorable than Boaz. He longs to redeem us and he has shown commitment in dying on the cross. So even when it’s complicated, life is hard the future seems murky because we’re sick and suffering, we can be sure the redeemer is fully committed to us. he will bring us into the rest he promises to bring us into. he is trustworthy. For Jesus says in
Matthew 11: 28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Can you imagine the joy of never having to worry about the future? no worries tomorrow, no worries about money, marriage, children. I love joy deeply and we enjoy a wonderful marriage, but she and I would say marriage doesn’t give us security and true rest. She knows that. I know that. we’re two sinners who need a redeemer. In fact, nothing in this world can satisfy and give you rest like Jesus can. He gives life of peace and security and true rest.. he doesn’t promise life here on earth to be easy, but he is always with us by his Spirit. And more than that, you know where you are going after this life. He sets your eyes towards heaven. That’s how it will be in glorious new creation. That’s the eternal rest we have in Jesus. and I love the lyrics from John Newton Amazing Grace he says final verses
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
When we’ve been in heaven for 10,000 years all this toil stress suffering will be like a blip. We’ll be praising Jesus. singing his praises resting in him forever more. church take comfort long for this rest.
friends, I want to ask you today; have you found rest in Jesus? you won’t find rest anywhere else. Marriage, sex, money, career, friends and family will not give you that rest. It just won’t. But the Bible tells you that. Only Jesus can. Find eternal rest in Jesus the great redeemer. put your faith in him. that’s God’s masterplan, that you might find rest in his Son Jesus and have eternal life to glorify him.
let’s pray together.
