Ruth Challenge Chapter Three
Ruth 3: Scripture Passage
Ruth’s Appeal to Boaz
Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you, so that you will be taken care of? 2 Now isn’t Boaz our relative? Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do.”
5 So Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you say.” 6 She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had charged her to do. 7 After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley, and she came secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
Who are you?
8 At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! 9 So he asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer.”
10 Then he said, “May the Lord bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good. Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the Lord lives, I will. Now lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark. Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the town.
Naomi’s Response
16 She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, “What happened, my daughter?”
Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her. 17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, because he said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
18 Naomi said, “My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won’t rest unless he resolves this today.”
Devotional for Ruth Challenge Chapter Three:
Boldness Leads to Blessing
This chapter starts off with Naomi caring for Ruth’s well-being. She knows that Boaz is a relative of her family. In the culture of the day, male relatives would marry the young widows of their kin to provide for them. Naomi orchestrates a plan for Ruth to go before Boaz so she can be considered as a possible wife for him.
Heart Pounding Action
I can’t even imagine how scary it would have been for Ruth to follow Naomi’s instructions. Her heart had to be pounding out of her chest, but she goes in the middle of the night to the feet of Boaz. She lays her reputation on the line in order to gain provision for her mother-in-law and herself.
It takes a special boldness to do what Ruth did. However, the results are amazing.
8 At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! 9 So he asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer.”
10 Then he said, “May the Lord bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.
The Response of Boaz
Boaz is kind and understanding. He recognizes that Ruth is “a woman of noble character.” Everyone in town can see what amazing character this young woman has. he is willing to make provision for Ruth and Naomi’s future. To marry Ruth and take both women in. God is using this man of integrity to provide for both women.
Morning Comes
In the morning, when Ruth is about to go back to Naomi, Boaz even provides for the immediate needs of Ruth and Naomi.
15 And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the town.
Ruth brings home actual blessing and the promise of a future to Naomi. Because she was bold enough to follow Naomi’s instructions. She was bold enough to step out in faith and approach Boaz at night in the middle of the threshing floor.
God rewards this boldness. With incredible blessing.
Action Step:
We can experience God’s blessing when we are bold to step out in faith toward God’s plan for our provision. Some of us need a little help in the boldness area. When our hearts start pounding and our anxiety levels rise, some of us back down and skip out on the opportunities God places in front of us. We need to build our boldness to move into the new levels of blessing that God has for us this year.
Let’s take some steps today to do something that makes us just a little scared. Something that gets our hearts pounding. That sets us on edge and seems bigger than we can handle on our own. Because when we step out to do that, we have to depend on God and He is capable of coming through for us.
Ruth Challenge Chapter Three – Week 3:
Sunday/Monday: Read Chapter 3 and the devotional here.
Tuesday: Comment here or on the Devotion in Action Facebook Group or Instagram with one thought about the chapter. Follow @devoinaction.
Wednesday: Interact creatively (Bible art journaling, sketchnotes, doodles, etc.) with the chapter and share on social media with the hashtag #diaruthchallenge (dia is for Devotion in Action) Feel free to use the Ruth 3 free printable or do your own thing! If you haven’t gotten the Chapter freebies yet, click here for Chapter Three or subscribe to the blog newsletter to receive a download with all four chapters at once!
Thursday: Reread Ruth chapter three and pray for provision in one area of your life or reach out and provide for or protect someone in your life.
Friday: Read the Devotion in Action email newsletter (if you haven’t signed up yet, sign up HERE!)
Saturday: Catch up or rest day.
Prayer:
Dear God, help us to be bold as we depend on You. Show the actions that you have for us to walk into. Help us to have confidence in You as we step out in faith. Bless us, please, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.