A soft, flickering candle glow revealed the face of a small boy peering from under the blankets on his bed. His eyes were wide open and mischievous as they fastened themselves upon a shadowy form approaching, and he heard my familiar voice saying, "David, you should have been asleep hours ago! Are you feeling well?"
"Yes, Grandma", he replied, "I'm fine, but I've been lying here awake thinking about many things. Please stay and tell me a story!" ,
I sat on the edge of his bed and said, "I'll be happy to tell you a story, David. What kind do you want to hear?"
David pondered the idea carefully for a few moments and then got up on his elbow and said, "Tell me about the things you did when you were five years old like I am."
I smiled at him and answered, "Those were certainly happy days, David, and I'll try to make my story interesting for you. I did not always live in Bethlehem as you have, but I grew up in the land of Moab. One day my parents were very excited to learn that some new people had just moved into our small town.. It was a family of four, consisting of a father and mother and two boys who were just about my age. They were Jews who had left their home because of a great food shortage in the land of Israel. The boys and I became good friends, and after five years their father died. Their mother was a wonderful woman by the name of naomi. She took care of her two sons, and when they were grown, they married women in our town. In fact, David, I was one of the two, and my friend Orpah was the other. We were happily married for ten years, and then something dreadful happened ... both of our husbands died very suddenly!"
David sat up straight and interrupted, "Oh, Grandma, that's a very sad story!"
I reached over to straighten his bedding again and then I said, "Don't feel badly,
David. The Lord always has a very good reason for allowing things like that to happen."
He snuggled back down under the covers and said quietly, "What happened after that. Grandma?"
I continued, "My mother-in-law, Naomi, had no one left to care for except Orpah and me, and when she heard that the famine had ended in Israel, she made plans to return to her home again."
"Naomi embraced us both and said very kindly, 'Orpah and Ruth, you have both been such a comfort to me through the years, but I can't ask you to leave Moab and go to Israel with me. I still own some nice property in Bethlehem that belonged to my husband, and I'm sure a few of our relatives are still living there.'"
"When we heard that Naomi was planning to leave us, we were both very sad, and we clung to her and said, 'We will go to Israel with you, Naomi!'"
"Naomi answered us and said, 1 have no more sons for you to marry, and you are both still young and attractive. There must be some fine, eligible men here in Moab who would be happy to have you as their wives! "'
"When Orpah heard that, she kissed Naomi and went back to her own family again, but I stayed and pleaded with my mother-in-law to let me go with her."
"She said, 'Ruth, follow your sister-in-law's example. She has gone back to her own people and to her gods. You should go too!"'
"I replied, 1 rejected the gods of my people many years ago! The Lord God of
Israel whom you worship is my God now, and where He leads you, I will go also."'
"After she heard that, Naomi agreed to take me with her to Bethlehem."
"...INTREAT ME NOT TO LEAVE THEE OR TO RETURN
FROM FOLLOWING AFTER THEE, FOR WHITHER THOU
GOEST I WILL GO; AND WHERE THOU LOGEST, I
WILL LODGE; THY PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE,
AND THY GOD MY GOD."
Ruth 1:16
"The people in Bethlehem who had known Naomi years ago were very surprised to see her, and they said, 'Can this really be you, Naomi?'"
"She answered, I'm not the same person you remember. Now I am full of bitterness and sadness because my husband and both of my sons died in the land of Moab. However, the one joy in my life is this very beautiful daughter-in-law with whom I have been blessed by the Lord! '"
David reached up and gave me a big hug as he declared, "You are still very beautiful. Grandma!"
"I gently tucked his arms back under the blankets again and then continued my story.
"Naomi was eager to find a husband for me, and she suddenly remembered that her husband had a wealthy relative who had a son by the name of Boaz. She began to plan how we might meet."
"When we arrived in Bethlehem, it was the time of barley harvest, and it was customary in those days for the poor of the land to be allowed to gather grain left for them in the comers of the fields. Picking up the fallen grain was called 'gleaning'"
"Naomi sent me to the field which she knew belonged to Boaz, and when he came from the city to see how his workmen were handling the harvesting, he glanced my way. Our eyes met for a moment, and a young woman working near me noticed our exchange of glances. She said to me, "That's Boaz, the owner of this property."'
"I saw Boaz talking with one of his men, and shortly afterward, the man approached me and said that Boaz wished to speak with me."
"Boaz was a tall, attractive man, and as he looked at me. I was a little embarrassed. I dropped my head slightly to show my respect for him and then I said shyly, 'Why do you show special favor to me? I am a stranger in your land.'"
"He replied, I've been told how you left your home in Moab with Naomi and that you came here with her to care for her. You knew nothing about our people or our God, but you have put your faith in the Lord God of Israel, and He will surely reward you for your faithfulness!"'
"Then I answered, 'Sir, I am very grateful for your generosity, and I sincerely appreciate your kind consideration of me!'"
"Boaz went on to say, 'When it is mealtime, please come and eat with my workmen here, and when you are thirsty, you have my permission to drink of the water which they have drawn for themselves. I have also instructed my men that they are not to trouble you in any way."'
"Again, I thanked him, and as I walked away I heard Boaz tell some of the men to be sure to leave enough grain for me to fill my sack. I was overjoyed!"
"I gathered much barley that day and took it back to the barn to winnow it. (that is, I had to beat it with a large pitchfork and let the wind blow the chaff away)"
"My bag was overflowing with grain, and I went back to Naomi to present it to her and tell her about the events of the day."
CHAPTER 3 RUTH
"When Naomi heard about my experience that day, she was very excited and exclaimed, "Thanks be unto the Lord who has graciously provided food for us! As for Boaz, he is a close relative of my late husband!'"
"That's wonderful, I replied. He told me I could return every day until the end of the harvest and work with his servants in the field."
"Naomi said, 'Ruth, we have a custom which I'm sure is unfamiliar to you regarding property in Israel. Many years ago, the Lord gave each tribe of the Children of Israel a portion of land that was to be kept in their own family. The father in the family was the rightful owner of the land, and when he died, his eldest son inherited it. If the son died and left no son of his own, the man's widow could own the land. The closest male relative of the father could marry the widow if he wished to do so, and then he could purchase the land from her. After that, the property would be inherited by their son, etc."'
"Then I answered Naomi and said, "That is certainly an interesting custom. Do you mean to tell me I am the possessor of my late husband's inheritance?"'
"Naomi nodded affirmatively and said, 'Yes„ Ruth. Your husband was our eldest son, and since you are his widow and had no children, the inheritance is yours. Boaz may want to marry you and purchase your inheritance so that it can be passed on to your son, but we must find out if he wants to do that.'"
"I said, I'll do exactly what you tell me to do, Naomi!"'
"Then Naomi told me her plan. I was to return that night to the field without being seen and go to the threshing floor where Boaz and his men were winnowing grain. Then I was to change my garments and go where Boaz and his men were winnowing grain. I followed Naomi's instructions very carefully."
"After the day's work was completed, Boaz and his servants chose a spot in the barn where they would sleep that night. I watched them as they put their bedrolls down to mark a place for themselves while it was still daylight, and I noticed that Boaz had chosen a place at the end of a heap of grain."
"The men had a fine meal before bedding down for the night, and when they were fast asleep, I went in quietly and lay down at Boaz' feet. I uncovered his feet carefully, and then I put the cover over my shoulders."
"At midnight, Boaz woke up and was startled to find someone lying at his feet! He said quietly, 'Who are you?'"
"I replied in a soft whisper, 1 am Ruth, your servant. If it pleases you, put the flap of your robe over me, because you are a close relative of naomi.'"
David interrupted again and questioned me, "Why would you say a thing like that to Boaz? I don't understand!"
I explained, "It was the custom in those days for a widow such as me to ask a close relative to marry her, and that was how the request was made."
Then David heaved a big sigh and said, "What did the man do when he heard you ask him to marry you. Grandma?"
"He whispered to me and said, 'The Lord's blessing upon you, Ruth! Everyone in Bethlehem knows that you are a very virtuous woman and that you did not come to Israel to find a rich husband. It is true that I am a near relative of your deceased husband, but there is one other unmarried man in the city more closely related to you than I am. I will go to him in the morning and ask him if he wants to do the duty of a kinsman toward you. If he refuses, I will do it. Now, just stay right here until dawn, and don't let any of my men see you lying at my feet! When you are ready to leave in the morning, spread your apron, and I will fill it with barley for Naomi. '"
"Naomi was very pleased when I told her all the wonderful things Boaz had said to me, and she was also very grateful for the barley I brought to her."
"Then Naomi said, 'Now we'll just wait to see what Boaz will do. I know he won't rest until the matter of the kinsman is resolved!"
CHAPTER 4
"Early the next morning, Boaz went to the city gate and stood where he knew the man of whom he spoke would appear. When Boaz saw the man, he hailed him and said, Hello there, friend! Sit here awhile and talk: with me ... I have something of importance to discuss with you."'
"The man greeted Boaz and sat down beside him outside the gate. Then Boaz invited ten men from the city who stood nearby to join them. When they were all seated comfortably, Boaz turned to his friend and said 'Have you heard that Naomi, our dead uncle's wife, is back in Bethlehem again? She wants to sell the parcel of land that was her husband's. Their eldest son married a Moabite woman and had no son by her, so I wanted to give you, the nearest blood relative, the first opportunity to purchase the land for yourself. If you don't want to redeem the land, tell me, because I am the next eligible one to redeem it.'"
"The man responded very quickly and said, 1 will redeem it!"
"Boaz went on to say, 'Wait ... there is one more thing I must tell you. The day you redeem the inheritance from the widow, you are obligated to marry Ruth, the Moabite woman. I'm sure you understand that any son born from such a marriage would be given the inheritance in order to keep the land in our uncle's family."'
"The man looked shocked and then said, 'What? I can't do that without destroying my own inheritance! I will not redeem my uncle's land.' Then he took off his shoe and handed it to Boaz and said, 'Buy it for yourself, Boaz."'
Once again David raised himself up on his elbow and exclaimed, "That's sure a funny thing for him to do, isn't it. Grandma?"
I replied, "It does sound strange, David, but that's the way people transferred their right of ownership of property in those days."
David fell back on his pillow and said, "Oh ... I see."
"After Boaz accepted the shoe, he looked about him and said to the men, 'You men are witnessing today that I have bought all that belonged to our uncle and also to his son as well. Furthermore, I am declaring before of you that I will take Ruth to be my wife. Her deceased husband's inheritance will be passed on to our son as the law states.''
"The men replied, 'Boaz, we have witnessed all you have declared to us this day. May you and Ruth have a wonderful life together! "'
By this time, I noticed that David's eyes were getting very heavy, so I kissed his forehead gently and quietly slipped out of the room.
In our wildest dreams, neither David nor I had any idea that twenty-five years later, this wonderful, curly-haired, great-grandson of mine would become Israel's greatest king! DAVID ... "A MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART". (I Samuel 13:14b)
THE END
Written by Lois Delnay
Fallbrook Ranch Productions
loisdelnay@hotmail.com
Books for sale by L. Delnay
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Copyright 2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007 Fallbrook Ranch Productions 522 Del Valle Drive Fallbrook, CA 92028 This Material may be copied for teaching purposes or for your own use. Not for commercial use without permission of the author. All rights reserved. Lois Delnay
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