Talking with Naomi: Part 1

[Read Ruth 2:18-23]

After accepting the call from this church, we had quite a journey trying to find a house. The market was so hot that houses were being sold in a couple days. The first time we came out to look at houses, we gave the realtor a list of ten. By the time we got here, there were only 5 left. We had once where a house came on the market Saturday; I called the realtor that day and lined up a showing on Monday morning; but it had already sold by Monday morning. 

In the midst of this process, we had one day that was BY FAR the most disappointing. We had lined up 5-6 houses to look at. We were really interested in two of them. The plan was to get up early, drive 6hrs out here, look at houses, and drive 6hrs back home. When we got here three had already sold—one which we were really interested in. The other one we were interested in was in really rough shape. Since we had driven 6hrs to get here, we decided to look at the other two houses—even though we weren’t really interested in them. They weren’t what we were looking for either. 

It was a long, depressing 6hr ride home. It seemed like we would never find a place. On top of that, our house in Minnesota was not getting as much traction as we had hoped. We had a few showings, but no offers yet. So, if we couldn’t sell our place and could find a place here, what was going to happen? Like I said, it was depressing. 

But, here’s what we didn’t know at that time. Although we only had a couple showings, one couple was in the process of working on financing for our home. We would receive an offer for our asking price THE VERY NEXT DAY. Also, one of the houses we looked at on the depressing day, is our current home—and it’s been a perfect fit for our family. God was at work even when we didn’t see it. 

Even as I talk about this now, I think it’s CRAZY we didn’t see it. I came across one of my journals the other day, where  I was describing the “perfect home” for our family. It describes our home exactly. So, why didn’t we see it on that depressing day? Why weren’t we really interested in it at first? Even when we bought it we said, “I guess it will work”—without a lot of excitement. So, what was up?

There are numerous reasons I could give, but one stands out. We don’t always see things as clearly as we think we do ESPECIALLY when we're in the middle of difficult, frustrating, exhausting, grieving situations. Another way to say this is: We don’t see things clearly when things aren’t going the way we thought they would go. 

We see this in the book of Ruth. Let’s take a moment to rewind the story to the end of chapter 1. Remember what Naomi says once she’s back in Bethlehem: “I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty.” (Ruth 1:21, ESV). Here’s the question: Is that true? Is Naomi empty at this point? The answer is: NO. She’s not empty. She has Ruth and Ruth has committed to walking with her and caring for her. So, why does Naomi say she’s empty? Because things haven’t gone the way she thought they would go. She’s frustrated, she’s grieving, she’s tired and she’s not seeing things accurately. 

I think that’s also why she tells her daughters-in-law to head back to Moab. She basically tells them there’s nothing for them in Bethlehem. She says that if they continue with her to Bethlehem, they will remain single widows their entire life, having to eke out a living on their own. Is Naomi seeing this situation accurately? Nope. We get to see here eyes opened to BOTH of these realities in this morning’s passage. 

The story begins with Ruth returning from the field loaded down with barley. We read, “And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.” (Ruth 2:18, ESV). As we try to picture this scene in our mind, don’t forget what Naomi said in chapter 1. She was empty. But now she sees Ruth coming back from gleaning with this massive load of barley on her back. As Ruth walks through the door, and Naomi is still trying to process the blessing of grain, Ruth sets down the bag of barley and pulls out another surprise—her doggie bag from lunch, the roasted grain and bread and vinegar. 

You can tell Naomi is in shock. She says, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” (Ruth 2:19, ESV). This is a little repetitive for a reason. It’s almost like she’s stuttering out of excitement: “What? Where? Who? How did this happen? Where did you go? Who did you find?” She’s overwhelmed by the blessing she just received…and her eyes are beginning to open. She’s beginning to see things more clearly. Then, as Ruth answers her questions, Naomi’s jaw drops even further. Since Ruth didn’t know any better, I picture her nonchalantly saying, “It was some guy named Boaz.” This is when Naomi’s eyes are fully opened. 

We see this in her first response: “And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!”” (Ruth 2:20, ESV). First, I want you to notice the difference in what Naomi says here. When she first saw Ruth come home with the grain she said, “Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” (Ruth 2:19, ESV). This is simply a blessing pointed at the man. But after hearing Boaz’s name, things change and she says,  “May he be blessed by the LORD…” (Ruth 2:20, ESV). She’s beginning to see God’s hand. She knows that it’s the LORD who will bring blessing—to Boaz, but also to her and Ruth. 

Yet, she says more than just a blessing. She says, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” (Ruth 2:20, ESV). Now, there’s a problem in this passage. Whose kindness is she talking about? Whose kindness had not forsaken the living or the dead? Is it Boaz’s kindness or is it the LORD’s kindness? There are compelling arguments for both. Which leads me to think the author did this on purpose. Just like I mentioned last week: Who is showing kindness to Naomi and Ruth? Is it Boaz or the LORD? Both, right? The Lord is showing kindness to Ruth and Naomi THROUGH the kindness of Boaz. 

Here’s why it’s powerful to understand it this way. Let’s do another flashback to chapter one, and look at something Naomi prayed over Ruth. She said, “May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.” (Ruth 1:8, ESV). Now this prayer is being answered. She prayed that the LORD would deal kindly with Ruth, and now—with the barley and leftovers in front of her—she sees the Lord dealing kindly with Ruth—and with her as a result. 

It’s also important to recognize that the word “kindly/kindness” is the Hebrew word hesed. In order to say this work in Hebrew, you have to spit a little. This word is not typically translated kindness. By far, this word is typically translated as “steadfast love”—like 75% of the time. This word is used to describe God’s covenantal love—his covenant-keeping, promise-keeping love. Naomi sees this sort of love in Ruth. Naomi sees this sort of love in Boaz. And through the steadfast love and faithfulness of Ruth and Boaz, Naomi is finally seeing the steadfast love of God as he answers her prayers and pours out blessing upon her. 

But, Naomi has more to say in this passage. The author specifically sets this next portion apart from the rest to build some suspense AND to make sure we don’t miss it. Naomi says, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” (Ruth 2:20, ESV). You can almost hear the music building in the background, building up to this moment. Once again, Naomi’s eyes are opened to see things more clearly. In chapter one she told her daughters-in-law that there WAS NO HOPE for them in Bethlehem. There was NO ONE to provide for them and care for them. Then, when she hears Boaz’s name, her eyes are opened and she sees things more clearly. She remembers he is a close relative—a redeemer. 

It’s important to recognize that there are many different roles of a redeemer. At the core of its meaning, a redeemer is someone who pulls someone else out of a dangerous or harmful situation. So, as you read about kinsman-redeemers throughout the book of Leviticus, you’ll notice they have multiple roles. They are responsible for buying and selling land, for helping out family members who had sold themselves into slavery, seeking restitution from those who’ve stolen or harmed someone in their family, even helping with legal issues in the family. It wasn’t just about marriage. At its core, it was a commitment to caring for, providing for, and protecting members of your extended family. 

It’s quite possible that Naomi wasn’t thinking about marriage for Ruth when she recognizes Boaz is a redeemer. Most likely, she was reminded that this man had a responsibility to care for them and provide for them as a redeemer of the family. As a redeemer, he would pull them out of their dangerous or harmful situation. 

And this makes sense when Ruth continues the conversation. It’s like Ruth says, “Oh yeah, and one more thing…” “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” (Ruth 2:21, ESV). This shows us a couple things. First, it shows that Boaz was already fulfilling his role as a redeemer. He was committed to caring for Ruth and Naomi. He told her to stick with them until the harvest was finished—which was about two months long. He also tells her not to hang back as she gleans, but to do it right up there with his male workers who were harvesting the barley. So, his extreme generosity continued beyond the first day, throughout the rest of the harvest. Second, this is assurance for Ruth and Naomi. They just saw how much blessing came to them after one day of working in Boaz’s field. Ruth will continue to do this everyday for the next couple months, with blessing pouring in every day. They don’t have to worry about how they’re going to make it. They don’t have to live hand to mouth. The Lord is providing for them through Boaz—showing them his steadfast love and faithfulness.  

Naomi has some advice for Ruth. She says, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” (Ruth 2:22, ESV). Notice the change. Boaz told Ruth to harvest with his young men. Naomi says, “Well, it’s good for you to go out with his young women. That way you’re protected from the men working in the other fields, but also so that you don’t overstay your welcome in Boaz’s field.” 

The passage ends saying, “So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.” (Ruth 2:23, ESV). Ruth listened to Naomi’s advice. She didn’t go to another field and she didn’t work with Boaz’s young men. She stayed in Boaz’s field and hung back working with his young women. And she did that until the end of the harvest—for about two months. She continued working faithfully throughout. 

And, not only did she keep working faithfully, she continued living with Naomi. Why does it mention this? Because this is how Ruth cared for and provided for Naomi. She would harvest grain during the day and come home to Naomi at night with whatever she harvested. And this continued day after day after day for two months. Naomi continually being filled day by day by day—through the steadfast love of Ruth and Boaz, but ultimately through the steadfast love of her God. 

All of this is a reminder that we don’t always see things as accurately as we think we do. It’s easy to get caught up in a moment, get down in the dumps, to only see the enemies/difficulties around us, to think we’re alone and empty and there’s no hope. Yet, these stories remind us that we PROBABLY aren’t seeing things as accurately as we think. Naomi thought she was empty and without hope as he returned to Bethlehem. She was wrong. Our family thought we would NEVER sell our home and NEVER find the right home. We were wrong. 

Here’s what John Piper has to say, “In fact, she is so oppressed by God’s bitter providence in her life that she can’t see the signs of hope as they start to appear. She knows there is a God. She knows he is sovereign and rules over the national and personal affairs of men. And she knows that God has dealt bitterly with her. Her life is tragic. What she does not see with the eyes of her heart is that in all her bitter experiences, God is plotting for her glory. This is true of all God’s children. In the darkest of our times, God is plotting for our glory. If we would believe this and remember it, we would not be as blind as Naomi was when God began to reveal his grace” (A Sweet and Bitter Providence, pg. 58).

This is also a reminder that God is faithful even when we are NOT. His covenantal promise is, “I will be your God. You will be my people.” And that’s not going to change. He’s faithful to that promise because he’s a covenant-keeping, promise-keeping God. And even when we don’t keep covenant and don’t keep our promises, God continues to faithfully show up and bless us. And, as we see in this passage, he will even pour out his blessing SO MUCH that it will overcome our blindness and open our eyes so that we fall on our knees and thank God for his continued faithfulness and steadfast love in our lives.