Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: EXPECTATION (01/28/21)
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TITLE: Redemption - Prelude To The Marriage | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sue Botte
02/04/21 -
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‘The soil is parched, what do you sow in parched soil?’
He turned to Naomi and said:
‘Gather all our belongings we are going to the Moabite land where there is no famine.’
A God-fearing man, Elimelech died a few years later.
Mahlon and Chilion, each married a Moabite woman by names Ruth and Orpah.
From the beginning Ruth bonded with Naomi, she adopted her mother-in-law as her own mother when she married Naomi’s son Mahlon; and with that, she adopted their God, the God of Israel. She had full confidence and trust in Naomi, she called her ‘my-mother.’
Both Naomi’s sons, Mahlon and Chilion died before there were children. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah wept. Their loss, were greatly felt and was heard about in the Land of Judah from whence they came. Naomi surmised that the Hand of Yahweh was raised against her. She urged her daughters-in-law to go back to their mothers.
At that time, she heard that Yahweh provided food in her homeland. In anticipation of returning, she again urged her daughters-in-law to go back to their respective mothers.
Ruth and Orpah wept.
‘Will it be right of me to expect of you, even if I were to have a husband and bear sons this very night, to wait until they were grown-up?’
Weeping, Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and left.
Ruth clung to her mother-in-law. She had a strong belief that something will happen, something good for the both of them.
Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest, the month of April. Naomi’s kinsmen, on her late husband’s side were of great wealth. Naomi felt assured with a little effort, the expectation in her heart by returning to Elimelech’s relatives would be beneficial. She and Ruth settled close-by.
‘My mother,’ as Ruth had accustomed herself to call her mother-in-law, ‘let me go into the fields and glean among the ears of barley in the footsteps of some man who will look on me with favour.’
Naomi, knowing it is custom for the poor to glean after the reapers, if the landowner has no objection, said to Ruth:
‘Go, my daughter.’
Boaz, the son of Salmon, returned from Bethlehem.
‘Yahweh be with you.’ He said to his reapers.
‘Yahweh blesses you.’ They, in return, spoke the anticipated blessing to their master.
Boaz noticed the unfamiliar but lovely young lady gleaning in his field. He enquired after her.
Learning she was the daughter-in-law of Naomi, the widow of Elimelech, Boaz instructed his servants and reapers to, not mistreat, check on, or scold her. Three times, he instructed them.
‘May Yahweh reward you for what you have done! May rich recompense be made to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel to whom you have come to find shelter beneath His wings. Stay with my servants until they have gathered in all my harvest.’ Boaz said to Ruth.
Ruth ran home to Naomi.
‘My mother, my mother!’ she called from afar. Excitedly and with a heart full of gratitude, she told Naomi of Boaz’s favour and blessing.
Naomi was well pleased with Ruth.
It was tradition that family members of the clan have right over the possessions, which included the widow and any unmarried woman, of the deceased.
The time is right. Naomi instinctively knew.
She instructed Ruth on what to do next. Ruth prepared herself, anointing her skin with rich oils.
Boaz woke up, sensing the presence of a woman at his feet.
‘Who are you?’ Startled, Boaz asked softly, for he was in the sleeping quarters of the threshing floor.
‘I am Ruth, your maid-servant. Spread the skirt of your cloak over your servant for you have right of redemption over me.’ she whispered.
Shortly after that, when it was still dark, Ruth left the threshing floor in anticipation of what is to follow.
Elimelech’s land and possessions needs discussing. Boaz thought, and went up to the gate.
Three days after the discussions, preparations started for the wedding of Ruth and Boaz. The next year, she bore him a son, named Obed, the grandfather of David, King David.
The line of the Chosen Family was secured.
This all happened in preparation and in expectation of the Son of God, Jesus.
Jesus, in expectation of us, places us where he knew best, where we would become our best.
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Word count: 745
Part fact, part fiction.
Scripture quoted or paraphrased from The Book of Ruth - The Jerusalem Bible, Reader’s Edition,1968.
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