Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! He said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, August 31, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
So this just proves my point about Stealth Ruth (yesterday). It was so dark on the threshing floor that Boaz didn’t recognize her. He could only make out the shape of a woman. It also makes me think maybe he was the only guy sleeping on the threshing floor, unless he was keeping his voice low. And I wonder how long it took him to realize that his “feet” were uncovered? What did that signify to him? The story never actually addresses it. It’s done and forgotten. All that matters at this point is that she says he is next-of-kin. That’s definitely significant, of course, and so we have finally come to that moment when Ruth’s actions have run their course and she has left everything in Boaz’s hands.
This is not an end to her strength and faithfulness, however, but another extension of them. It takes an incredible amount of strength and faith to turn over the end result of a given situation to another, whether it’s an actual human being or to God. Time and again in my own life I have had to let go of results, having the humility to realize those things that are beyond my control. It’s scary. Being scared doesn’t mean I’m not strong and faithful, of course. It just means I’m human. So I imagine Ruth was scared, too. That just makes me love her more.
What is the scariest thing I have had to let go of in my life? Where was God in my decision?
