The Book of Ruth ~ Devotion Sixteen

"Covering of Acceptance"

Ruth 3:7-9 (NLT) After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! “Who are you?” he asked.

     “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”

Ruth had done what her mother-in-law had told her to do. She laid down at the feet of Boaz. By doing this she was asking to come under his authority and protection. It was a risky move because she could have been rejected or have even lost her life. In essence, Ruth laid her life down at the feet of Boaz.

We too lay our lives down at the feet of Jesus. This is a risky move as well. When we come to Him, do we really know how He will respond? He is holy and has every right to refuse us. He has the power of life and death and yet all He gives is new life. Complete restoration is ours as we lay our lives down before Him. 

Matthew 10:28-32 (NLT) “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

      “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

Our "Kinsman-Redeemer/Family-Redeemer" is powerful. He isn't just a guy who rose from death to life. He's God who conquered death and gives eternal life. That is the One who I lay down before.

"Kinsman-Redeemer" is "goel" in Hebrew as we learned earlier. It refers to the person who has the "right to redeem." (NIV Compact Bible Dictionary) Boaz was one of these people who had this right. He was a relative of Ruth's late husband. Let's look at Leviticus 25 to understand the Hebrew perspective of "Kinsman-Redeemer."

Leviticus 25:25 (NLT) If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and is forced to sell some family land, then a close relative should buy it back for him.

Boaz was a Kinsman-Redeemer. He could help restore Ruth. Ruth, by laying her life down at his feet, wanted to be restored. She asked Boaz to cover her and take her on as his responsibility. She was asking for his help.

Covering someone was a sign off acceptance and protection. Jesus covers us with His cloak when we come to Him. He accepts us as we lay our lives down. We are accepted into His arms and He loves us like none other.

Boaz was startled by Ruth in the middle of the night. He probably thought that someone was trying to steal his grain from the threshing floor. But when he turned, he discovered a woman at his feet. (Now that would be a shocker!) Little did Boaz know that Ruth was coming to him for his protection and was willing to give her life over to him. 

Jesus isn't startled by our presence. In fact, He wants us to come to Him. There is nothing that you or I have done that would surprise Him in the least. He wants to restore us. He will restore us when we ask Him to throw His cloak over us.

2 Corinthians 4:15-16 (NLT) All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

     That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

So don't give up. Lay down. Allow Him to restore you for only He is willing and most importantly able.