Acts of Faith
Rev. Josh Hartog
Text: Ruth 3:1-18
One of the most profound statements in all of Scripture is James 2:17, ‘17 …faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (Jam 2:17b)’ James implies that faith is more than just what you believe, rather faith is how your beliefs work themselves out in your behaviour.
For example, if you believe God is faithful then even when life gets messy you don’t despair. Faith in that situation means you trust God, which is seen in your behaviour, your confidence in God’s promises. Or let’s use James example, Abraham believed in God’s promise that he would be the father of a great nation. So when God told him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, Abraham obeyed, because he had faith in both God’s character and his promises. Abraham proved his faith by his actions.
In the same way we see a number of acts of faith in this chapter in Ruth. In fact we see both God acting in faith towards the characters in this story, as well as, how their faith in God works itself out in their actions. And I want you to see both this morning – God’s faithful activity on our behalf and how he calls us to respond with faithful activity.
1) Following God’s Signposts
Before we look at the first scene in this chapter we need to remember God’s faithful activity in the lives of Naomi and Ruth. Naomi and Ruth have lost everything, husband, sons, land, income and family. They are destitute, widows. It’s out of those circumstances that they find themselves back in Bethlehem. Naomi uses the phrase, ‘I left full, but I’ve returned empty.’
But that’s not the end of the story as we saw last week. God provides for their needs. His law means they can glean for food, and he provides Ruth with the right man in the right place at the right time. God is faithful to Naomi and Ruth, and like James points out, faithfulness isn’t just words, it’s action. It is seen in the water Ruth drinks, it is seen in the field she harvests, it is seen in the grain she eats, but it is seen mostly in the person of Boaz. It is through Boaz that God provides all of these things.
It’s in this context, of God’s faithfulness that Naomi responds with faith. For the three months of the harvest Ruth has been working in Boaz’s fields. Naomi and Ruth have experienced God’s provision through Boaz, and Naomi gets the sense that all the signposts are pointing at Boaz. And so Naomi decides it’s time to act, it’s time to follow God’s signposts.
a) Care for others
The first thing Naomi does is show her care for Ruth. She says, ‘1 …My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? (Ruth 3:1b)’ Naomi desires that Ruth will be provided for, that she will have a home. What she wants for Ruth is a husband.
In fact, she makes that clear in verse 2, ‘2 Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? (Ruth 3:2a)’ Naomi suggests that it’s through Boaz that she will find a home and long-term provision. Now Naomi isn’t being the stereotypical manipulative mother-in-law here, this is what Ruth wants as well. There’s a lot of cultural stuff going on here, which we need to look at to understand what’s happening.
b) The Kinsman-Redeemer
The first is this idea that Boaz is a kinsman. Later Ruth calls Boaz, ‘9 …a kinsman-redeemer. (Ruth 3:9c) and Boaz says, ‘12 Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. (Ruth 3:12)’ What is this kinsman-redeemer all about?
Last week I mentioned that family was all important in Old Testament times, well today I’m going to spell it out. A kinsman is family, someone who you are closely related too. And in Old Testament times it was the job of your kinsman to care for his extended family. You might be thinking, no kidding, we care for our family as well! Well we don’t do it like this! The kinsman was called upon to redeem or buy back certain things for the sake of the family. The Old Testament gives four examples.
i) The Family Land
Firstly, the kinsman was called on to redeem family land that had been sold. The Law says, ‘25 If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold. (Lev 25:25)’
That sounds a bit strange to us, but the land of Israel didn’t belong to God’s people, it belonged to God. God had given it to them as part of the covenant, it was the Promised Land, it was their inheritance. Because the land belonged to God and was given to the family as an inheritance it couldn’t be permanently sold. In fact, if no kinsman could buy back the land, it automatically reverted back to the family during the year of Jubilee, every 50th year.
- Family members
Secondly, the kinsman was called on to redeem family members. Again the Law says, ‘47 …If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells himself… 48 he retains the right of redemption… [or] one of his relatives may redeem him. (Lev 25:47-48)’ Family was so important that if one of your family members had to sell themselves into slavery because of financial hardship, it was your duty to redeem them, to buy them back out of slavery, and restore their freedom.
- Family Blood (Num 35:16-28; Josh 20:1-9)
Thirdly, the kinsman was expected to redeem the blood of his family. If a family member was murdered, even accidently, you were expected to avenge his death. In the Law the kinsman was called the ‘Avenger, or Redeemer, of blood.’
- Family Restitution
Finally, the kinsman could accept restitution from someone who had sinned against a family member who had passed away. The Law stated that if someone has sinned against you ‘7 … he must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged. (Num 5:7)’ If that person was no longer alive they could pay it to his kinsman, and if he had no kinsman it belonged to the Lord and must be given to the priest.
As you can see, the responsibilities of the kinsman-redeemer flowed out of their responsibilities to the family. That’s what Naomi was hoping for, that Boaz would redeem her dead husband’s land. To be the kinsman redeemer meant putting your faith into action. It wasn’t saying that family was important, it was proving it by your actions. It meant buying back land or a family member from slavery. It cost, and sometimes it cost a lot.
v) Description of God
The fascinating thing about this concept is that it is one of the images the Bible uses to describe God’s relationship with His people. God is the great Redeemer. In fact God establishes his relationship with His people in these terms. God says to his people in slavery in Egypt, ‘6 …I will redeem you with an outstretched arm… 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. (Ex 6:6c,7a)’ God redeems his people, he purchases them, he pays for them, they now belong to him, they are family.
God is portrayed as a redeemer all throughout Scripture. Job declares, ‘25 I know that my Redeemer lives… (Job 19:25a)’ The Psalmist calls God, ‘14 …my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps 19:14b)’ God says in Isaiah, ‘1 …Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. (Isa 43:1b)’
In fact, God goes to great lengths to redeem his people. As we’ve seen redemption comes at great personal cost, and it’s no different with God. The Bible says, ‘14 [Jesus Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Tit 2:14)’
The cost for God to redeem us from our sin, was his own Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says, ‘13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us… (Gal 3:13a)’ and ‘7 In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. (Eph 1:7)’ Jesus gave his own life, Jesus became the curse, the cost of our redemption was his blood spilt on the cross. In the cross we see God’s love for us in action. We see the Redeemer actively redeeming us from our sin.
c) Levirate Marriage
The second cultural issue we need to understand is the idea of Levirate Marriage. The Hebrew word ‘levir’ means brother-in-law. According to the Law a man was expected to marry his brother’s widow in order to keep the family name alive. The Bible says, ‘6 The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. (Dt 25:6)’ Like I said family was extremely important in Old Testament times.
Again that’s what Naomi was hoping Boaz would do for Ruth, to marry her and carry on the family name. Naomi wants Boaz not only to redeem Elimelech’s property, but also to marry the widow of her husband’s rightful heir. That seems to be where God’s signposts are pointing, so that’s the direction Naomi and Ruth start walking. God seems to be saying that Boaz is the one who will provide for Naomi and Ruth’s future, and so Naomi acts upon her faith in God’s leading. I wonder how ready we are to act upon God’s direction in our lives?
If God seems to be leading us in a certain direction do we step out in faith, or do we just wait and see? I think sometimes we are too cautious, we act on certainty, not on faith. Naomi is a great example of someone who follows God’s signposts by stepping out in faith.
2) Testing the Water
But first, Naomi decides to test the water. Even though God seems to be pointing in a certain direction doesn’t mean it’s a foregone conclusion. Boaz may decline, he may resent the idea, he might have other plans. And so Naomi puts a plan in place to test the waters.
She says to Ruth, ‘2 …Tonight [Boaz] will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” (Ruth 3:2b-4)’
Naomi displays basic common sense. She doesn’t know how all this is going to pan out so she gets Ruth to approach him in private and discover his intentions. She already knows Boaz has shown considerable kindness and compassion towards her daughter-in-law, but how far will that kindness extend?
She knows where Boaz will be tonight, the afternoon sea breeze makes it the perfect time to winnow the barley, to blow away the chaff leaving the grain. She tells Ruth to make herself beautiful, in fact to prepare herself as a bride. And then to wait for the perfect moment, when Boaz is in good spirits and alone, and to lie at his feet, the significance of which we’ll look at in a moment.
Naomi doesn’t just sit back saying, ‘what will be will be.’ She takes the initiative, but she tests the water. I always loved the title of one of John Ortberg’s books, ‘If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.’ That’s what Naomi is doing, she is taking that first tentative step out of the boat, in order to test the water.
3) Trusting God’s Protection
Actually, it’s Ruth that takes this first step of faith. Verse 5 says, ‘5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. (Ruth 3:5-6)’ Ruth trusts not only in her mother-in-law’s advice, but she also trusts in God’s protection.
Like Naomi she shares her faith in God’s provision, she too believes that Boaz is God’s answer to their circumstances. But it was a risky adventure. She was a lone woman, and going out late in the afternoon wasn’t without danger. And then she had to spend the evening in a room full of men in good spirits celebrating the end of harvest.
Both her safety and her motives would have been questioned. But Ruth trusts that God will care for her and protect her. She has seen his protection and care constantly during the harvest season and she wasn’t going to start doubting him now.
So she watches where Boaz lies down at the far end of the grain pile and she quietly uncovers his feet and lays down. The passage tells us that at midnight something startles Boaz. Maybe he stretched out his feet and bumped into someone. But you can almost hear him whispering, ‘Who are you?’ Ruth’s answer is very revealing, ‘9 …I am your servant Ruth, spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer. (Ruth 2:9b)’ As Ruth trusts herself to God’s protection we see her faith acting itself out in three ways.
a) Humbling yourself
Firstly, she humbles herself. In response to Boaz’s question, ‘who are you?’ she says, ‘I am your servant.’ Ruth doesn’t march in there and demand he uphold the responsibility of the kinsman-redeemer. For a start it wasn’t compulsory to marry your relative’s widow,
Secondly, as Boaz points out later, he wasn’t the nearest of kin, so he didn’t have any legal responsibility to marry Ruth anyway. Ruth isn’t appealing to the law here, she is appealing to Boaz’s character, his sense of compassion for her and her situation. And she does so with great humility. She doesn’t deserve his mercy, and if she’s going to receive it, it will be a free gift.
b) Investing in Community
The second thing Ruth is doing here is investing herself in community. Naomi has probably made it clear to Ruth that as part of God’s covenant community, people have a responsibility to care and support each other. Boaz has made that clear in allowing Ruth to glean in his fields and providing her with food and protection.
Ruth is casting herself at Boaz’s feet, literally, because as part of the covenant community Boaz is responsible for her welfare. She turns to Boaz because he is her kinsman-redeemer, it is his responsibility to care for her.
c) Challenging others to be like God
Thirdly, Ruth challenges Boaz to behave like God in this situation. We don’t see it so clearly in the NIV translation, but what Ruth actually says to Boaz in the Hebrew is, ‘spread your wing over me.’ That’s the significance of uncovering his feet, the idea that he would treat her as part of himself, that he would cover both of them.
Back in chapter 2 Boaz commends Ruth for taking refuge under God’s wings, and now Ruth comes to Boaz and asks if she can take refuge under his wings. She is challenging Boaz to be like God to her, that just as God has protected her and provided for her, now he would do the same.
Even though Ruth doesn’t know how things will turn out she puts her trust in God and steps out in faith. In fact you can see the evidence of her faith by what she does. You can see Ruth’s faith as she trusts in God’s protection, you can see it in her humility, you can see it as she turns to Boaz for help, you can see it in the way she challenges Boaz to live out God’s character.
I wonder if our faith can be seen by our actions? I wonder if people would look at our lives and see in us Christ’s humility? I wonder if our faith works itself out in our commitment to the church? I wonder if our faith works itself out as we challenge each other in becoming more like Christ? Too often we see faith as what we believe rather than how we live out our Christian lives in humility, in community, and in encouraging others.
4) Reflecting God’s Character
In fact, that’s exactly what we see in this story, people reflecting God’s character, we see how people’s faith in God works itself out through their lives.
a) Kindness
Boaz turns to Ruth and says, ‘10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter. This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. (Ruth 3:10)’ Boaz points out the greatness of Ruth’s kindness towards him. Boaz is impressed that Ruth approaches him. She could’ve run after younger men, and probably richer men, but she chooses Boaz.
Boaz describes her actions as kindness. This is that Hebrew word Hesed that we looked at a few weeks ago. It’s the grace that Naomi prayed Ruth would experience from God, it’s the same grace that Boaz showed Ruth, the same that Ruth now shows Boaz.
It’s the same grace God shows us in Jesus Christ. It’s an undeserved gift. The point is that the grace that flows into our lives from God flows out into the lives of others. People touched by God’s grace become gracious people.
b) Comfort
The second thing Boaz says is, ‘11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. (Ruth 3:11a)’ Ruth’s heart must have been pounding at this point. She has snuck onto the threshing floor, she has carefully avoided Boaz’s notice until dark, she scandalously lays at his feet until midnight, all to see if he is willing to marry her. So straight after commending her kindness Boaz calms her fears, he comforts her. Again this is a picture of how God comforts us, how God constantly reminds us not to be afraid.
c) Help
But Boaz isn’t just talk, she needn’t be afraid, because he will help her, he will act in her situation. He says, ‘11 … don’t be afraid, I will do for you all you ask… (Ruth 3:11b)’ Boaz has no illusions about the reasons for Ruth’s visit. He understands exactly what she is asking him to do. And he has no hesitations in doing what she asks.
d) Noble Character
And he tells Ruth why he is willing to help, because ‘11 …All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. (Ruth 3:11c)’ Boaz is willing to marry Ruth because she is a woman of noble character. This is the same word used to describe the wife of noble character in Proverbs 31. It’s the same word used to describe Boaz in chapter 2, he was a man of standing.
The idea behind this word is strength, in fact this word is usually used for an army, a Kingdom’s strength. Ruth displays strength of character, a strength that doesn’t come from herself, but from God. King David says, ‘33 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (2 Sma 22:33)’ Ruth’s noble character is further evidence of her faith in God.
e) Obedience
Next Boaz says to Ruth, ‘ 12 Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. (Ruth 3:12)’ Boaz tells Ruth that even though he is happy to marry her, there is someone else who has a greater legal claim than himself. Boaz’s concern is to obey God’s law. He can’t just do whatever he likes, no matter how noble it sounds. Boaz’s faith is displayed in his obedience to God.
f) Faithfulness
Finally Boaz assures Ruth of his faithfulness to her. He says to her, ‘15 …“Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. (Ruth 3:15a)’ What Boaz is doing here is assuring Ruth that he is willing to invest in her. If this other kinsman-redeemer isn’t interested, than he will marry her.
That’s what the six measures of Barley is all about, it’s more than just a gift, it’s more than just a display of generosity, it’s a pledge that she can trust him to do what is right. That’s exactly the way Naomi sees it as well. Ruth shows her the barley and tells her that Boaz had said ‘17 …Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed. (Ruth 3:17b)’ And Naomi says, ‘ 18 …Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today. (Ruth 3:18)’ The barley is a symbol of Boaz’s good intentions, of his faithfulness towards Ruth. It’s also a symbol of God’s faithfulness to Naomi. She who had left full and returned empty, is now no longer empty-handed. God proves himself faithful to those who are willing to take refuge under his wings.
This morning I want to ask you how your faith is working itself out in your actions? In what ways are you following God’s signposts in your life? How are you testing the water as you step out in faith? In what ways are you trusting in God’s protection? In what ways are you reflecting God’s character?
The challenge for us is that our faith will be more than just what we believe, but that is accompanied by action, by what we do as people who follow Jesus Christ. Like Naomi are we willing to act in response to our faith in God? Like Ruth are we willing to trust God? Like Boaz so we display God’s character? How are you acting out your faith?
Next Sunday we’re planning on putting our faith into action by getting out into our community and helping those in need. We’re not sure what that’s going to look like at this stage, but we’ll meet here as normal and head out together to be salt and light in our community.
We plan to, as Jesus puts it, ‘16 …let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Mt 5:16)’ So next Sunday you have my permission to not turn up in your Sunday best, but in your work clothes as we serve the Lord by serving our community in his name. Amen.