Thurs. Devo - Ruth Takes the Risk

Read Ruth 3:1-7
Naomi realizes she will not always be there to watch over Ruth and wants to make sure Ruth is taken care of. She wants to find a husband for Ruth and who better than Boaz? She knew Boaz would be at the threshing floor because that was the custom. Winnowing happened at night because the wind was the strongest at night and was needed to blow the chaff away. This was also the time of celebrating and thanking God for the harvest. Many workers would be there for the party. Ruth would not be out of place here since she had been a part of the harvest. After much celebrating there would be a meal, then everyone would sleep on the threshing floor.
Naomi instructed Ruth to wash and anoint herself and put on clothes. This is a spiritual cleansing and change of garments as well as a physical one. Naomi wanted Ruth to be of a pure heart and totally submitted to God. She wanted her to have the aroma of a king's daughter. (It reminds me of how Joseph did the same thing when he came out of prison and was going to present himself to the pharoah.)
Ruth was to watch where Boaz laid down and when he had gone to sleep, she was to go over and uncover his feet and lay down and wait till he told her what to do. This was a Jewish marriage law. If a man refuses to marry a widow in his family, he is to take off his shoe which symbolizes his refusal to his right of possession of her. Ruth is reminding him that by not trying to redeem her, that is what he is saying.
Ruth asks no questions but simply gives her total trust in Naomi and replies, "All that you say to me I will do. And she did.
Boaz has 3 choices: he can reject her and rebuke her for her forwardness, he can send her to the closer kinsman, or he can accept her proposal and marry her. Talk about putting yourself on the line. Ruth kept walking the path and never wavered. She had decided a long time back to follow Naomi wherever she went and that her God would be her God. I wonder if she knew she was going to be asked to lay down under some man's feet?
Once we make the commitment to follow God there is no end to the seemingly-ridiculous-things God will have you do only to result in supernatural-wonderful-fulfillments. God loves those who take risks. I dare you to take some!