by John O’Malley
“And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman” (Ruth 3:6-9).
“Oh, he is stirring now. He is turning over. I wonder if this is the moment for which I have waited. Yes, it is. Oh no! I have startled him.”
Boaz stirred as he felt there was someone in the threshing floor with him. Not knowing in the darkness if some marauder had come upon him, momentary fear seized him; he called out, “Who art thou?”
Ruth could not help but smile; inwardly she thought, “I have lain there this whole time, and he just recognized a presence in the threshing floor.” Ruth was there that night to ask Boaz to be her kinsman-redeemer. Her heart was joined to his heart months ago back in the barley harvest. She remained through the wheat harvest and was delighted to serve with him. Nothing more would please her than to have him accept.
Boaz wondered as a pleasant perfume reached his awakened senses. “Is it a woman? Why would a woman be in the threshing floor? Who is she?” A myriad of concerns came to mind.
Quickly, she responded to identify herself properly and to calm his fear. Naomi’s recorded instructions to Ruth did not include these words. However, what she said was perfect. In eighteen words, she presented herself, her heart, and her heart’s desire. “I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.”
She introduced herself as Ruth, his handmaid. She said, “I am Ruth thine handmaid”—not Ruth the widower, not Ruth the Moabitess, nor Ruth a promiscuous woman. By identifying herself as handmaid to Boaz, it revealed the passion of her heart; she loved him. “From the first day in the harvest field when God’s wings led me to your harvest field, I have cared for you. Your kindness and words embraced me from the first day. I have felt close to your heart ever since that moment. I remember thinking that, when Mahlon died, my heart died with him. However, being with you these last few months has kindled a flame inside.”
The words flowed easily, “I am thine handmaid.” Boaz, I belong to your harvest. I would love to belong to your heart. My heart is pounding out of my chest; I must tell him in this moment; I can wait no longer, I must let him know I am here for pure reasons and to present my petition. “Spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.”
To the average western reader, this phrase hardly sounds romantic, nor does it sound like a request that indicates her willingness for his marriage proposal. Yet, in truth, that is what Ruth’s words meant. Ruth sought his skirt to cover her, not because of the breezes of the evening, but because she desired his covering as the head of her life. This idea comes from a little chick seeking shelter under the wing of it mother as it sensed impending danger. Her words indicated she came to Boaz seeking; she sought for the shelter of his protection as a husband and the promise of his heart.
Ruth knew the words to use: “Thou art a near kinsman.” To the Hebrews, one word would cover it all: goel. “Boaz, I want you to be my goel.” My heart has been toward you as lord of the harvest; but now, you must know that my heart is toward you as a kinsman-redeemer husband. I wish you to be my goel.”
Boaz knew she was asking him to fulfill a provision in the law of God* as a kinsman-redeemer. The goel was established by God as one who would step in for a family member, however distant, and assist them in time of need. A kinsman-redeemer could redeem a slave from his enslavement; he could serve as the avenger to a murdered family member and bring that perpetrator to face his crime. A kinsman-redeemer would be sought if there were family land that had to be, or had been, forfeited and he could purchase it back. God's law instructed the goel to marry his kinsman's widow to prevent extinction of that family's name. *(Leviticus 25:25,48; Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Numbers 35:19)
Ruth chose Boaz to be her goel. She sought the one to whom her heart had been drawn. Ruth told Boaz, “You are my goel.” She met the qualifications of the law. Ruth was a childless widow; she had land in her husband’s name by inheritance that was for sale, ostensibly to meet financial needs (4:3-5). In matters of the heart, grief had held her as slave since Mahlon’s death; she needed a goel. Ruth sought him because of his kindness first extended to her. She needed a goel; she desired her goel to be Boaz.
Our hearts are thrilled this day as we read this account and recall our own need for a Goel. Our Eternal Boaz loved us when we could not even love ourselves. He loved us first before we even knew how to love Him. He offered Himself on Calvary’s cross to pay the law’s requirement for sin. This selfless loving deed was His offer to be our Goel. We were enslaved to sin; we had no means to redeem ourselves. Our Eternal Boaz became our Goel so we could be His bride. He came to this earth as a man with like passions, yet He did not sin. He is my Kinsman-Redeemer; is He yours?