by John O’Malley
“And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do” (Ruth 3:4).
God’s sovereign hand orchestrated this moment. Naomi’s declaration of despair (1:20) upon her return home is reversed as now she reveals her renewed devotion to Jehovah’s will (3:4). She clearly states that, upon Ruth fulfilling these matters, “He will tell thee what thou shalt do.” Upon Naomi’s teaching, Ruth, in faith, prepared her body, spirit, and soul to meet with Boaz. She came without reservation to him.
How was Naomi able to know these things? Her statement gives clear evidence that, just as God had made sure that she knew, though still in Moab, that the Eternal Baker was providing bread again in Bethlehem-judah, He would make sure she knew how to persuade Ruth that Boaz would know what to do and say. Boaz, if you recall, had been fully shown Ruth’s situation (2:11). Now we see Naomi was fully persuaded that Boaz would have a response for Ruth (3:4).
Boaz held the answer to the largest question in Ruth’s heart: “Will you redeem me and the name of my husband Mahlon and his father Elimelech?” Naomi’s training had given Ruth the guidelines for her preparation; now, she gave Ruth the guarantee that Boaz would give her the answer to the question of her heart.
Naomi’s promise to Ruth is a wonderful comfort to every child of God. Every believer can come to our Eternal Boaz and mark the space where He lies in prayer; and, by asking, we can uncover His feet and we will find He will tell us what to do. We can see the image of her promise in the writing of the New Testament writer James, though with different words: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).
Reader, do you struggle with what to do about a situation in your life? Ask our Eternal Boaz; He will tell you what you should do!