Boaz

A couple weeks ago I had made a post called Haughty Waves and Hearts. In that post I had mentioned a study I'd done on the book of Ruth, and have received feedback that some people would like to see what I came up with, so here it is!

In chapter one we meet Ruth. Her husband and his brother had died, leaving both her and her sister-in-law widows along with their poor mother-in-law, Naomi, who had also been widowed shortly before. Naomi released her daughters-in-law, telling them to go home to their own people and gods, and find happiness. Ruth stayed. She stayed even though the main goal of a woman in that day (and this one.. who are we kidding?) was to be married. She followed Naomi and her God even though the odds were stacked against her remarriage.

      When God leads you, don't let your hope for romance alter you decision, or - rather - don't allow that desire to alter your willingness to be led. Just go. Think of the kingdom and how to serve others - not yourself.

In chapter two Ruth unintentionally finds herself in Boaz's field who - with no ulterior motive of his own - shows her kindness in the name of the God they serve in common. He tells his workers to respect her, to not embarrass her, to treat her like a lady.

      When you find a good man, he will go out of his way to benefit you simply because it's right. He doesn't do it because he's hoping for a "future" with you. He does it because he's a gentleman. Also, you need to be equally yoked. You must serve the same God with the same heart, or you will never know peace or unity.

In chapter three Mama Naomi devises a match-making plot which Ruth obeys. As the plan unfolds, Ruth finds herself completely at the mercy of Boaz - both physically and reputation-wise. Though he could have greedily taken Ruth immediately, Boaz does what is right. He respects her body and admits that there may be a man better suited for her. He does her unselfish kindness and preserves her good character. He doesn't take advantage of her. 

      In the same way, a godly man will recognize what healthy and righteous courses of action are, even if you give him the opportunity to act on impulse. He won't use you. He also has your best in mind, and realizes that he may not be it. He's open to God's best for you, no matter what that is.

In the final chapter, Boaz surrounds himself with respectable men and gives another family member who is "more qualified" to marry Ruth the opportunity to do so. He speaks well of her, calling her a "noble woman". Trusting in the Lord to take as He saw fit, Boaz was willing to let Ruth go - because though he loved her, he loved the will of the Lord more. The man in question refused, however, so the right to marry Ruth automatically passed on to Boaz. Only after receiving the legal green light and marrying Ruth in proper order did Boaz go to her sexually. And then, the Lord allowed her to conceive. The child was a gift. Born out of obedience.

      A godly man won't take from you physically before you exchange vows. Why? Because he doesn't need to. He is receiving his fullness from Christ, and there are no "holes" for you to fill in his heart. Boaz was fine before Ruth came along, such will be the case for the godly man, and such should be the case for a godly you. God should be your everything, you shouldn't be looking. Your godly man won't use your body for pleasure. Sexuality is a privilege you receive after marriage, and the children that result from it are gifts that God allows you to have - not something accidents smite you with. 

Haughty Waves and Hearts.

Tonight I sat by the ocean with God.

He walked me through Ruth and showed me some crazy things about walking in his will and being selfless, especially in regards to relationships. If you'd like to read those, click here. But really blew my mind is what happened after I put the books down.

As usual, I asked God what he wanted to do next. He told me to go stand by the water. First of all, as I approached the waves I was filled with overwhelming awe and gratefulness to live where I do. I felt so small, but simultaneously significant standing there by that big blue.

It was what happened when I rolled my jeans to my knees and stood where the waves could lap my feet, however, that shook my heart - I stood there watching the waves. They were chaotic, their timing unmeasured, their spacing erratic. They stumbled and ricocheted off one another like unsteady children who had spun in circles and were now wildly dancing. Dodging, leaping, singing. They danced this way from out to sea towards where I stood until their haphazard legs could carry them no further. There on the shoreline they collapsed in a thunderous heap, flinging bits of foam five to six feet into the air, and spilling the waters they'd held in their arms onto the sand before them. This water rushed to my feet like eager hands intent on pulling me back in with them, but by the time they'd reached me they only had the strength to gently lap over and caress my toes before returning to where the next line of dancing squalls were hurling themselves onto the sand.

As I watched I began to notice a pattern: each time the waves crashed the backwash from the previous waves would counteract their forward rush, eating away at it until they finally met at the exact location that the crashes occurred. At this point the next wave, no longer impeded by the residual effects of its predecessor would stampede towards my legs excitedly. It was at this precise moment that my instinct told me to rip my feet free from the small hole they'd been sinking into, and escape the oncoming offender.

But my God told me, "No. Stay put."

It all happened in an instant, but that was all the helpless terror that immediately seized my heart needed to make its impression. The greedy wave swirled up and around my legs violently before retreating to its comrades. I looked down at my pant legs and was astonished to see that the water had literally stopped at the bottom of my rolled up jeans.

And the Lord spoke, "If you stand where I have placed you, nothing will ever be too much for you to handle. Things are scary from a distance, but I will cut them down before you so that by the time they reach you my hand will sustain your heart. I want to give you all that you need to forgive and  love the waves life sends you because I am God, and you are my daughter."

"Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, "Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed?"

(Job 38:8-11)