The Object of Desire

 

“Now Boaz, whose young women you worked with, is our close relative.  Tonight he will be working at the threshing floor.  Wash yourself, put on perfume, change your clothes, and go down to the threshing floor. But don’t let him know you’re there until he has finished his dinner. Watch him so you will know where he lies down to sleep. When he lies down, go and lift the cover off his feet and lie down.  He will tell you what you should do.”

“Then Ruth answered, “I will do everything you say.”  Ruth 3:2-5 (NCV)

Seeing Yourself in the Eyes of Boaz

It’s about to get real.  My intention is not to drag this out, but I don’t want you to miss one delicious morsel of this beautiful story.  It’s not an uncommon story—boy meets girl, love happens and then it’s happily ever after.  There’s so much more to see in this story.  God used these ordinary people to demonstrate His love for YOU.  Don’t miss it.

Ruth needed a savior.  She was destitute.  There was no action, no effort—nothing she could do would change her situation.  So, she worked.  As she worked, she gleaned her way into a certain field and she met Boaz.

Boaz could change her future.  Boaz could redeem her.  Boaz could give her rest.

Boaz gave Ruth special privileges.  She could have the water drawn for his workers. Boaz told his harvesters to let Ruth follow them closely. Boaz told his workers to drop grain deliberately in Ruth’s path, making her task easier. Boaz was right in front of Ruth, blessing her, loving her from afar, but she didn’t really get it.

Boaz inviting her to lunch wasn’t enough, either. Ruth didn’t pick up on Boaz’s offers. Ruth didn’t notice that the other gleaners went home exhausted with hands full of grain while she went home with sacks full that required little work to glean.

Why didn’t Ruth get it? Perhaps it’s how she saw herself.

Ruth Saw Herself as a Widow

It’s hard to lose a spouse. It changes you and all of your relationships. You are no longer Mister and Misses you’re… hum. Well, now you are just you—the poor widow or widower. Many times, you become the object of pity, or worse, you embody the fears of others who can’t imagine losing a spouse. So, others ignore you. Ruth identified with her past.

Ruth Saw Herself as a Worker

She went to the fields each day. She worked hard to squeak by; picking up enough grain to keep Naomi and her alive. Naomi depended on Ruth’s ability to work. Ruth depended on her strength to stay alive.  Life was tough.  Stop working and soon she’d be dead. Ruth identified with her current situation.

Ruth Didn’t See Herself as a Woman

It seems the one vision Ruth could not see, was herself as a woman—an object of desire. Look at the advice Naomi gave her daughter-in-law. Get yourself dolled up—take a bath, put on some perfume, get out your best dress. Go see Boaz in a quiet place, when the harvest is complete.

Go to Boaz,  See Yourself as Boaz Sees You

You have a Boaz. Your Boaz, Jesus, sees you with loving eyes. He looks at you with desire.  He made all sorts of advances to get your attention, but He’s a gentleman, so He waits for you to come to Him.

Your Boaz, isn’t put off by your past. When He looks at you, He doesn’t see what you were. Your Boaz is not impressed with your present. When He looks at you, He’s not in awe of your efforts. Your Boaz isn’t concerned about what happened to you or how you’ve struggled to overcome.

When Your Boaz sees you, He sees what you can become. He sees you with eyes of love. Your Boaz wants you to come to Him not in the shame of your past, not in the strength of your present efforts, but in the beauty of one who is dearly loved.

Father, thank You for my heavenly Boaz, Jesus. Thank You for Your pure love for me – not tainted by my past mistakes, not changed by my current efforts—but pure love just for me, because I’m me.  Help me to accept Your gift.