Naomi: ‘Then she said, “Wait, my daughter” (Ruth 3:18)
Oh my dear. How could Ruth possibly wait any longer? It had already been almost two whole months since she met this amazing fellow, Boaz. They had been in close proximity as Ruth gleaned in Boaz’ fields. He extended mercy, kindness and grace to her- letting her glean, even though she was a foreigner; letting her sit with the reapers in the shelter; offering her, from his own hand, roasted grain; she recognized that he had taken notice of her; he was a kinsman-redeemer: a close relative who was to take care of those in the extended family who were in need.
Now, he tells her to wait; exercise self-control. And then Naomi tells her to do the same. What is it about self control: mitigating our appetites and desires, waiting a little longer to make a good decision, undergirding our impulses with a conviction of sustained prayer before God? Why does this trouble us so? Bottom line- we want what we want and will do pretty much anything to get it. As a Christian, there are so many times when I want God to act on my behalf, in the way I would like and do it NOW. Self-control flies out the window when we are selfish, anxious, and afraid- pretty terrible list, but I’ve know all three; even all three in the same moment.
Very recently, I was anxious about my Mom’s ability to handle social interactions and I realized that I was afraid to look foolish. We went to a New Year’s Day Levee. I could sense that some people were thinking she shouldn’t be there; that somehow she is of less value because she is 92 years old and living with dementia. And I saw that I was embarrassed because she didn’t always know how to interact with people. She looked to me for guidance with a sweet, unsophisticated joy, and I realized how selfish I was, looking at me me, me; rather than embracing this precious time with her.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your kindness to me in taking me past these unrelenting thoughts and controlling my heart so that I could see the real picture- Mom and I enjoying an afternoon. Left to my own devices, I may have left the building and stomped home with more anxiety, more fear and more selfishness. But the Spirit of God, who wants to bear fruit in my life, brought self-control to the event and made my heart glad to stay.
You know, Adam and Eve could have used more of this self- control. They couldn’t wait for God to show them more of Himself. No. Instead, they took the devil’s bait, thinking they could be like God, so they wouldn’t die and so they could enjoy the special, forbidden fruit- all lies from Satan. So tragic. Indeed, it was so tragic that we are still reeling with the consequences thousands of years later.
But, back to Ruth- ready to listen, to wait, to submit. How she must have rejoiced, even while she was waiting; knowing that Boaz had said he would redeem her and Naomi, if the closer kinsman did not. How she must have prayed! I can just picture her, on her knees in their humble, tumbled-down neglected home that had seen no one living there for the past ten years.
Remember, Boaz had seen her all sweaty, working in his fields. He knew she was a foreigner, a Moabitess, a childless widow. He knew they had nothing- these widows who had travelled the long, dusty, steep roads from Moab to Bethlehem. And yet He was willing to be the Kinsman-Redeemer.
He, too, had to demonstrate self-control. I wonder if he waited so long, because maybe he wasn’t so sure that Ruth would accept him- he was an older man. Was he waiting for the other Kinsman to act? What on earth passed through his mind there on the threshing floor where a beautiful young woman basically asked him to marry her? What restraint he had, sending her back to Naomi with a promise and almost 40 kilograms of threshed and winnowed grain, rather than taking advantage of her in the middle of the night. Little did he know that the greatest Kinsman-Redeemer of all, Jesus, would be his descendant, and would come to rescue people from their sin. Ruth and Naomi needed rescuing from poverty; we are in need of a greater rescue; one that has been accomplished by Christ on the cross.
For the month of February, Pastor Pernell has challenged us to a fast; a fast from things that consume and waste our time so that we would spend time in prayer, instead. This is where self-control, that glorious fruit of the Spirit, can mature. Even now, I already know what I will be setting aside, and I am praying for this fruit to be borne in me, through me, and spilling over into the lives of those whom I will be in contact with, over the month of February and beyond. Stay tuned…
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