Chapter 7: The Threshing Floor

Ruth washed herself. She put oil on her skin. She dressed in her finest clothes — not the clothes of a gleaner, but the clothes of a woman hoping to be chosen.

Then she walked into the night.

She found the threshing floor and waited in the shadows. She watched Boaz eat and drink with his workers. She watched his heart grow cheerful from the celebration. She watched him lie down at the edge of the grain pile to sleep.

Then she waited. The night grew quiet. The fires burned low. The other workers fell asleep.

Ruth crept forward. One wrong move, one sound, and everything could be ruined.

She reached Boaz. Carefully, she uncovered his feet. Then she lay down.

And she waited.

At midnight, Boaz woke with a start. He turned over. Someone was there.

"Who are you?" His voice was sharp with surprise.

Ruth's moment had come.

RUTH“I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over me — for you are a redeemer.”— Ruth 3:9

Spread your wings. The same words Boaz had spoken to her in the field. He had blessed her for taking refuge under God's wings. Now she was asking him to be those wings. To cover her. To protect her. To redeem her.

Silence.

Then Boaz spoke.

BOAZ“May the LORD bless you, my daughter. This kindness is even greater than what you showed Naomi. You could have gone after younger men — rich or poor. But you came to me. Do not be afraid. Everyone in this town knows you are a woman of noble character. I will do everything you ask.”— Ruth 3:10-11

But then Boaz said something unexpected.

BOAZ“There is one problem. Another man is a closer relative than I am. He has the first right to redeem you. I must give him the chance. But hear me — if he refuses, then as surely as the LORD lives, I will redeem you myself.”— Ruth 3:12-13

Ruth lay at his feet until just before dawn. Then, while it was still too dark for anyone to recognize her, she rose to leave. Boaz filled her shawl with six large portions of barley.

"Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed," he said.

Empty-handed. Naomi had returned to Bethlehem empty. Now Boaz was beginning to fill what had been emptied.

Ruth hurried home and told Naomi everything.

NAOMI“Wait, my daughter. Boaz will not rest until this matter is settled. Before this day ends, we will have our answer.”— Ruth 3:18