All You Say I Will Do Ruth 3:5 - Equipped for Battle

Naomi's instructions to Ruth have been given, and the plan has been made. Ruth is to bathe, apply ointment to herself, and dress nicely. She is to go to the threshingfloor where Boaz is eating and drinking with fellow laborers, and although she is not to interrupt his time with his fellows, Ruth is to lay at the feet of Boaz' under his covers once he lay down to sleep at night. The question is, will she obey this venture of faith? We find the answer in chapter three and verse five where we read:

And she said unto her, All that you say unto me I will do.

As we think about Ruth's response, it might help us to consider both of her choices. First, we will look at the choice she made, “All that you say unto me I will do.” Ruth heard the words of Naomi, and she understood the proposal. Ruth knew that her decision to go along with Naomi's plan would be risky, but she decided to take the chance. Although there were calculated ways that this idea would end in failure, Ruth wanted to obey her mother-in-law's desire. Whether her venture was successful or not, Ruth would take the chance.

However, let's suppose that this verse read, “I will not do anything that you say to do.” What is it that Ruth was willing to forfeit in order to not comply with her mother-in-law's desire? Would she have relinquished her opportunity to be wed to the owner of the field? Would she have never know what a relationship with a kinsman redeemer would be like? Would she have affected not only her own position but also that of her mother-in-law Naomi as well? Regardless of what she might have lost, we know that Ruth chose to obey Naomi rather than secure her own personal safety. In other words, her risk was worth the potential reward.

What about us? Do we have ventures in faith that we have failed to keep simply because rather than saying, “I will” we say “I won't”? Are there blessings we forfeit because we will not take a risk and leave the results to our kinsman redeemer? Is our desire to make ourselves secure more important than obeying God's leading? Are our choices to disobey preventing us from future benefits not only for ourselves but also those who surround us? Perhaps as we meditate upon this thought the inspiration of Ruth's venture in faith will encourage us to hear from the Holy Spirit, take a leap of faith, and purpose to leave the results of our choice to the one in whom they belong - our kinsman redeemer Jesus.

Next time we see Ruth in action as she fulfills her mother-in-law's words, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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