“Naomi! Naomi!” Ruth ran inside the house all excited.
She could not wait to show Naomi the grain and the fruit she had gathered up for the day. It was her second day to be gleaning in the fields of Boaz, and she had done so well. There was much.
Not only that, she was beginning to make friends with a few of the women she was working with. It was so nice to feel safe, to have friends. Ruth felt so happy to know where their next meal was coming from. She was so grateful to this great God of Naomi’s, who had taken her under His wing and loved her too.
Naomi’s eyes lit up as she spied the bundles inside Ruth’s shawl. Many bundles of barley would be ready to use for cooking soon. Not only that, there were vegetables and melons too. It seems that Boaz kept filling Ruth’s shawl with extra food every day.
After a happy prayer of thanks, the two women began to grind the grain for making bread. They laughed and chatted while they worked. Sometimes they even sang together. Naomi was teaching Ruth all of the songs of her land. Ruth loved to hear her voice of praises being lifted up again. It had been so long since Naomi had been this joyful. This pleased Ruth greatly.
The once abandoned and lonely cottage of Naomi was now full of laughter and happiness.
Naomi had a suspicion that this happiness could go on quite a bit longer; if only Ruth realized the value that could come from knowing and growing closer to her kinsman redeemer.
She decided to speak gently of the subject. “You know; Boaz is one of our kinsmen. He seems quite taken with you. I suppose he is a bit older though….”
Ruth blushed when she saw the quizzical look on Naomi’s face.
“Oh, but he is so handsome and so wise and so kind and very generous.” She could not say enough good things about Boaz. This made Naomi smile even more. She hesitated a bit, choosing her words carefully before she spoke again.
“Ruth, my daughter, you are still learning our customs here. I hope you come to understand all the value of having this kinsman redeemer.”
“Naomi; you are right. I’m not sure I completely understand this process. Exactly what makes one a kinsman redeemer anyway? I’m not sure I know all that this means.”
Naomi laughed.
“You are about to find out my daughter. Just listen carefully to all that I tell you to do and follow my instructions exactly. Soon you will understand the great value of a kinsman redeemer. You can thank me later.”
Ruth’s eyes widened at the thought of these instructions Naomi was about to put forth. It seemed there was so much for her to learn about this new place. If all of Israel turned out to be as great as the things she had seen from Boaz, she was going to cherish this land forever.
Ruth leaned closer to hear the things Naomi was instructing. She had dropped her voice as if she was revealing a great mystery, or some strange secret. It all evolved around the fact that they had a kinsman redeemer.
Whatever Naomi said Ruth would do.
She trusted her just that much. She would follow Naomi’s advice with no questions and no hesitation.
So that night Naomi’s plan began to unfold. Ruth was amazed at what Naomi told her to do.
The spring harvest festival was coming up. Their plan would unfold then, at the threshing floors of Boaz.