What lessons on trust and obedience can we learn from Ruth 3:15? Setting the Scene “And he said, ‘Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.’ When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.” (Ruth 3:15) Trust Expressed in Immediate Obedience • Ruth responds without hesitation. • No debate, no delay—just an open shawl and a willing heart. • Obedience this quick reveals confidence in Boaz’s integrity (compare John 2:5). Lesson: Trust in the Lord is shown when we obey the first time, even in small, odd requests. Positioning Ourselves to Receive • Ruth’s part is simple: hold the fabric open. • God often asks us to “make room” for blessing—clear sin, schedule, or priorities (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Until she opened her shawl, Boaz’s grain had nowhere to land. Lesson: Obedience is the posture that lets God’s provision fall into our lives (Luke 6:38). Provision as Promise, Not Payment • Six measures of barley were valuable, yet only a pledge of the greater redemption to come. • The gift reminded Ruth that Boaz would finish what he started (Philippians 1:6). • Likewise, God’s daily mercies are pledges of our full redemption in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Lesson: God’s provisions point forward to His complete deliverance; obedience keeps us mindful of this bigger picture. Waiting in Faithful Expectation • Boaz goes “into the city” to settle legal matters while Ruth waits. • Her trust continues in silence; she has done all she can for now. • Psalm 37:7 calls us to “be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” Lesson: Obedience sometimes means staying put until God moves the next piece. Practical Takeaways Today – Listen quickly, act quickly; slow obedience is disobedience in disguise. – Keep your “shawl”—your life, time, wallet, talents—open for God’s use. – Recognize every blessing as a reminder that the greater redemption is on its way. – After obeying, resist the urge to manipulate outcomes; let God complete the work (Philippians 4:19). |
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