Surprises can be such fun--and then again, "A woman mistakenly threw
out a mattress with $1 million inside...she bought her elderly mother a
new mattress as a surprise and threw out the old one, only to discover
that her mother had hidden her life savings inside. When she went to
look for the mattress it had already been taken by garbage men."
There are times when our best intentions backfire, whether it be
something as small as throwing a surprise party for someone who hates
surprise parties or as large as tossing a million bucks out with the
trash. Let's face it, we all mess up from time to time even when our
intentions are sincere. For every surprise which backfires, there must
be more which yield pleasing results. One of my favorites is the story
of Ruth and Boaz in the Bible because Ruth's bold move could have
backfired. It is a wonderful love story because Boaz accepted the
surprise of finding Ruth lying at the foot of his bed. It's a surprise
love story which is so much better than Cinderella because the woman is
an active participant.
God is the master surprise giver and his intentions are always good; he
has the resources of bands of angels and the strength of nature
available to him. He also has a keen sense of humor as he lovingly
plays with his creation. When the woman who'd thrown out the mattress
talked with the press she made it known that she trusted God, "People
have to take everything in proportion and thank God for the good and
the bad."
As we pause to thank God for the good and the bad, please enjoy the story of Ruth as related in The Message:
Ruth 3
1-2One day her mother-in-law Naomi said to Ruth, "My dear daughter,
isn't it about time I arranged a good home for you so you can have a
happy life? And isn't Boaz our close relative, the one with whose young
women you've been working? Maybe it's time to make our move. Tonight is
the night of Boaz's barley harvest at the threshing floor.
3-4 "Take a bath. Put on some perfume. Get all dressed up and go to the
threshing floor. But don't let him know you're there until the party is
well under way and he's had plenty of food and drink. When you see him
slipping off to sleep, watch where he lies down and then go there. Lie
at his feet to let him know that you are available to him for marriage.
Then wait and see what he says. He'll tell you what to do."
5 Ruth said, "If you say so, I'll do it, just as you've told me."
6 She went down to the threshing floor and put her mother-in-law's plan into action.
7 Boaz had a good time, eating and drinking his fill—he felt great.
Then he went off to get some sleep, lying down at the end of a stack of
barley. Ruth quietly followed; she lay down to signal her availability
for marriage.
8 In the middle of the night the man was suddenly startled and sat up. Surprise! This woman asleep at his feet!
9 He said, "And who are you?"
She said, "I am Ruth, your maiden; take me under your protecting wing.
You're my close relative, you know, in the circle of covenant
redeemers—you do have the right to marry me."
10-13 He said, "God bless you, my dear daughter! What a splendid
expression of love! And when you could have had your pick of any of the
young men around. And now, my dear daughter, don't you worry about a
thing; I'll do all you could want or ask. Everybody in town knows what
a courageous woman you are— a real prize! You're right, I am a close
relative to you, but there is one even closer than I am. So stay the
rest of the night. In the morning, if he wants to exercise his
customary rights and responsibilities as the closest covenant redeemer,
he'll have his chance; but if he isn't interested, as God lives, I'll
do it. Now go back to sleep until morning."
14 Ruth slept at his feet until dawn, but she got up while it was still
dark and wouldn't be recognized. Then Boaz said to himself, "No one
must know that Ruth came to the threshing floor."
15 So Boaz said, "Bring the shawl you're wearing and spread it out."
She spread it out and he poured it full of barley, six measures, and
put it on her shoulders. Then she went back to town.
16-17 When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "And how did
things go, my dear daughter?" Ruth told her everything that the man had
done for her, adding, "And he gave me all this barley besides—six
quarts! He told me, 'You can't go back empty-handed to your
mother-in-law!'"
18 Naomi said, "Sit back and relax, my dear daughter, until we find out
how things turn out; that man isn't going to fool around. Mark my
words, he's going to get everything wrapped up today."
Jane Mullikin
Spirit - Finding Hope in a World of Uncertainty
 Quote this article on your site
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved |
