Lay It on Me

80 / L AY I T ON M E

her way toward the threshing floor. As she stealthily approached Boaz, she knelt and uncovered his feet. It appears he didn't realize she was there for some time. Have you prayed and felt like God was paying you no attention? Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. and he said, "who are you?" So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative" (Ruth 3:8, 9). As Ruth lay at his feet, Boaz spoke a blessing over her: Then he said, "Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich" (Ruth 3:10). Boaz described Ruth as a virtuous woman. Because of her obedience and dedication, she received two blessings. First, Boaz announced he would perform the rite of the kinsman redeemer. Then she received another unexpected blessing. So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." Also he said, "Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city (Ruth 3:14, 15). If we pray and labor in private, we will be rewarded openly. Ruth's story bears this out. Ruth began her labor in a small corner of the field. She then progressed to "handfuls on