THE HOLY TRAP  

Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.”  Ruth 4:5  ESV 

There is often a misconception in the church that we need to be wise as doves and innocent as serpents.  The Bible teaches quite the opposite.

I grew up being taught that if anyone asked me a question that I had to answer them.  It didn’t matter how inappropriate the question was.  If an adult inquired, then I would have to go out of my way to tell them everything that they wanted to know.  It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized that not only did this belief turn me into a victim, it was not even biblical.  We don’t have to display all our cards at once.  There are secrets that are OK to keep.  For example, there are things that a husband and wife should never share with anyone.  They are holy and private.  The same goes for timing.  There is a time and a place to reveal information.  It’s never a good idea to allow others to bully us into giving up things that either we shouldn’t or that it is not the right time to show.

In Ruth 4, we see Boaz publicly approach the next man in line to redeem Ruth.  He tells him about the land that Elimilech left behind, but he doesn’t yet reveal the part about having to marry Ruth.  The kinsman jumps at the chance to acquire the property.  It is then that Boaz tells the relative about Ruth.  The man is caught.  He turns the offer down and is shamed in front of the town elders.  Boaz knew this man and the kinsman was exposed for his bad motives.  This was the perfect time for all of this to come to light.

So the next time you are tempted to acquiesce and give up something at the wrong time, in the wrong way, to the wrong person, remember this story.  God’s ways and timing are always perfect.

Prayer
Heavenly Father
Forgive me for putting other people’s demands before Yours.  Help me to stand strong in what I know to be true from Your Word.
In Jesus Precious Name