16/04/2024
Today we take on Ruth (article by John Robert Ouko Obora).
Ruth isn’t your typical Bible heroine. She gleans all day (like the Luo-peans would say “en ja- fulo mangila”). She must have got her hair tangled by more than just a gentle breeze and a permanent five o'clock shadow. Yet, she still remembers to leave something from the “left over of her meal from Boaz’s kind gesture (Ruth 2:18) to feed Naomi whom she left at home (I guess she’s was still morning the loss of the husband Elimelech). Remember, Ruth too lost a husband-Mr. Mahlon.
Ruth is a dumpster fire. Widowhood hits hard in ancient times, and this girl is down to her last scrap of bread. Give it to her, Ruth, has got quite some grit! Ruth’s is literally the “MVP (Most Valuable Player) of in-law relationships”. She excels in caring for Naomi and even navigates the complexities and potential challenges of interacting with their spouse's family members (remember Boaz warns the you men working for him)
She’s a gleaning Pro. Gleaning (picking up leftover crops/ “fulo”/ “kuokota masazo”) is less glamorous than it sounds. You're basically scrabbling in the dirt for spare grain like a pigeon on steroids. But Ruth, she hustles. She isn’t afraid to get those fingernails dirty. I guess she even forgot to apply make-up to make Boaz “fall-for-her”. Chaiiii, I fear this damsel.
She is a SASS Level Expert. If I were a computer programming geek I would say “SASS” to refer to a Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets” but forgive me I just stied Horticulture at the university of Nairobi, and in my case, I am using SASS to mean Ruth is “endowed with “Survival Skills, and Shockingly Good Luck”. The clever eyes please forgive me for I did not add the “G” and “L” in my SASS. “Oblique” me please.
However, Naomi “pia sio mchache”. She is the Naomi the ultimate “guilt-tripping Jewish mama” -forgive my manners- must be feeling sheepish now. Just imagine, the surprise in her face when Ruth comes back home with “six measures of barley” as a token collection from Boaz. Fellow Kenyans this is a whooping 131 kgs working with the translation (New King James Version) that replaces "six measures" as "six ephahs". Ruth ni “WAIDA mtu wangu.” I guess “Katinguha”, or “Obeto” ama “Njeri” wangesema kwani “mama mkwe ni Mungu”, why carry this heavy load to feed her”
Is Ruth the “Accidental Flirting Genius?” think of this, Ruth ends up working in the field of this dude, Boaz who is a rich, older farmer. For the youths in my time think of Boaz as a biblical “Jeff Bezos in a tunic”. Ruth meets such a guy in strange land then blesses his clueless heart. Not knowing how “amechorewa from kolabo ya Naomi na Ruth” (see 3:1-4). For the lazy chaps who will not refer read it down here (NIV): -
“One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight, he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
That suggestion there gets Ruth the brilliant idea to basically sleep at his feet one night as a subtle hint that she's, uh, available. It's awkward, it's potentially scandalous, and Ah “holy moly”, IT WORKS!
Forget about the Tinder strategy sessions ladies! You need a session with Naomi my friend- She’s the “Original Opportunist”. She basically coached Ruth on how to finesse this whole romance thing. This Old Testament “matchmaking” strategy is “ruthless”.
Ruth is a proof that a little awkwardness and a whole lot of determination can take you a long way, even when your prospects look bleak (Just remember not to compromise, lest you miss your promised “Obed”).
What’s my conclusion friends: - “FEAR WOMEN. In Ruth 3:18: Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” And it was so. (Article by John Robert Ouko Obora).
