Ruth 4:7-22 Happy Ending, Kind Of

Observation: It's hard to get past the patriarchal nature of this "happy ending" for Ruth. Boaz takes off his sandal, in front of everybody, and claims his right of redemption as the closest living relative to Ruth's deceased husband who is willing to take her in. He attests in front of these witnesses that he has "acquired" Ruth. Like she's some side table at a public auction. It's disturbing, but that was the world they lived in, and for Ruth it was genuinely the happiest ending she could have imagined. It reminds me of a lot of the "fairy tale endings" we still unwittingly hold up for too many of our daughters: that happiness is being "acquired" by some strong, rich Prince Charming, rather than pursuing a meaningful vocation of their own. Again, we lift up this story as an "ideal" at our peril. 

What's also worthy of note, though, is that the women of Bethlehem have a very different interpretation. This happy ending still revolves around fertility, which is a sore subject in itself, but they praise God on Naomi's behalf because "your daughter-in-law, who is more than seven sons to you,  has borne" an heir. This baby, by the way, is Obed, also known as King David's Granddad. So Ruth, the Moabite, a foreigner from a traditional enemy of Israel, by staying faithful to Naomi and Naomi's God, even against Naomi's own advice, becomes the great-grandmother of the most renowned king in Israel's history. 

Application: I have a daughter and two (soon to be three) sons, and I'm glad to be a dad in 2018. I say this without hesitation, knowing full well that times are tough, and the world is dangerous, and our democracy is in crisis, and we have a very short time to turn the course of environmental degradation. 

And yet, reading this text, I'm once again glad to be raising a daughter and sons in 2018. There was a time--in fact, most of history--when Ruth's "happy ending" was the best happy ending any woman could hope for: to "be acquired." And though Ruth shows immense courage, faithfulness and cunning in pursuing that goal, it's clear there was no "Plan B" in her world. For my daughter, the possibilities are limitless. 

And reading this text, I'm glad for my boys, too, because they don't have to be Boaz. They don't have to pursue wealth and power over others, and "acquiring" a partner, as the only way to a full life. They can learn from Boaz's compassion, his diligence in doing right by Ruth, yet not feel they have to see material wealth as the be-all and end-all of success. 

I'm glad to be a dad in 2018, because my kids have options. They may not have the same level of material success as their great grandparents. But with God's help, their minds are free. 

Prayer: God, thank you for feminism. Thank you for the possibilities available to my daughter and my sons. Help us to continue creating a world of possibility for all. Amen.