The Forfeiture of Value:

            As dawn broke, Ruth woke Boaz to give him a special gift. She knew he would appreciate her illustrated sketchbook from the worship area. Boaz sat on the bed amazed with the loveliness and delicacy of her portrayals.

            He treasured his wife more now because of this precious gift as she described every detail of what she saw on the block. She saw a great-grandchild, rocked in his mother’s arms who would become the powerful king of his country. He would be a strong fighter who would defend the country against incomparable giants and be a great warrior whose kingdom would be great. She saw their great-great-great-grandson who was the wisest man in the world who would build the Temple of God.

            The morning started with Stan’s bell ringing; Ruth, Boaz and the other followers ran to the town center hoping that would reduce Stan’s punishment. Stan stood on the platform. He said, “Joshua’s followers don’t seem to understand the laws. I’m sure each of you had fun on the mountain, but one person must suffer a punishment. Boaz, bring that sketchbook and your wife up to me, now!” Boaz whispered to Ruth, “How did he know about the sketchbook?” Stan stormed, “Either the sketchbook or your wife will suffer the same punishment, which do you prefer?”

            Boaz reluctantly brought the sketchbook, as he took Ruth’s hand. The questions were racing through his mind. “If he hadn’t brought the sketchbook, would Stan have picked someone else? Why is he making me suffer? Can I protect this sketchbook somehow?”

            Stan shouted, “Vacillating won’t help you! Speed it up, Boaz!” Stan gloatingly looked at Boaz enjoying his embarrassment. “Which treasure will you give up?” Boaz slowly held the sketchbook out. Stan grabbed the sketchbook and opened it. He looked at the first page and ripped it out. He held it up and asked, “Which child drew this? This isn’t worth anyone looking at this trash.” He took the page, crumpled it up and threw it in a nearby fire. He then took every page and continued ripping it out and making mocking and despicable comments. Each derisive, public comment stabbed Boaz’s heart and humiliated Ruth. Stan took time looking at each picture and thinking of exactly how to make the pain last longer. “Whose ugly baby is that? Was someone forced to make more ugly babies? Can’t the world be filled with only beautiful people? Is this child so ugly and stinky that they put him with the smelly sheep? Oh, he’s supposed to be killing a giant—nice! No wonder he has a helmet—nobody would like to look at that mug! Now he’s supposed to have a beautiful woman—beauty and the beast.” Stan made a biting comment about each picture, as he crumpled and tossed the paper into the fire. Boaz wanted to punch Stan each time he humiliated Ruth; but that was what Stan wanted, so Boaz kept his composure. After all the pictures were burned in the fire, Stan threw the rest of the sketchbook into the fire. “That gets rid of your trash! Everybody gets back to work!”

            Boaz and Ruth helped each other walk down from the platform arm in arm publicly shamed and dishonored. Ruth looked at Boaz when they were both standing on the ground of Sanctuary and said miserably, “I’ll draw the pictures again sometime.”

            Boaz said, “I appreciate your loving heart. I will simply have to trust that something good will come from this.”

            Ruth said, “Why don’t I bring some garments to sew in the garden and sit with you while you farm the land? We could spend the day together; at least that would make the day more pleasant.”

            Boaz took Ruth’s hand as they walked to the sewing room. Ruth took the things that they would need and walked with Boaz to the field. Boaz took a blanket and placed it gently on the ground with some cushions around it for Ruth.

            As the day passed, Boaz’s anger dissipated. By the end of the day, the couple returned home and sat together over a small dinner. As they ate, Ruth vividly described each picture and their family’s significance. She described how each child grew up and made choices. Each decision brought either acclaim or shame to the family. Ruth described how each unrepentant mistake didn’t have immediate consequences but would continue magnifying.

            She explained how one great-grandson fell deeply in love with a beautiful woman, impregnated her, tried to make the husband look like the father and then had the man killed. Yet, this great-great-grandson, “the beloved of God”, was an expert in fighting, poetry, singing and strength. However, the proliferating, cumulative result of his sinful choices caused rebellion among his family of more than twenty sons and numerous daughters.

            Boaz said, “You describe the growing effects of sorrow caused by hiding a sin which caused continuous rebellion and discord for everyone.”

            Their great-great-great-grandson was the wisest and wealthiest man in the world, born through the beautiful woman. He loved and adored The Lord from his childhood and was known for the greatest of wisdom. He was the wealthiest and most gifted of leaders. He built the most impressive temple of God, a wonder among the nations. Yet, he had too many wives and his wives led him away from The Lord. So, he lost his connection and passion for The Lord. She saw a descendant who would provide peace with God for everyone on the Earth.

            Ruth and Boaz both heard a knock, and Ruth answered the door. Joshua stood outside. “May I come in?” Ruth invited him in and noticed he was carrying a pack. “Would you mind sharing a meal with me?” So, all three sat down at their table and bowed their heads. Joshua asked Boaz to recite the blessing, so they bowed and prayed.

            After they ate, Joshua asked Boaz, “What happened today with Stan?” Boaz told Joshua about Stan’s humiliation and the embarrassment they felt this morning. Joshua said, “I would like to restore to you some of what you lost by an activity.”

            Joshua reached into the pack and pulled out the cube that Ruth had looked at before. “Would you hold this again?” So, as Ruth held the block the images as the scenes that she had first seen were shown on the wall for Boaz. “Would you like to experience what your love for Ruth provided for the world?” The images, once reserved only for Ruth, now became living visions for Boaz. He watched as his love for this one woman provided world wealthy, intelligent men who became poets, warriors, lovers, judges, and kings over a unified country of Israel. Because of his choice to follow the law, Boaz saw one man’s life change the world through a son who became The Great Shepherd.

            Boaz sat quietly afterwards and looked stupefied. “I never thought my life would count for that much. I just followed the law, fell in love, and wanted to see my child grow into a strong man. I wish I could have seen the sketchbook, but what you gave me is overwhelming.”

            Joshua looked at this loving couple and felt the adoration and joy they had for each other. He reached into a sack and pulled out what looked like another sketchbook. He gave it to Ruth, “I am restoring everything you lost.  Because you were willing to lose the most precious thing you loved, I am restoring a sketchbook to you.” Ruth looked inside and saw the pictures she had drawn before. “How can this be? We saw them incinerated by Stan.”

            “I will restore and make everything new.”^[1]

            Ruth passed the sketchbook to Boaz, and he sat down amazed.

            “People suffer for many reasons. You suffered this morning, but I can restore and make all things new. Ruth told you about your family’s sins and gifts to the world. She also told you about the sorrow from poor choices, but she didn’t tell you of one descendant’s equally powerful good choice.”

            Boaz was stunned. He never thought his wife was going to give him a gift that would mean that much to him. Next, he thought he had lost everything. Joshua had restored this treasured, loving gift from his wife; and he experienced a gift given to the world because of his choice.

            Joshua looked at this kind man. “Boaz, would you be willing to suffer if you knew that your suffering would create a huge world of genuine perfection in a world much more real than anything you saw on the wall? Boaz was confused. Before he was in Sanctuary, he didn’t suffer. Now, he had known hard work, suffering, pain, and confusion. “I would gladly endure suffering if I entered a place of perfection and peace.”

            “Would you have been so eager to enter that place of peace and perfection without experiencing the pain and suffering you’ve endured in Sanctuary?” Joshua commented quietly.

            “I don’t know if it would mean as much to me before Sanctuary.”

            “You both have learned quite a lot more since you’ve become righteous members of Sanctuary. I’m proud of you, Boaz, for your choices. I know you will continue to grow in your righteousness.” Boaz hugged Joshua. Joshua said, “I realize you both need to get up tomorrow early, so I must go; however, I hope to see you on the mountaintop after the week with another lesson, and at least you know that Stan can’t steal the blessings that you’ve been given.”