Unshaken by Francine Rivers

Author:Francine Rivers
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Inspirational, Fiction, Romance, Religion, Adult, Historical
ISBN: 9780842335973
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2001-01-27T22:00:00+00:00

87

Mother. How is it God has blessed this man with such prosperity but not given him a wife and sons?"

Naomi smiled to herself. Ruth saw past the plainness of the man to the lion's heart of faith that beat in his breast. Why not test her a little more and see if her compassion could not be refined into tenderness of another kind? "There was never anything in his appearance to commend him." When Ruth glanced back in surprise, Naomi hastened on. "A pity he is so homely."

"He's not handsome the way Mahlon was, but I don't think he's homely."

"Did you find him the least attractive when you first saw him?"

Ruth blushed. "I never considered . . ." She shook her head. "Surely you're not saying you think Boaz ugly."

"Would I call a man ugly who puts grain in my hands? May it never be! But I won't pretend to be blind either. Boaz is a good man, a man who lives the Law and doesn't just preach it. But he's wanting in the assets that would win a girl's heart."

"He has dignity and character."

"Was it dignity and character that made you fall in love with my son? If Mahlon had been plain, short, and thin, would you have been attracted to him?"

"Mahlon was more than a handsome face, Mother. You know that as well as I."

"We aren't talking about love growing in the bonds of marriage, my dear. We're talking about what you thought the first time you saw Mahlon striding along the streets of Kir-hareseth. God was merciful to my son. At least Mahlon

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knew the love of a good wife." She shook her head. "Poor Boaz." She clucked her tongue. "He has no one, and it's too late now."

Ruth looked troubled. "Why should it be too late?"

"He's old."

"Oh, Naomi!" Ruth laughed. "You were telling me yesterday that Abraham fathered Isaac when he was one hundred years old, and Boaz can't be more than half that age."

What a jewel Mahlon had received in this girl. If only Mahlon had given her a son, Naomi would not have so many worries. As it stood now, Mahlon's name and the name of Elimelech would die out. Naomi couldn't sit by and let it be so.

Oh, Elimelech, had you been stronger in faith, your sons would be gathering in the wheat from that field down there. You would be enjoying the inheritance God gave you. You would have claimed the promises and lived by the Law and been blessed like Boaz. Instead, my beloved husband, you took us away from our inheritance and gave your life to dreams of wealth. And everything you worked so hard to gain for yourself is gone, used up, blown away like dust. Your life was as fruitless as that fallow field out there. There's nothing to show for all the work you did. Even the fruit of your loins has died. You left nothing behind that will last.

And I'm angry, so angry with you, Elimelech. My very blood cries out against you for wasting our lives.

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