Have you noticed the increasing number of book titles with the word “rebel” or “rebellious” in the title? They’re often aimed at girls. It’s one example of the fact that the modern secular world tends to portray the relationships between men and women in terms of power dynamics—as if who “wears the trousers” is the most important thing.
Hence the rebel girls: women are cast as guerrilla fighters, taking back control. And, more seriously, hence the dark places in the internet where teenage boys are being taught that society is stacked against men, and they need to take back control, possibly with violence.
It’s a deeply negative portrayal of gender dynamics, and it holds a worrying amount of influence over young people in our culture today.
With this in mind as I began writing a retelling of the story of Ruth, I wondered how to portray the title character. She was certainly gutsy, and in some senses she did push against the norms of the patriarchal society in which she lived. But she was also fairly powerless and ended up being rescued by a man. A “rebel girl”? Maybe not…
The thing is, though, you don’t have to think about gender relationships in terms of power dynamics. As I studied the book of Ruth, I realized that this story shows us another way—and it holds some serious good news for today’s continually misdirected teenagers.
Ruth’s “Rebellion”
Ruth lived in a society in which women needed men in order to survive, which is why her story features Boaz. But Ruth doesn’t pursue marriage simply to toe the cultural line or to stay safe. Early on in the story, she effectively rejects the possibility of any future marriage when she promises to go with her mother-in-law and follow the God of Israel (Ruth 1:11-18). Naomi is more important to Ruth than the usual societal expectations about the need for a woman to find a husband.
So in one sense it is a girl power story. By the end, the text describes Ruth as “better than seven sons” (4:15, NIV)—an upending of gender norms in this patriarchal culture.
But Ruth isn’t trying to be a strong independent woman, gain power, or stick it to the patriarchy. Something else drives her.
Ruth acts out of a loving loyalty to Naomi—a loyalty that Boaz calls “kindness.” This doesn’t just mean she’s a nice person. The word in Hebrew is the word that describes God’s own loyal love for his people. It’s an unbending, unending, uncompromising love.
Ruth is loyal to Naomi; she’s also loyal to the Lord (1:16). And her faithfulness seems to come above every consideration, driving all her decisions. Even Ruth’s pursuit of a husband, when the time comes, only happens because of this loyal love. Boaz highlights that she could have gone after younger men, but chose not to out of kindness (3:10). Even Ruth’s proposal to Boaz, according to the customs of their day (3:9), takes us back Boaz’s earlier description of her commitment to God. (Not every English translation makes this clear, but when Ruth asks Boaz to cover her with the corner of his cloak in 3:9, she is using the same word that Boaz used in 2:12 to say that Ruth had come under the protecting “wings” of God.)
Ruth isn’t concerned with power dynamics, needs, or sexual desire. Her focus is on the loyal love that makes her like the Lord.
Boaz’s “Strength”
We get a similar picture of Boaz. He, too, is described as kind (2:20). He, too, is loyal to God—greeting his workers with the words “The LORD be with you!” (2:4). And he, too, is loyal to his family—recognizing that Naomi has a claim on him as his relative, and therefore showing kindness to Ruth throughout the story. Boaz gives generously when he doesn’t have to. He always seems to do the right thing.
You could say that Boaz iswhat Ruth needs materially, in a society where men held all the power. But if you look past the power dynamics, you see that Boaz is not only a wealthy, powerful male but, more importantly, a worthy man who puts God first, just as Ruth does.
Ruth 2:1 also used the word “worthy” to describe Boaz. Worthy might mean rich or powerful. Boaz is a man of standing, an important person, a man to reckon with.
Yet interestingly, Ruth 3:11 uses this same word to describe Ruth, who is none of those things. “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.”
Boaz is powerful, Ruth is poor, but both are worthy. You can also translate it as noble, valiant, virtuous. In my retelling, after some consideration, I wrote, “Everyone knows your strength of character.”
Boaz and Ruth are strong. But with what kind of strength? The strength that comes from the Lord. A strength expressed in loyal love—not giving up and not putting oneself first. A strength that is far stronger than anything expressed in modern portrayals of male-female power struggles.
In this sense both Ruth and Boaz point us to the worthiest person of all. The Lord Jesus, in his time on earth, was the embodiment of kindness, welcoming the vulnerable and prioritizing the poor. He rebelled against the power structures of his day by revealing a greater kingdom that is not of this world. He showed his strength by humbling himself and laying down his life to rescue sinners. Jesus, like Boaz and Ruth, did not concern himself with power dynamics but with loving his Father and serving his people—leading him to live a life far more beautiful than any worldly principle could inspire. Our Lord and Savior is the worthiest of all!
Becoming Worthy
Girls today might say they “don’t need a man.” In a sense that’s true. Society has changed; women can now be financially independent. They also don’t need a man just because he’s a man, just as Ruth didn’t. She chose Naomi and God over marriage, even in that patriarchal society. Today’s women, too, are free to remain single as we devote ourselves to the Lord. (As are men!)
But girls will be blessed by worthy men. Brothers, father figures, friends and, yes, husbands. We can teach girls that, true, they don’t “need a man” in the classic sense. They shouldn’t panic over not having boyfriends; their lives won’t be over if they never get married. Still, they should long for worthy men in their lives who will point them to the Lord Jesus through their words and actions.
Boys today might be tempted to think that only by being physically strong and powerful can they get what they want. But Boaz shows us a different picture. Here is a man who loves the Lord and his people and is concerned to show faithfulness and generosity instead of thinking of what he can get.
We can teach boys that the question of whether girls like them is not as important as the question of what they can do to honor God. That they will be most worthy not when they are powerful, rich, or impressive, but when they are strong in character, with a strength that comes from the Lord. And we can teach them that women can be every bit as worthy as they are themselves.
Above all, let’s remember that none of this is anything anyone can muster up alone. Ultimately what our students need is a relationship with the worthiest person of all— Jesus Christ, who has shown the ultimate kindness in dying for them.
Whatever is admirable about Boaz and Ruth, it comes from knowing God; their best traits were only ever a reflection of his. The same is true for us and for the students we serve. We can become kind, strong, morally upright, and truly worthy… but it will only happen because of the loyal love of Christ, doing its transforming work within us.
Above all, let’s lead our young people to him!
If you’re looking for youth ministry curriculum Rooted Reservoir can help. We have Bible-based curriculum that equips youth leaders to study the Bible with teenagers.
