Ever wonder how God can use a regular person like you? In God’s eyes, you are special and He has a plan for your life. This lesson is about such a person, a powerful journey in Ruth’s quiet faithfulness to God. We are going to learn more about this wonderful woman of God.
Some questions to think about are:
- Who is Ruth in the Bible?
- How does Ruth demostrate faithfulness to God?
- What does Ruth’s story teach us?
- What does the story of Ruth tell us about God?
Who was Ruth in the Bible?
Ruth was a Moabite married to Naomi’s son
Ruth 1:3-5 NIV
“Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.“
Ruth Chooses Naomi Over Her People
Naomi heard there was food again in Jerusleum and decided to go back home. She encourage Orpah and Ruth to return to their families. At first they both refused but Naomi reminded them she would not have any other sons for them to marry and it would be hard for them. Orpah conceded and went back to her people. Ruth continue to refuse and traveled back home with Naomi.
Ruth 1:15-18
“'Look,'” said Naomi, 'your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.'
But Ruth replied, 'Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me. When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."
Ruth Finds Provision
After they arrive in Jeruseleum, Ruth suggests to Naomi that she find a field to glean so they could be provided for. At that time, it was very difficult get help without a husband.
Ruth goes into a field and begins to collect the grain left behind the harvesters. Boaz, the owner, took notice of Ruth and asked the overseer about her. He told Boaz she was the Moabite who had returned with Naomi and had been working hard all morning.
Boaz told her to continue to glean in his field and not to go anywhere else. She would be protected there and work with the other women.
Ruth asked him why he treated her so well as a foreigner.
Ruth 2:11-13 NIV
"Boaz replied,'I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.'”
He then shared food with Ruth. When she had finished, she wrapped the remaining food to take home to Naomi. She continued to work until the end of the day. Naomi was excited when she learned whose field Ruth had gleaned in.
Ruth 2:20 NIV
"The Lord bless him!' Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. 'He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.' She added, 'That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.'”
Naomi told her to continue to work in his field where she would be treated like the other women and protected.
Ruth and the Guardian-Redeemer
Guardian redeemer- The guardian-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. The Hebrew term (go el) for guardian-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Genesis 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9–25, 25:47–55). The guardian who redeems or vindicates a relative is illustrated most clearly in the book of Ruth, where the guardian-redeemer is Boaz.https: gotquestions.org
Naomi was concerned about finding a home for Ruth where she would be provided for. She told Ruth to go to threshing floor where Boaz would be working.but not approach him until he had eaten. Ruth went to the threshing floor, waited until Boaz had eaten, uncovered his feet and laid down.
Ruth 3:8-13 NIV
"In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!
'Who are you?' he asked.
'I am your servant Ruth,' she said. 'Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.'
'The Lord bless you, my daughter,' he replied. 'This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.'”
The other relative was unwilling to be the guardian-redeemer because it would affect his own estate. He told Boaz to redeem it.
Ruth 4:9-10 NIV
"Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, 'Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!'”
Ruth Becomes a Mother, the Great-grandmother of David
Ruth 4:13-15 NIV
"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: 'Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.'”
How does Ruth demostrate faithfulness to God
1. Ruth Chose Naomi’s God.
Ruth 1:16-17 NIV
"But Ruth replied, 'Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.'”
1. The key to Ruth’s faithfulness is in verse 17. “May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severly, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth evidently had been influenced by Naomi and accepted her God. Otherwise she would not have called him Lord.
Definition of Lord: Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. King James Dicionary
Ruth chose to return with Naomi because they worshiped the same God. She felt responsible for helping Naomi in her sorrow and felt this was the Lord’s will for her life.
2. Ruth Left the Old God Behind.
Ruth 1:18-19 NIV
"When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."
So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them,
3. Ruth helped Naomi
Ruth 2:1-2 NIV
"And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, 'Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.'
Naomi said to her, 'Go ahead, my daughter.' So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek."
Ruth realized that she needed to be the one to find ways for she and Naomi to survive. She selflessly commited to do what was needed. Helping others in their time of need is being faithful to God.
4. Ruth Accepted Naomi request
Ruth 3:1-6 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. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 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. 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.'”
'I will do whatever you say,' Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do."
Because of Ruth’s faithfulness she was greatly blessed with a new life. She and Boaz married and had a baby boy named Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse who was the father of David. Ruth was included into the iineage of Jesus,
What does the story of Ruth tell us about God?
- He is faithful to take care of His children- In the midst of Ruth and Naomi’s trials, the Lord provided help for them.
- He carries out His plans- His path for Ruth was a part of His larger plan for Israel.
- He uses ordinary people in His plans- Ruth and Naomi were not royalty but God gave them a valuable place in history.
What does Ruth’s story teach us?
- We can still serve God when undergoing trials- The focus seems to be more on Naomi and her losses. Ruth lost her husband, moved to a foreign land and became responsible for Naomi. Yet she was still faithful to Naomi and God.
- God is there when we are going through difficult situations. His provision may not appear at first, but will come at the right time.
- Ruth chose to follow God and she was blessed for it.
Conclusion
Ruth was just an ordinary woman. Her faithfulness was powerful because she allowed God to use her for His good. She was one of 3 gentile women to be in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
In her obedience to God, she served Naomi who was suffering with depression and loss. When Boaz and Ruth had Obed, Naomi was overjoyed and the women living there said “Naomi has a son!”
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