BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 4

Heir Indeed

Ruth 4:1-22

When one looks at history it is interesting to note the number of famous men who never had a son to carry on their name.  If we consider the thought that has permeated the book of Ruth that God is working out His purpose then it may not come as a surprise that He allows for some families to end.  It is almost as if the men stepped onto the scene of history for a short period of time to accomplished what was needed.  Have many times have we seen children spoiled by the successes of their famous fathers and have become a burden to society.  Three examples in the secular world come to mind.  Neither George Washington nor Thomas Jefferson had sons.  Alexander the Great had no children to carry on his work.  In the Bible there is no mention of Joshua having a son to carry on the leadership role held by him.

Having said all that it does bring happiness when a son or grandson is born.  Certainly there is nothing wrong with daughters and granddaughters.  We have two grandsons born about twenty-six years apart.  In between there were eight granddaughters so it was about time for another boy in the family.  Maybe it is a little selfish but it is also neat to know that the family name will be carried on for another generation.  Of course I have to realize that all of this has been in God’s hands from the beginning.

The church is like individual families.  It needs descendants to carry on the work that God has given it to do. This will not happen in the first place if there is no initial birth into the kingdom.  For two thousand years the church has been through good times and bad has kept on regenerating itself through successive generations.  We have been aware of the importance of passing on the good news of Christ so that all who are going to be saved will be saved.  Sadly, today we are letting many in our own families leave the church never to return again.  This can present a real problem for them and the world into which they will go unequipped.  Every generation has its challenges but this may be the one less able to meet them and do something about them.  Thankfully God is still working in the hearts of those in His church who will not give up.  Their faith will produce those who in spite of all that is happening around them will carry on the good fight.

Last week’s lesson provided us with two lessons.  One is the boldness of Ruth in approaching the one who held her future in his hands.  The second is the integrity of Boaz who promised to do all he could to provide for the security of Naomi and Ruth.

This week will show whether he was successful and was Ruth willing to accept the results.

Ruth 4:1

Boaz wasted no time in carrying through on his promise to Ruth.  He went up to the place at the entrance of the city where all formal business was handled.  All types of legal and religious matters were brought to the leaders of the city at the gate.  Boaz knew if he were to make contact with the other relative the entrance to the city would be the most logical place to find him as the workers pass that way to go into the field to work.  The man picked that time to come to where Boaz was waiting.  He called to him to join him, which he did.  As has been seen throughout the book, the hand of God brought the man there at that particular time.

1. What does Boaz’s actions show us about him?
2. In what ways have you shown that you are a person of your word?
3. In what ways have you done just the opposite and not kept your word?
4. Why did Boaz go to the gate of the city?
5. What took place in that location?
6. How did the writer identify the other man? (As the go’el, the kinsman/redeemer.)
7. How was God working in bringing the two men together?

Ruth 4:2

Once Boaz had gotten the man to join him, he called the ten men who were the elders of the city to join them.  The ten were those chosen to make decisions affecting the life of the citizens. Boaz needed witnesses for what he was about to propose.

1. Why did Boaz wait to call the other men to join him and the close relative?
2. Who were those men?
3. How are the elders modeled after what we read here?
4. In what ways are they different? (The elders of today are not a legal body but are to provide leadership to the church.)
5. Why are witnesses so important?

Ruth 4:3-4

Immediately Boaz gives them the reason for the meeting.  According to him Naomi needed to sell the land of Elimelech.  There are a couple of things that need to be explained here.  In that culture land was not really sold or bought.  All the land belonged ultimately to God.  The men of that day bought the harvests that would be produced over a period of time.  Boaz was telling the man that he would be buying the right to use the land during his lifetime and that of his children up to the year of Jubilee Year when the land would revert back to the family of Elimelech.  He was telling the man that he had the right of redemption on the land because he was the closest relative.  By doing so the land would remain in the family from which Elimelech had come.  He then said to the man, if you do not want to redeem it I will do so.

The man immediately agreed to take the land. Of course this would have increased his land holdings. At that point he would have felt relatively safe in making the deal because Elimelech had no prospects of having male heirs. He would also be agreeing to providing for Naomi.

1. Why did Boaz call the meeting?
2. In what way was this arrangement not about selling the actual land?
3. What happened in the Year of Jubilee? (All land reverted back to those who had originally received it from God as an inheritance.  No land was to remain permanently with another tribe or family.)
4. Why would the man feel comfortable redeeming the land?
5. How did Naomi fit into the picture?

Ruth 4:5-6

Once the man had agreed to redeem the land, Boaz then explained to him how Ruth fit into the picture.  When the man obtained the land he would also need to agree to marry the widow of Mahlon, Elimelech’s deceased son.  Although this arrangement was not a legal one in the case of Ruth it would be in the spirit of the levirate law to do so.  Actually, the law stated that when a man died his brother was to take the man’s widow in marriage.  The first male child of that marriage would be named for the deceased man so that his family would not disappear from history. It is interesting that Boaz again referred to Ruth as the Moabitess.  He wanted to make sure the man understood what was involved in the land exchange.

Upon hearing that news the kinsman/redeemer deferred to Boaz. His reasoning was that to raise up a child under the name of Mahlon in the long run could jeopardize his own inheritance.  Potentially, all the property he possessed might be inherited by the descendant of Mahlon, leaving his own family without anything.

1. Why did Boaz withhold the information about Ruth at the beginning of the conversation? (He was hoping that the other man would allow him to acquire the land without the mention of Ruth.)
2. How did Boaz alter the levirate law? (The law as it was written involved brothers only and not other relatives.  Boaz was looking at the spirit of the law and not the letter.)
3. What was the levirate law?
4. Why did the other relative refuse to acquire the land?
5. How was God working in this situation? (Boaz had the attitude that God would honor.  The negotiations between the two men showed that the closer relative would not be willing to raise another man’s descendant.)
6. What would the man lose by marrying Ruth?

Ruth 4:7-10

Once the man agreed to allow Boaz the redemption rights Boaz laid out the terms of the contract before the witnesses sitting in the gate.  According to tradition the unnamed man took off his sandal and gave it Boaz as a sign of sealing the agreement.  Boaz then gave the details of the contract. He stated that he

• was acquiring everything that belonged to Elimelech and Mahlon.
• was going to take Ruth as his wife.
• was willing to if they had a son to raise him under the name of Mahlon.
• would give what had belonged to Elimelech and Mahlon to the child who would carry Mahlon’s name.

Turning to the witnesses he wanted to make sure they understood the conditions of the contract to which both men were agreeing.

1. What is the way that contracts are completed today?
2. What is the equivalent today of the a person removing of the sandal to complete the agreement? (In our day the contract is witnessed to by a notary public.)
3. What were the terms of the contract?
4. Why was the levirate law an important part of the contract? (Boaz, unlike the other, man was willing to give up land to the child raised according to Mahlon’s name.)
5. Why was it so important for the elders to understand what was transpiring between the two men? (So there would be no questions later as what had taken place.)
6. What are some events you have witnessed that you had to recount what had happened?
7. What does it mean to be a witness for Jesus?

Ruth 4:11-12

Not only did the men affirm the transaction but went further by blessing Boaz and Ruth.  They shared with him their hopes that.

• Ruth would be like the matriarchs of the nation of Israel, Rachel and Leah, who gave birth to the twelve sons of Jacob.  Although Bilhad and Zilpah gave birth to some of the children by legal rights they belonged to Rachel and Leah who were the wives of Jacob.
• Boaz gain greater wealth than he already possessed
• He would be famous in Bethlehem.
• He and Ruth would continue the lineage begun by Judah and Tamar who had Perez under the levirate law.

1. Why did the elders go beyond just affirming the contract between the two relatives?
2. What did the blessing entail?
3. In your mind which was the most important part of the blessing?  (The continuation of the lineage that ultimately would lead to the birth of Jesus.)
4. What in these verses would indicate that God made the right choice in selecting Boaz to be an ancestor of Jesus? (His willingness to allow the child born to be named for Mahlon and to then give him the inheritance of his father. From what we have read, the other man did not have those qualities and may have very well have refused to have a child in someone else’s name.

Ruth 4:13-15

God blessed the marriage of Boaz and Ruth with the birth of a boy.  The women of the city from a human perspective saw the value of his coming in the world as a blessing from God and the kinsman/redeemer who would take care of her in her old age.  For the child they desired that he become famous in Bethlehem.  Little did they know that he would be in the line of Jesus who would make the name of Obed live forever in God’s word.

Finally they acknowledged Ruth’s role.  She had shown all along the idea behind the word hesed.  She had been a loyal compassionate daughter-in-law who had loved Naomi, as the Bible says, better than if Naomi had seven sons, in a humble and unselfish way.  Now she had given birth to a son to carry on the name of Mahlon.

1. How do we see the hand of God working in this marriage?
2. Why was the fact that a boy was born so important to Naomi?
3. What could the women not know about the boy? (His fame would be beyond their time because he was part of the lineage of Jesus.)
4. In what ways do we see that the community had finally accepted Ruth as part of them?
5. What does it take for a person to be accepted in the church, school or the community in which you live?
6. Why should we treat others with respect? (We never know how God may be using a person to carry out His purpose.)

Ruth 4:16-17

Like most parents and grandparents Naomi immediately wanted to be part of the child’s life.  The neighbors took part in naming the child Obed which means, one who serves. It must be noted that there is no Hebrew word for grandson thus the writer calls Obed the son of Naomi.  For Naomi the birth of her grandson gave the hope that she had lost.  God had filled her empty life with new opportunity.  It was in a way her salvation and rebirth.  What a perfect example for mankind of what Christ did for the world through the lineage of Perez. He brought hope, light and a new life to all who are lost. The writer then told the listener that Obed was the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.  Obed’s birth continued the lineage started in Genesis that foretold the coming of the descendant of David.

1. In what ways can you compare the response of Naomi to your own at the birth of your children and grandchildren?
2. How can you compare what Obed meant to Naomi to what Jesus, his descendant in the flesh has done for all mankind?
3. In the words of the women what can we say about the birth of a new child? (There is hope and promise wrapped up in the little person.)
4. What does the name given to Obed say about the expectations for the child?
5. Why did the writer begin listing the descendant’s of Obed? (He was the grandfather of David who would lead Israel. )

Ruth 4:18-22

The writer goes back to Perez, who like Obed, was born according to the levirate law to begin the genealogy of David.  From the very beginning of Genesis is seen the care in which God chose those individuals who would be the ancestors of David.  The only answer to why those particular men made up the line of David on to Jesus is that God did it according to His sovereign power.  Of most of those men listed very little is known, God however knew who they were and what they would become. Thankfully, because of Boaz and Ruth through extraordinary circumstances the line was preserved.

1. Why did God inspire the writer to begin the genealogy with Perez? (He was the product of another carrying out of the levirate law.)
2. Why did God choose those men to be a part of the lineage of His Son? (Because He is God and has the right to choose whomever He wants.)
3. How do you believe you fit into the continuing family of God?
4. Why did He choose you to be part of His forever family?
5. In what ways should we want to be like Boaz and Ruth? (They were not looking out for themselves but others even in marriage.)
6. What are the ways you can make the relationships you have with others God honoring?

• Look at those areas in your life you have done what is easy rather than what God wants you to do and change in a way that is pleasing to Him.
• In the same vein never look to cut corners in the way you serve others.
• The child in the Ruth was called Obed, one who serves, that should be your own heart’s desire.
• Medicate on the fact that Jesus has brought more to mankind than Obed could ever hope to provide for Naomi.

Christmas is a celebration of new birth.  A baby was born to a simple peasant woman.  That baby would become a king but before that could occur He must suffer and die to carry out the purpose for which He came.  Unlike any other person who has ever been born to has provided hope and rebirth for each of us. The church today is to be a witness to the good news that Jesus has come and the world can never be the same.  Let each of us take part in making sure that God’s message to us is spread out among the nations.  One day we too may be included in the long list of saints that have gone on before us.  They found courage to continue in the faith no matter what the world has thrown at them so that the news of the new baby is and will continued to be proclaimed.  Let us find encouragement in the fact that God has kept alive His message through the centuries.  May each of be able with our whole heart, Jesus is born therefore have a merry Christmas.

Lesson 3

Pointed Beyond the Status Quo

Ruth 3:1-18

Sometimes each of us needs a push to do what may not be comfortable.  It takes a lot of effort to take advice to stretch oneself beyond what is comfortable. Many years ago I worked with someone who had been an engineer with the organization for a number of years. One day when we were talking he gave me some advice that I have not always followed but remember it to this day.  He said something on the order of find one thing in your life that you enjoy doing and then strive to be the best in that area as you can.

As my life has played out those words have been much harder to follow than I might have expected.  They have come with a high cost. It has taken encouragement from others to point me in a direction that has been meaningful to me.  Those words may be carried out in one’s vocation but quite often it is the things for which one does not get paid that he or she finds fulfillment.  Thankfully, those words have penetrated my life and lead me to have a passion for studying and teaching God’s Word.  The one thing the engineer did not understand was that one’s giftedness, abilities and passion play a large part in whether one achieves anything in this life.  There have been those who have been mentors who helped me along the way.  More than those individuals, the people I have taught over the years have challenged me to grow by the questions they have asked that drove me back into the Bible for answers.  Hopefully, I have moved beyond where I was all those many years ago.

Sometimes in churches it takes someone like that engineer to step forward to provide a new direction that needs to be taken.  Often it is an outside consultant who comes into the church who provides the impetus to set a new course.  We all get comfortable with the way we are doing things and do not want to be challenged to change.  There is no group of people who can ever remain the same.  In every area of life, including church, the status quo is impossible.  All we have to do is look at organizations that no longer exist because they wanted to remain as they were as the world moved.  Even in the Southern Baptist Convention the leadership is working on solutions to the declining in church attendance especially among students.  Many of the 80 percent to drop out after high school never return.  For many of us we have to be pushed and shoved to do anything to stem the tide because it takes a lot of work.  We do need those who point out the direction we are to take.  The advice of the engineer works for us if we allow ourselves to hear the message loud and clear.

Again this week there is a transition statement in Ruth 2:23 that shows where many churches are today.  Ruth had worked the fields and was now content to just to live with her mother-in-law.  Life was good so why worry about what was next.

Ruth 3:1-3

Naomi realized there was no future in the way the two women were living.  She wanted Ruth to find the security that could only be found by having a husband in that culture.  Naomi even made the suggestion that it might be Boaz since he was kin to her through Elimelech.  She knew the habits of someone like Boaz who would remain at the threshing floor to keep others from stealing the harvest of barley.

There is an indication that Ruth probably at that point was still mourning the loss of her husband. It is based on the command of her mother-in-law to take off the widow’s clothing bathe, to anoint her body with oil and to put on what would normally be worn by a woman in everyday life.  After preparing herself in that way she was to go down to the threshing floor.  She was to remain secluded until Boaz had finished eating and celebrating the good harvest with which he had been blessed.

1. What future could Ruth expect to have if she had continued to live in Naomi’s house? (Gleaning year after year with hopes that the harvest would be good and there would be ample food to eat.)
2. Why Boaz? (He was a close relative of Elimelech.)
3. Why did Naomi have to remind Ruth of her circumstances? (Because Ruth believed that she owed allegiance to Naomi and had promised to remain with her.)
4. What does Naomi’s instructions say about Ruth’s mindset? (She was still in mourning for her deceased husband.)
5. What was Naomi really saying to her? (It was time to stop mourning and get on with life.)
6. What are the things that keep you from growing in this life?
7. What does it take to bring a person out of an attitude of the status quo?

Ruth 3: 4-5

Ruth was then given specific instructions of how to approach Boaz.  She was told to wait until he had found a place to sleep. Only then was she to go uncover his feet and lie down until he awoke.  The very fact that his feet were uncovered would awaken him at some point because he would get cold.  Naomi believed that Boaz would then make the right decisions.  She had faith in him to do what was right.  Ruth agreed to do as her mother-in-law had suggested.  As strange as it may seem Naomi possibly saw it as the best way to have Boaz’s undivided attention to the desperate need in which the women found themselves.

1. What was the reasoning for Naomi’s instructions? (This was not something that could be done in a crowd with people drawing the wrong conclusions about Ruth’s motive.)
2. Why is it better to discuss important matters one on one?
3. Why was Naomi so specific?  (She understood the culture.)
4. What did it show about her feelings for Ruth? (She would use desperate and unusual methods to provide for the security of her daughter-in-law.)
5. Why was Ruth willing to follow such a strange plan? (Her trust in Naomi.)
6. What was the danger in the plan? (It was possible that Ruth could have been harmed.)

Ruth 3:6-7

Ruth went down to the threshing floor and waited. Boaz followed the script almost perfectly.  As Ruth watched he did exactly as Naomi had stated he would do. Once he was asleep she uncovered his feet and laid down.

1. In what ways do you see the hand of God at work?
2. What do you think was going through Ruth’s mind at that point?
3. What does it say about her faith?
4. What were her expectations?
5. How willing are you to do what seems strange or out of the ordinary to serve God?
6. What does it take on your part to do something like that?
7. What are some of the things that might fit into this category?

Ruth 3:8-9

Something startled Boaz and he woke up.  It may have been the fact that his feet got cold or a sense he was not alone.  He realized that there was someone there at his feet.  His question was an obvious one. He wanted to know who was there.  Ruth responded by identifying herself as his servant.  She then boldly proposed to him by asking him to provide the security in marriage that he as a kinsman of Naomi’s could do.

1. How would you have reacted to the circumstances in which Boaz found himself?
2. What has been an occasion when you thought you were alone but sensed that someone else was nearby?
3. How did you feel?
4. Why did Boaz frame the question as he did? (He had no way of knowing who was at his feet.  It could have been friend or foe.)
5. What do you think of the boldness of Ruth?
6. Why did she feel it necessary to do so? (Boaz may never have thought of her as anything else than the girl who gleaned in his field and was loyal to her mother-in law.)
7. How do you see God at work here? (Boaz had never married.  Ruth had a boldness that would have been unusual.)

Ruth 3:10

Rather than rebuking her he blessed her once again using the term of endearment by calling her his daughter.  He went even further to admire the fact that she had not just married anyone to gain security for herself.  Being a young woman she may have used to approach than the one she was taking to get a husband.  She could have married someone younger and had a family. Or she could have chosen someone older just to be comfortable.  Boaz recognized the fact that she had not done so.  She had come to him because he was a relative and could provide security.  His further words were encouraging. He agreed to her request and promised to follow through the next day.  In her request he saw the qualities that had been obvious to everyone who had gotten to know her.

1. Why did Boaz not rebuke her? (He must have known that Naomi was behind this matchmaking and Ruth was unselfishly following her instructions.)
2. What did he do?
3. What was inherent in Ruth’s proposal and Boaz’s response? (She was not acting out of selfishness.)
4. What picture do we see of Boaz in the event? (He was a man of honor and could be trusted to follow through on his promises.)

Ruth 3:12-13

After giving words of encouragement he had give her some possible bad news.  There was a relative closer than he. Once again Boaz’s integrity was on display.  Knowing the truth he could have married Ruth anyway but he was honest and did every thing to be above board according to the law of the land.  To protect her from danger he had her stay with him that night with the promise that he would speak with the other man to determine who would truly be the Kinsman/Redeemer.  For Ruth this must have been disheartening because she knew the kind of man Boaz was but knew nothing of the other relative.  She was completely at the mercy of those two men and had no control over the situation.

1. How did Boaz encourage her?
2. What happened next that would have disheartened her?
3. When have you been in a situation over which you had no control?
4. What did you do?
5. How does this situation resemble how we come before God?
6. What was the best Ruth could hope for at that moment? (God would choose the right man for her.)
7. How is this a picture of Jesus Christ?

Ruth 3:14-15

To protect Ruth’s reputation Boaz had her leave before anyone could recognize her as having been at the threshing floor.  One commentator indicated that one reason that Boaz gave her the grain was so that it would have appeared that she had gone early to get some food for the day.  The other reason would have been to let Naomi know that he would was to be the provided for her and that she need not worry.

1. What did Boaz do to make sure that he protected Ruth’s reputation?
2. What picture does this paint of Boaz? (His concern and compassion for others.)
3. What was the purpose of giving her the grain?
4. Who is the one that in modern terms “always has your back?”
5. What do you feel about that person?

Ruth 3:16-18

One can only imagine what it was like for Naomi that night.  She was waiting for Ruth when she returned and wanted to know how things went.  Ruth gave her a full recap of what had happened.  She even emphasized that Boaz was concerned enough about Naomi that he sent the grain to her.  Relieved that all went well Naomi had one more command for Ruth.  She was to wait.  Naomi had faith in Boaz that he would have the issue settled that day.

1. How do you think Naomi spent the night?
2. What kinds of thoughts may have gone through her mind?
3. How much she like your parents when you stay out later than you should?
4. Why should those who love us be concerned about the people with whom we associate?
5. What did the grain do for Naomi? (It was a message of hope.
6. Why was Naomi able to tell Ruth to wait?
7. In whom do you have faith that you can depend on them to follow through on their word to you?

• As a part of your prayers this week request that the Lord reveal any areas that may be preventing you from being open to different areas of service to Him.
• Make a list of attitudes and behavior that are keeping you from working in those areas.
• Be willing to listen to those who are older and have served the Lord for years for guidance.
• Be willing to move beyond what is comfortable to what may help God’s kingdom grow.
• Don’t get boxed in by your agenda but take the lid off and see what God wants to do in your life.
• Start reading about what God is doing in other churches that are submissive to His purpose for them.

Doing ministry in today’s world is difficult because of all of the demands of our time and talents.  It is also presents a unique opportunity for those churches that open their eyes to how to do the work to which God has called us.  As mentioned above the SBC and other church organizations are having to rethink the philosophy that has been the driving force for them as they have tried to provide guidance in the past.  For decades the motivation has been on getting people in the pews.  They have realized that evangelism in itself does not build disciples.  Those who have not been disciple have no problem moving from church to church or in the case of young people to just stop participating.  It can be an exciting time as we discovering and put in practice the ways to bring about transformation and growth in the lives of those who come to Bethany Place.  This will not be accomplished by remaining as we are.  The new challenges this direction may present will be worth the reward of seeing lives changed.  Ruth was willing to listen to the voice of older and more experienced than she was.  That willingness would result in Ruth’s life taking a completely new direction.  As we approach this Christmas let see Jesus as our model for giving up the comfortable for the challenges of being out in a world that would eventually lead to the cross for Him but life for us.  We should hear in our hearts the words of Paul in Philippians 2 and give up our own agendas to be like the one who gave up His place in heaven to be with us.

Lesson 2

Taking One Step at a Time

Ruth 1:22 – 2:23

I am sure that all of us have gotten into a situation from which there was no human way to extract ourselves.  Many years ago we had decided to move out into the county.  Unfortunately, the places we planned to build would not pass inspection.  While we were going through the process of picking lot after lot our house sold.  In other words we were between a rock and a hard place.  It was an instance where we did not have an idea what we were going to do.  The only thing we could do was pray that God would somehow save us from the dilemma in which we found ourselves.  Our answer came because the people who had bought our house were willing to let us out of the contract.  It was a lesson well learned.  God did something that we could not do.  He worked in the hearts of complete strangers who were kind enough to save the day.

Churches sometimes get themselves into situations because of poor decisions.  One example is to borrow money for a huge building project when the attendance does not justify such expenditures.  Once the church finds itself in over its head then they have different choices.  They can default on the loan, sell the property or cut back on expenditures for ministries.  None of those options are good, especially the last one.  Without the means to carry out ministry the church loses it reason for existing.

A better option, as someone has written, is to find out what God is doing and join Him there.  God is moving in the life of the church in ways that we do not know about unless it seeks His direction and does not try to get ahead of Him.  He calls on us to take one step at a time along the path that has been determined for us. We will be looking at three people this week who did not try to get ahead God.

Ruth 1:22

This is a transition between what has occurred before in the lives of Naomi and Ruth and the future events that are about to take place.  As was said last week, the two ladies arrived at the time when the harvest of barley was taking place.  Without the opportunity to take part in providing for themselves they would have been in desperate straits.  They might have been dependent on the generosity of those who had also experienced the famine.

1. How is the arrival of the two women at the beginning of the barley season an example of God’s working behind the scenes?
2. What experiences have you had that in retrospect you could see the hand of God at work?
3. Why was it important that the famine had broken for the women?
4. Without the harvest how would they have lived?

Ruth 2:1

An important character in the unfolding drama was now introduced.  His name was Boaz.  The writer then gave a short biography of him.  It turned out that he was a man of wealth.  Without the next information shared in the narrative there would have been no reason for the book to be included in God’s word.  Boaz was a relative of Elimelech. The Bible does not say how close a kinsman he was.

1. What are we told about Boaz?
2. Why is the information about him included at this point?  (He was to play an important part in the drama.  The writer decided to introduce all of the characters at this point.)
3. What relationship did Boaz have with Elimelech?
4. In what way do we see the hand of God beginning to work without any other information? (The information about him told us that he would be of great importance in the lives of the other two main characters)

Ruth 2:2-3

Ruth took the initiative to provide for she and her mother-in-law.  About the only option available to two women in their circumstance was to hopefully get permission to glean in the field of one of the landowners.  The additional problem for them was the fact that Ruth was a foreigner from the nation of Moab who had been the enemy of Israel for over three hundred years.  Receiving permission from Naomi she went into one of the fields.  The Bible basically said that she by chance came to land owned by Boaz. He was once again introduced as a relative of Elimelech. From what has already been discussed God led Ruth to that particular field.

1. What does it say about Ruth that she asked permission to go into one of the fields to glean? (She had great respect for Naomi and wanted her to know what she planned to do.)
2. Why had Naomi taken the initiative? (Possibly her depression had paralyzed her ability to make good decisions,)
3. Why was it necessary for Ruth to go into the fields to glean?
4. What is gleaning? (It was picking up the grain left by the reapers for widows and orphans.)
5. How do you see God at work in directing Ruth to the field of Boaz?

Ruth 2:4

Boaz appeared on scene.  Upon his arrival from Bethlehem His greeting to his servants shows the relationship he has with them.  He immediately blesses them in the Lord and they reciprocated with one of their own.

1. What does the greeting from Boaz begin to tell us about his character?
2. What does the return greeting say about the way the servants felt about Boaz?
3. How do you show respect to those who are older than you?
4. How do you want to be treated by others, especially those  for whom you have great respect?
5. What happens in a relationship when you treat a person with courtesy?

Ruth 2:5-7

Boaz recognizes that a stranger is among those gleaning and wanted to know to whom she belonged.  It implied that she either was a servant girl or belonged to a particular family.  The servant identified her as the young Moabite woman who had come back to Judea with Naomi. He went on to say that she had asked permission to gather what the reapers had left.  Then he said that she had worked all morning and at that the time of the arrival of Boaz had stopped to rest for a short time.

1. Why did Boaz want to know about Ruth?  (He had a right to know who was gleaning in his fields.)
2. How did the servants describe Ruth?
3. What does their description say about Ruth? (She was a hard worker.)
4. What do you do with the opportunities you are given to serve others?

Ruth 2:8-9

His interchange with Ruth showed that Boaz was a man who deeply cared for others.  There was not really a reason, other than his interest in people, that he should have taken notice of her.  He began by calling her his daughter.  This term would have first shown a difference in age between the two.  Boaz was a compassionate man who was touched by the character of Ruth.  To protect her from harm that might occur if she went to another field he suggested that she stay with the maids who worked for him.  He also gave orders to his own servants not to harass her.  His final words at that point were to give her permission to drink from the water pitchers reserved for his own reapers.

1. What did he mean by calling her daughter? (He was referring to the difference in age and that she had impressed him with her character.)
2. How do we see the compassion in the man?
3. Why was it important for Ruth to stay in the fields of Boaz?
4. What could have happened to her somewhere else?
5. Why would Ruth believe that she could trust the man? (She had seen how he had treated those who worked for him.)

Ruth 2:10

When Ruth heard the words she fell down before Boaz in gratitude and respect for him.  She was totally overwhelmed and surprised by the words of Boaz.  She could not believe that a man of his stature would take notice of her since she was a foreign woman. She actually did not know that she had done anything special for Naomi.

1. Why did Ruth respond as she did?
2. What did it show about her? (Her humility)
3. What does it show about Boaz?
4. When have you had someone respond to you in a positive way that was totally unexpected?
5. How did you react? (See Matthew 25:31-40)
6. How is Boaz an example of the way God treats us?
7. What is the word that would be used to describe how Boaz treated Ruth? (Grace.)
8. Why would you see what he had done as an example of grace?

Ruth 2:11-13

Boaz had heard what Ruth had done for Naomi and what those actions it said about her as a person.  She had willingly:

• Stayed committed to Naomi after the death of Elimelech.
• Left the security she would have had at home with her parents
• Come to a strange land with Naomi.

Because of what he had heard he prayed that God in whom she had taken refuge would reward her efforts.  The idea of refuge was the picture of a mother bird spreading her wings over her young to provide protection from whatever danger that would bring harm to them.

1. What are the things that impressed Boaz about Ruth?
2. What was his prayer for her?
3. What does it mean for us to be able to seek refuge in God?
4. What are some of the things that you have willingly done to help your family or friends?
5. In what way are the actions of Ruth an important lesson for us? (All of her acts were done unselfishly out of her love for someone else.)

Ruth 2:13

Ruth, in today’s language, may have said, “You have given me hope for the future with your kind words. You have removed the anxiety that I may have felt in wondering how I was going to provide for Naomi and me.”  She then said, All of this kindness you have shown me even though I am not part of the people who work for you.

1. How do you think Ruth felt after hearing the words of Boaz?
2. When have been times when someone has comforted and encouraged you with their words?
3. What was your reaction?
4. What did it show about Ruth? (Once again her humility was on display.)

Ruth 2:14

When it came time to eat Ruth was invited to sit with the reapers.  Boaz even took it upon himself the task of server.  He provided not only bread but, vinegar to moisten the bread. What he had given her was more than enough and she had some left over.  She probably saved it and took it home to Naomi.

1. What picture do we continually see of Boaz? (He is a compassionate and gracious man.)
2. What did he do that could have been left to the servants? (He actually served her providing her with the same food that his workers had.)
3. What do you think the reapers thought of his actions?
4. When have you taken on the role of servant when you could have been the one being served?
5. What was your attitude when you performed that service?
6. What example did Jesus give us? (See Matthew 20:27-28)

Ruth 2:15-16

When Ruth got up to return to her work, Boaz instructed his reapers to:

• Not hinder her from gleaning even among the sheaves that they would normally harvest.
• Not to insult her when she strayed from the areas normally set aside for those widow and orphans to glean.
• Actually pull out grain from what had already been reaped for her to glean.
• Not rebuke her.  This was the second time that he had warned his servants that they were to treat her with respect.

1. By his actions what did he insure would happen? (Ruth would have more than if she had gleaned where the grain had been during the initial harvest?
2. In what way were his actions fair or unfair to others who were gleaning?
3. Why did he do it? (It was his right and he wanted to provide for Naomi his relative)

Ruth 2:17-19

It was obvious to Naomi that something special had happened that day.  Ruth had gleaned he rest of he day and then she had beat out the grain until the kernel of barley was harvested.  She had plenty for herself and enough left over to provide for her mother-in-law.  Naomi was curious about who had allowed Ruth to reap so much barley.  Naomi invoked a special blessing on the one who had been so kind to her daughter-in-law.  Ruth shared that she had gleaned in the field belonging to Boaz.  At that point Ruth evidently did not know the relationship between Naomi and Boaz.

1. How could Naomi tell something special had taken place that day? (It would have been unusual for one person to glean an ephah of barley in one day.)
2. Why was she curious where Ruth had worked? (She recognized that only out of the kindness of a person could she have gleaned what she did.)
3. Why did Naomi bless the person? (For his kindness.)
4. Why did Ruth not know the connection between Boaz and Naomi?  (Possibly because Naomi saw no reason to believe that Boaz would help her.)

Ruth 2:20

Once again Naomi blessed Boaz upon hearing what he had done for Ruth.  She then explained who he was.  Although she had not expected help from him she was thankful that what he had done was to show kindness to the family of Elimelech by providing support through Ruth.

1. Why did Naomi bless Boaz? (The first blessing was given when she did not know who had treated Ruth with kindness.  Now she had a name to go with the kindness.)
2. How did Naomi view Boaz? (As a kinsman/Redeemer)
3. What did Boaz’s kindness do for Naomi? (It restored her faith.)
4. How do you view a kindness that has been done to you?
5. In what way do you see it as the working of God in the person’s life?

Ruth 2:21

Then Ruth told Naomi the rest of the good news.  Boaz advised her to continue   working alongside his servants until the last harvest was complete that would last into the fall.  Naomi encouraged her to do what Boaz had said for her safety.  She knew that the reapers for Boaz would treat her with respect.  In other fields she may have been insulted and abused partly because she was a Moabite.  They would have not known about or cared about the fact that Ruth was providing for her mother-in-law.

Ruth followed the advice of both Boaz and Naomi.  She stayed close to the maids of Boaz for the entire barley and wheat harvests.  Meanwhile she continued to live with Naomi.

1. What was the good advice given to Ruth?
2. What advantages were there for her to follow that advice?
3. What may have been the consequences if she had ignored Boaz and Naomi?
4. How did she follow through?
5. Why is it important for you to listen to those older than you? (They have experienced what might be occurring in your life and save you from the consequences of bad decisions.)
6. Why did Ruth continue to live with Naomi? (She loved her and had great respect for her.  It was also to fulfill the commitment that she had made when the two women left Moab.)
7. What is the time like that you spend with family?
8. What can make it a more pleasant experience? (To understand that they love you and do not want you to suffer for bad decisions you might make.)

• Make a list of the attributes you admire in each of the main characters in this narrative.
• Make a list of characteristics that you do not admire in Elimelech and Naomi.
• Compare those lists to your own life.
• Select from those in these lists the character traits in your life you would like to change for the better.
• Search for the qualities in others that will help you have a positive relationship with them.

Boaz is the Old Testament of Barnabas.  Both of these men looked for the good in others.  In Ruth Boaz found much he could admire and encouraged her in the service that she was performing for Naomi.  Barnabas found qualities in Paul that were needed in growing a young church like the one at Antioch.  We have the opportunity to look at those attending our church in a different way.  There is potential in many that we have ignored to take leadership roles in different areas of ministry.  They have the energy and the desire to serve the Lord.  All they made need is a little encouragement to begin using their gifts and abilities.  Without them the church will not grow or be the dynamic organism that God can use to expand His kingdom.

All three of the main players in the drama being played out did not start out with the qualities they showed in their interaction with each other.  It was a learning and maturing process for each of them.  We can be sure that by the end of harvest season Ruth had learned a great deal about how to glean more efficiently because she was giving the opportunity to develop those skills.  There are many different ways that we can help those around us who have a desire to serve.  All we have to do is ask someone in the church who can point us in the right direction about the resources available to us.  Don’t miss the opportunity to change because we refuse to seek answers.

Lesson 1

Episodes of Why’s

Ruth 1

Every time what appears to be a tragedy occurs we as finite human beings ask, “Why did God let this happen?”  We always look at the end results and never what were the underlying causes that brought about the situation.  There may be number of things that have taken place behind the scenes that no one ever talks about.  Many devastating things might be avoided by making good decisions regarding our health or by deliberately putting ourselves into situations that might potentially be dangerous.  I used to tell my children that we gave them a curfew for a reason.  If they were to stay out late at night they were putting themselves in a position for terrible things to happen to them.  Thanks goodness they survived those years.

Once I volunteered to help at a concert in Richmond.  I had no idea that it would be well after twelve o’clock before we finished dismantling the set.  To get to my car I had to walk in a downtown area by a nightspot.  To say the least I was very uncomfortable and could not get to the car quick enough.  Fortunately, I made it home safely.  It is not a situation in which I would want to find myself again.  A better option would have been to walk with other men to their car and then have one of them drop me off at my car.  My advice to my children certainly crossed my mind.

Churches do the same thing.  We wonder why there are divisions in the church and why attendance decreases.  Seldom do we look at the part we may have played in the events that took place.  Rather we should be asking what God is trying to tell us.  There are always consequences brought about by the decisions we make.  The best plan is to spend time in prayer and God’s word to see the direction He would have us take.  All too often based on what we do on emotions and what looks good on the spur of the moment.  When the wheels then come off, it is too late to reverse our choices. Not following God’s purpose will often cause feelings to be hurt and friendships lost.

God used the bad choices by some of the people in our narrative to bring about His purpose for mankind. It is not the kind of life any of them would have mapped out for themselves.  Lets look at how He was able to accomplish it.

Ruth 1:1a

Although the events occurred during the time of the judges the book was probably written as late as the time Josiah the king who reigned from 640 to 609 BC.  The concern was not the nationality of Ruth but her character that God recognized.

1. Why was this story composed about events during the time of the judges? (God wanted us to see that there were still godly people living during a difficult time in the history of the Israelites.)
2. What is the most important thing about a person in the eyes of God?
3. What do we know about Josiah? (Other than David he was the most godly king in Judah.)

Ruth 1:1b-2

During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Israel.  Famines were one of the many curses God had promised if the Israelites drifted away from Him.  A man from Bethlehem thought the grass was greener in Moab and left his homeland and went to live there.  Elimelech made the decision not to remain in Bethlehem and took Naomi, his wife, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, with him as he made his journey to Moab. The people of Moab were descendants of Lot who lived east of the Jordan River.  They had refused to allow the Israelites to travel through their land during the Exodus.  Because of their actions God had declared that no Moabite could enter into the assembly of Israel for ten generations.  Elimelech chose to go to a nation who did not worship God but served false gods.

1. What was one of the curses God used in judgment of His people? (Famine)
2. Why did He use what we would call curses against His people? (Because they turned their backs on Him as His chosen people.)
3. What are some of the ways that God uses to get our attention?
4. Why did Emilelech decide to go to Moab?
5. Who were the Moabites? (Descendants of Lot)
6. What should have Elimelech done in your opinion? (Ride out the famine in Israel.)
7. What does it say about Elimelech?
8. What have been some difficult situations from which you have fled?

Ruth 1:3

While they were living in the land of Moab the husband of Naomi, Elimelech, died leaving she and her two sons alone in a foreign land.

1. In what way do you see the death of Elimelech as a direct act of God?
2. Why would He take the life of Elimelech? (His choice to live in a godless land.)
3. Why would the life of Naomi now become difficult?
4. How have you seen God working in your own life?

Ruth 1:4

The sons of Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion compounded the poor decision made by their father by further violating God’s command to His people and took Moabite wives.  Ruth and Orpah are now introduced into the narrative. Instead of becoming more wrapped up in the pagan culture they could have returned to Judah.  Naomi and her two sons chose to remain in Moab and lived there for ten years.

1. What would have been the logical thing for the family to do after the death of Elimelech? (To return to Judah)
2. Why did they remain in Moab? (They had become part of the culture and were comfortable with the choice they had made.)
3. What does it say about their faith that they were willing to continue to live in Moab?
4. In what way did they violate a direct command of God even though they live in a foreign land? (They married foreign women.)
5. Why was that so bad? (The pagan women would draw them further from God.)
6. In what ways does this command apply to us? (We are not get involved with and unbeliever.)
7. What other point was made that showed they planned to stay in the land of Moab?

Ruth 1:5-7

Both Mahlon and Chilion died.  Naomi was now completely alone having lost both and her husband and her two sons. There was no longer any reason for her to stay in Moab. She heard that the famine had ended and decided to go back to whatever was left of her family back in the area of Bethlehem.  Her two daughter-in-laws decided to make the journey with her.  For the two women to be willing to leave their families showed the great love and respect that they had for Naomi.  There had to be a spark of faith in God still left in her which impressed them enough to decide to go with her.

1. How did God finally get Naomi’s attention?
2. Do you think her family would have returned to Judah if Elimelech and the two sons were still living?
3. What was the attraction for returning home?
4. Why did the two women decide to go with Naomi?
5. What did they see in her that you would like for people to see in you?

Ruth 1:8-14

Naomi encouraged the two women to return to their families in Moab.  They were at first adamant about going with her.  She then used the argument that to go with her would mean that they would remain widows from that day own.  She stated that even if she had a husband and had children the women would probably be unwilling to wait until her sons were old enough to take a wife before wanting to start a family of their own. She did not feel that there was to be any happiness for her in the future because she believed that God was against her.

1. Why did Naomi urge Ruth and Orpah to return home? (To find happiness among their own people.)
2. Based on the fact that they wanted to go with her how would they be happy back in a pagan society?
3. What was her final argument? (There would be no possibility of getting married if they stayed with her.)
4. What could she not know at that point? (God was at work in this whole drama being played out.)
5. Why did she believe that God was against her?
6. When have been times when you have felt that God was not on your side?

Ruth 1:14-15

Orpah took the advice of Naomi, but Ruth refused to go.  It was evident that Orpah was not to be part of God’s plan.  She willingly returned home. Naomi tried to convince Ruth one more time by using Orpah as the example of what she should do.  Sadly, Naomi showed an acceptance of the fact that Orpah would be better off back with here people and returning to the worship of false gods.

1. Why did Orpah follow Naomi’s advice? (She truly belonged to her people and was not part of God’s plan.)
2. What reasons did she give for Orpah’s return?
3. What does her statement say about her understanding of God? (The gods of other nations were good for them as was the God of Israel.  It is almost as if God was a provincial God for Israel and no where else.)
4. How do we sometimes compartmentalize God in our own lives?
5. How do we keep this from happening?

Ruth 1:16-19a

Ruth obviously was determined to go with her mother-in-law.  She had seen enough in the woman’s life to bring her to commit her life to the older woman.  Her words to Naomi showed the kind of character that Ruth possessed.  Her life would be given over to meeting the needs of Naomi.  She said:

• Where you go I will go
• Where you live I will live
• Your people will become my people
• Your God will be my God.

Naomi could do nothing to change Ruth’s mind and so the two went on together to Bethlehem.

1. To what or whom have you been as committed as Ruth was to Naomi?
2. What does it show about Ruth?
3. What are you willing to give up to serve others?
4. What does that kind of commitment do for the person on the receiving end of it?
5. Who would you follow in the way Ruth was willing to stay with Naomi?
6. What is the cost of such commitment?
7. What are the blessings?

Ruth 19b-22

The return of Naomi caused quite a stir in Bethlehem.  There were those in the city who did not recognize her after ten years in Moab.  After all she had experienced she no longer wanted to be called by her given name, Naomi, which means the pleasant one, but Mara. She saw that God’s hand had been heavy against her.  He had taken her family from her and she was a bitter old woman, not the pleasant one who had lived in Bethlehem all those years earlier. It is interesting that the return of one who was bitter was at the beginning of the barley season.

1. Why would Naomi’s return cause such a stir?  (She had been gone so long.)
2. Why might some of the people have trouble recognizing her? (The difficult life would have taken a toll on her physical appearance.)
3. Why did she want to be called something different? (The new name of Mara reflected the way she felt about herself.)
4. Why did she blame God for what had happened in her life?
5. Who was truly at fault? (Her family and their poor decisions.)
6. What could she not see at that point about God? (He had sustained her through all the difficult circumstances and given her a companion committed to help her.)
7. Why did the writer mention the fact of the barley harvest? (Even in her complaining God was about to provide her once more.)

• Before making life-changing decisions pray and seek wise counsel.
• Do not get involved with those who draw you away from God.
• Understand that everything we consider bad God may be using that circumstance to draw you back to Him.
• Be strong in your commitment to God.
• Let your loyalty to friends and family be reflected by your actions and words.

Churches that remain strong stay true to God’s word.  They do not have a tendency to chase the latest fad or go in a direction that is not true to their vision.  Sometimes what seems to be the best thing since buttered bread may wind up being destructive to the unity and well-being of the church.  Our lesson shows what happens when a person is not willing to face the challenges taking place in the short term.  In today’s society we have lost the quality of patience.  It whatever program or activity is not immediately successful we are ready to move on to something else.  For a vision to have any effect takes time.  To make changes that will ensure long-term goals are met require a commitment level that sadly is missing today.  Ruth let her mother-in-law that she was not going leave her until death would separate them.  Growth will come when we are passionate about what God wants to do with our lives and the life of the church.  We are the midst of a new day for the church.  Things will not remain as they have been.  Care must be taken that we do not look for the quick fix.  Decisions need to be made that will help us be a real impact in our community.