“God is always the hero!” – Ruth 4:13-17

Ruth 4:13-17

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

The Bible shows history through the lens of human brokenness and God’s grace, and Ruth is one of the best examples of that view. The book of Ruth details everyday struggles through famine, sin, bitterness, selfless courage, redemption, restoration, and joy.

While the period of the judges was a dark time in history, a widow (Naomi) and her widowed, gentile, daughter-in-law (Ruth) find redemption through a “kinsman-redeemer” (Boaz). A kinsman-redeemer was someone who would buy and take care of the land and family of a deceased or poor kinsman (Leviticus 25:25, Deuteronomy 25:5).

Although we see Ruth’s love for Naomi, Naomi’s advice for Ruth, and Boaz’s love for Ruth, God is the hero. He gave grace to a gentile and her bitter mother-in-law, placed her into His family, and made her the grandmother of David, which leads to Christ. A Moabite is redeemed and in the genealogy of Jesus. God is always the hero!

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 
  • Can you point to times when God has been the hero in your life? 
  • Who can you share that story with this week? 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Pastor Stephen Williams

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