Recap:
- The account of Ruth occurs during the time of the judges; during a time when everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
- Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, and her family left their home in Bethlehem to the land of Moab due to a famine.
- Tragedy strikes when Naomi loses her husband and both of her sons
- Although things were bad for Naomi, God was still working behind the scenes in her life.
- If things are still bad, then God is not finished.
- God provides a way for Naomi to return back to her home in Bethlehem.
- She instructs her 2 daughter-in-laws to go back home to their families. However, Ruth chooses to stay.
- Ruth shares her famous words, “wherever you go I will go…”
- Ruth was investing in her relationship with Naomi. She was willing to leave everything behind in order to follow after Naomi and her God.
• Trusting God is not always easy, but it is always the right choice.
- In order to provide for her mother-in-law, Ruth goes out to reap grain from the fields around her.
- God guides her to the one person who was able to change everything for her, Boaz.
- Boaz offered to protect her, provide for her, and bless her while she was there in Bethlehem.
- Boaz was revealed as a kinsman-redeemer through the late husband of Naomi.
- God is faithfully orchestrating His plan for our lives.
This is where we pick up…
Ruth chapter 3 is a beautiful narrative of:
- Trust
- Obedience
- God’s Providence
Ruth follows the instructions of her mother-in-law, Naomi, to seek providential protection and provision through Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer.
Kinsman Redeemer = A close relative who was able to act as a protector and restorer for a family member in need
Kinsman-redeemer was responsible to:
1. Buy an Israelite relative out of slavery (Lev. 25:48)
2. Buy back family land that had been forfeited (Lev. 25:25)
3. Carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow (Deut. 25:5-10)
This chapter teaches us powerful lessons about faith in action, godly character, and the unfolding of God’s plans.
4. Trusting in God’s Timing
Ruth 3:1-5
“One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” 5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied.”
Naomi encourages Ruth to approach Boaz, trusting that God has positioned him as a redeemer. Ruth responds with obedience and humility.
Lesson: Trusting in God’s timing often requires patience. Being patient does not equal doing nothing. In this case, being patient means taking bold steps of faith along the way. Like Ruth, we may not fully understand God’s plan, but we are called to obey and trust Him through it. Be patient and wait on God’s timing.
Ruth 3:1-5
“One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” 5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied.”
Naomi encourages Ruth to approach Boaz, trusting that God has positioned him as a redeemer. Ruth responds with obedience and humility.
Lesson: Trusting in God’s timing often requires patience. Being patient does not equal doing nothing. In this case, being patient means taking bold steps of faith along the way. Like Ruth, we may not fully understand God’s plan, but we are called to obey and trust Him through it. Be patient and wait on God’s timing.
5. Demonstrating Faithfulness in Action
Ruth 3:6-13
“6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. 7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” 10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman.”
Ruth Goes to Boaz at the threshing floor, requesting his protection and provision as a redeemer. She was requesting that Boaz would redeem her as his wife through his duty as a kinsman redeemer. This was not something that she had to do, as she could have gone for someone younger (as he says), someone who was also wealthy. She clearly was seen as a woman of great value in the community. However, she chooses to be faithful to God, Naomi, and to Boaz.
Ruth’s actions reflect her faith in God’s provision and the respect that she had for Naomi. Boaz responds with honor and kindness, committing to do what was right.
Lesson: Doing the right thing matters. Doing what is right often impacts more people than just ourselves. Doing what is right choosing what is best. What is best for us is one thing; God’s best is another. In every situation, especially deciding moments, we should be looking for God’s best. Doing so will lead us to doing the right thing, which will bring about God’s will for everyone involved.
Ruth 3:6-13
“6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. 7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” 10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman.”
Ruth Goes to Boaz at the threshing floor, requesting his protection and provision as a redeemer. She was requesting that Boaz would redeem her as his wife through his duty as a kinsman redeemer. This was not something that she had to do, as she could have gone for someone younger (as he says), someone who was also wealthy. She clearly was seen as a woman of great value in the community. However, she chooses to be faithful to God, Naomi, and to Boaz.
Ruth’s actions reflect her faith in God’s provision and the respect that she had for Naomi. Boaz responds with honor and kindness, committing to do what was right.
Lesson: Doing the right thing matters. Doing what is right often impacts more people than just ourselves. Doing what is right choosing what is best. What is best for us is one thing; God’s best is another. In every situation, especially deciding moments, we should be looking for God’s best. Doing so will lead us to doing the right thing, which will bring about God’s will for everyone involved.
6. Resting in God’s Providence
Ruth 3:16-18
“16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”
Boaz assured Ruth that he was going to handle the matter. He wanted her to know that everything was going to be okay. Naomi advises Ruth to “wait and see how the matter turns out.” This waiting period calls for Ruth to trust in God’s providence. There was a resting that Ruth was being advised to have. Not to worry or stress, but to be at peace knowing that God’s plan was in the works.
Lesson: There is a time in which we must act, there is a time in which we must take a step of faith. However, there is also a time when we must simply wait. Both require faith. This waiting is referring to the “resting” and being at peace, knowing that God is in control. Both Naomi and Ruth rested in the knowledge that God was working through Boaz to fulfill His promise. We too must learn to be at ease (not stressing, worrying, or complaining) and rest in the knowledge that God is working behind the scenes to bring about His will for our life.
Ruth 3:16-18
“16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”
Boaz assured Ruth that he was going to handle the matter. He wanted her to know that everything was going to be okay. Naomi advises Ruth to “wait and see how the matter turns out.” This waiting period calls for Ruth to trust in God’s providence. There was a resting that Ruth was being advised to have. Not to worry or stress, but to be at peace knowing that God’s plan was in the works.
Lesson: There is a time in which we must act, there is a time in which we must take a step of faith. However, there is also a time when we must simply wait. Both require faith. This waiting is referring to the “resting” and being at peace, knowing that God is in control. Both Naomi and Ruth rested in the knowledge that God was working through Boaz to fulfill His promise. We too must learn to be at ease (not stressing, worrying, or complaining) and rest in the knowledge that God is working behind the scenes to bring about His will for our life.
Ruth chapter 3 is a reminder that God’s providence is always at work in our life, regardless of the circumstance. It teaches us to trust in His timing, act with faith, and rest in His provision. As we walk through our own journeys, may we, like Ruth, take bold steps of faith while trusting God, choosing to do the right thing in order to bring about a story of redemption in our life as well.
Call to action:
7. What step of faith is God calling you to take today?
8. Are you willing to trust Him by doing the right thing?
9. Are you willing to rest in His promises
Takeaways:
10. There is virtue in helping others through your own need
11. You have a part to play in God’s story
12. Be a covering for those God has brought into your life
