Be Blessed. And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Lesson no. When Boaz showed up, Ruth was having a pretty rough season in her life. Throughout the Bible, we see previews of Christ. Mahlon was married to Ruth while Chillion was married to Orpah. If not, you should probably get one. It's very great to learn from the book of Ruth and it's very challenging book and great book very interesting to read this 7 powerful lession. Hope in Trouble times. Boaz knew that he had every right to be Ruths kinsman, so he could have demanded her hand in marriage whether Ruth wanted to or not. Ruths faith was rewarded with a wonderful husband. Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David and the daughter-in-law of Naomi. The past is the past. The story of Ruth and Boaz in the Bible is one of the most romantic in Scripture. The two women shared great sorrow, but they also shared great affection for one another. Free Online Four-Week Book of Ruth Bible Study PDF: Our latest study will take you through the Book of Ruth. We know that the other kinsman did not want to marry Ruth because he didnt want to divide his inheritance even further among his existing children. We all must understand the importance of being thankful and recognizing others that make a difference within our life especially within our relationships. She could have qualified for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There is Always Hope. Boaz was ready to call Ruth his bride and wife just like Jesus calls us his bride. Her country of origin already made her an outcast, and being a childless widow gave her plenty of reason to shrink back into a shell and simply live her life in obscurity. While working, Ruth catches Boazs eye. Install Feel The Words on your home screen, and access it just like a regular app. The choice is always yours. So he put plans in place to ensure no harm would come to her. Memory Work - Luke 1:68; Scripture Reading and Discussion - Leviticus 25:48-49a, Ruth 4:1-17. Lesson #1 - There is Hope Even in the Most Devastating Times of Our Life. Although Boaz was in love with Ruth, he never pushed or pressured her to commit to him. Naomi told Ruth to bathe, put on her best clothes, and splash on some perfume. Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse. She admitted that she felt that God had dealt with her bitterly. The story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz ( Ruth 1-4) is one of the most moving accounts in the Bible. And when you think of how friendship was all Ruth and Naomi had during a time of serious grief and . Boaz was considerably older than Ruth. They see you when youre good and when youre bad. By Boaz, the man who could and would make her life a whole lot better. Naomi even extends thanks and recognition to Ruth for providing her with a beautiful blessing. Ruths story is one that exemplifies the reality that so many of us are thrown at every day death, love, heartache, falling into love and even compassion for others that share love. God will not necessarily stand in your way. Each person within the relationship must understand that everyone has imperfections and its imperative that they come to terms with this reality. Naomi hatches a "plan" to join Ruth and Boaz for "good" ( Ruth 2:22 ). 6 Naomi was a pious and charitable woman "whose ways were nice and pleasant." 7 Ruth considered her a spiritual guide whose advice . His conclusion about Ruth was a combination of what he saw plus what people around Bethlehem had to say about her. When entering into a relationship, its important that each person understand and respect the other as an equal. Love is organic and the Book of Ruth is just one of the best examples to portray these ideal. Looking at the bigger picture of the Book of Ruth its evident now to see how the famine, Naomis relocation to Moab, the return to Bethlehem, Boazs blood line, and several other events had a hand in the overall plan for Ruths life. The book of Ruth starts with the life of Naomi. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. His wife and sons stay on, and the sons marry non-Jewish women - Moabite princesses by the names of Ruth and Orpah. The book of Ruth begins by looking at the life of Naomi. Life changing conversations should probably happen when both parties are fully present and engaged. But she did not. Ruth shows pure, boundless love to her mother-in-law. She lived a simple live in obscurity. Now that we have dealt with what it means to wait for your Boaz, there are some other relationship nuggets buried in the story. From the beginning, God had a number of smaller things that needed to happen before the bigger plan could come into fruition. The story is told in the Book of Ruth, part of the biblical canon called Ketuvim, or Writings. It is HIS story. Ruth's and Naomi's journey from heartbreak to hope offers an Old Testament glimpse into God's redemptive power as He transforms a bitter widow and a former idolater into a family legacy . There are really so many lessons we could draw from this epic true love story. Plus, Naomi was too old to have any more children. Elimelech died, leaving Naomi with her two sons. God had every intention of Ruth being part of the story for the lineage of Jesus. He says The Lord be with you. He and his wife Naomi, along with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, left for Moab. No matter your past, you still have a purpose. And this was in a time when women werent ordinarily included in genealogies. Waiting for your Boaz means to wait for the one with specific characteristics. There are three lessons that can be learned from Ruth and Naomi's relationship that are reflected in this verse. The first lesson from the Book of Ruth is that there is always hope. Instead, he waited for her to choose him. And yet it was that sharing and intimacy that was the foundation of the deep relationship these two women shared. The relationship between Ruth and Naomi is a reflection of the faithful love of God offered to Israel and to us in the gift of covenant. The second blessing mentions Tamar, who in Genesis 38, like Ruth, bore a child after . Their sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Lesson 3 - Working Isn't A Lack Of Blessing. The love of a man and the love of a woman should always be considered as an equally powerful element. And guess what, Ruth was consistent. A famine in Canaan forces Elimelech and Naomi, along with their sons, to migrate from Bethlehem to Moab. Elimelech of Bethlehem departs the country for Moab, taking his wife Naomi and their two sons along. Go have babies. Note that he addressed her as daughter. A selfish man will give you headaches. We can learn a lot from the relationship of Ruth and Naomi, and loyalty is among the lessons. Relationships today are the exact same! This means she was ready to be taken as his wife and to enter into a relationship of mutual submission and trust. Its every girls wish to have such a happy ending. How a Man Should Treat a Woman According to God. 1:1-5: Elimelech and his family go to Moab. The first concerns the happy accident of Ruth's Later we see him ensuring that they have food to eat during their lunch break and he sits and eats with then. Whether youre dating or married, your man is flesh and bones. He called her virtuous. But, according to the practices of the time, Boaz was free to take another wife, especially since he was a kinsman. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty. (Ruth 1:20,21a KJV). God is the perfect match maker. If you intend to move from where you are in life, you have to put some skin in the game. "I would like to go to the fields ". The love of a man and the love of a woman should always be considered as an equally powerful element. On the other hand, Ruths husband had died leaving her without children and she was still young. If you read the story carefully you will notice the divine appointment. Application: God had a wonderful plan for Ruth. She was letting him know she was ready for the next stage. It doesn't matter if you're a male or female, God cares about everyone the same. Act 3: Ruth and Boaz are at the threshing floor ( Ruth 3:1-18 ). It was their faith that was at the center of their relationship and intimate communication. It analyzes the lessons and events of the book of Ruth and shows how they apply to modern-day life and experiences. The book of Ruth offers an entirely different perspective on this often maligned relationship. Both Ruth and Naomi, her mother-in-law, have returned to Israel from Moab widowed and forlorn. . Make the stories of your life good stories so that even if you die, you will leave a legacy of faith and obedience to God. And what a bountiful blessing she reaped! She had nowhere to go and yearned to feel complete, so she returned to Judah. He hired people to help him manage his assets. She didnt just pray. Inside the Core this week, many students are reading the book of Ruth in the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament. Ruth and Boaz had a child together and he also took care of Naomi. She moved to a foreign land where she knew no one but her mother-in-law. The story of Naomi in the Bible and lessons we can learn, The story of Rebekah in the Bible meaning, characteristics and lessons learned . They had hope for their future. But it is important to consider that at that time and in that society, it is very likely that he already had a wife. She urges Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab and find new husbands. The characteristics of Ruth in the Bible makes for an exciting study! Copyright Feel The Words 2023. Today we consider the third option. Inspiring to Christians single or married, this love story displays God's sovereignty over difficult circumstances in every stage and season of life. Lets face it, no one is perfect! The saying that there is a light at the end of the tunnel is very true. He asked them to allow some to fall purposely for her. This is the edited manuscript of Lesson 1 in the series, Ruth: A Story of Redemption, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh on January 10, 2010. Clearly, the exalted nation of Israel, God's chosen people, has lost its sense of direction. The entire Bible is about how God orchestrated history in an effort to save us. The story of Ruth the Moabite is the unusual biblical tale of the trials faced by two women, touching on profound themes such as grief, familial loyalty, feminine dependence and independence, and . All these little details in the story, gives us a glimpse of Boazs character and influence. But we all know that reality is the furthest thing from a fairytale. But life was actually worst. Ruth was one of those women. But she didnt. The book of Ruth presents the inspiring journey of God's people from tragedy to triumph. Thanks for sharing some of it. Both Naomi and Ruth experienced a great amount of grief, however both prevail Naomi loses her husband two sons. This is especially important when family isnt available. He was a wealthy landowner and he earned his keep with his own sweat. And wasnt she quite the friend to her mother-in-law Naomi? Lessons from the book of Ruth. Elimelech left Bethlehem which means the house of bread, to Moab which means waste or nothing. We dont know anything about her beauty but we know her character was admirable. This tells us that Boaz had a good relationship with his employees. Their relationship offers a beautiful model of a good relationship a stunning look at a blending of lives. If you want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the blog post. So the Book of Ruth would roughly equate to the Book of Friendship in Hebrew. He should have already taken her in to provide for her. The book of Ruth follows the book of Judges in our Bibles because its setting was in that time period. Boaz would have needed to set up his inheritance which would include having sons to leave all his wealth to. (6-7) Ruth lays down at Boaz's feet. Her two sons found wives, Ruth and Orpah, but 10 years later, both sons died as well. There is no bitterness or hostility that shadows over their relationship. ISBN-13: . She had married the son of an Israelite family while they were living in Moab, but at some point her father-in-law, her husband, and her husband's only brother died. When Boaz is introduced in the story, the first thing he does is to greet his workers and servants. At the very beginning of the book of Ruth, shes living in Moab, her home nation. I dont imagine that he solved all her problems nor did they have a perfect relationship. The indescribable passion and struggles that accompany love is displayed in the Book of Ruth and these actions personify our own struggles that we come face-to-face with on a daily basis. Their choices do not mean that one is better than the other. At the beginning of the story, we meet Elimelech, the husband of Naomi. He had not done what he was supposed to do. As much as is possible, try to get to know your significant other through the people he or she interacts with outside of your presence. God had an amazing plan for Ruth. She wasnt hired but he invited her to partake of those provisions. Examining the second chapter of Ruth. Are they the same with you as they are with everyone else? Because of Boaz's wise (perhaps shrewd) way of framing the occasion, this was the first time the nearer kinsman considered this, and it was a pretty big question to take in all at once. Yet she showed incredible character. Just look at all the immigration issues globally. Boaz did say that Ruth chose not to marry a young man. Freedom was a key aspect of their friendship. Dear Lord,
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