The Awakening of Hope

Act 2, scene 3 Ruth 2:17-23

In the midst of their trouble, through the grace extended to Ruth, Naomi first gets a glimmer of hope that indeed God may be moving in their present circumstances leading Ruth to this field, provoking such hesed in Boaz, when in fact God has been moving from long before to prepare the way for this grace in the law of gleaning, in the law of the Goel or kinsman redeemer, and even in His earlier still provision of an even greater kinsman redeemer than Boaz.

1. God is at work in our present circumstances. Naomi has seen it in God’s provision through Ruth.

It would be good for the group to rehearse some of the ways Ruth and Naomi has seen God’s grace or faithful loving kindness (Hebrew word: hesed).

Then, recount some stories of how they have experienced God’s faithful love to them when they were not looking for it or where in a place of despair.

Thirdly, how have some of the group been used to help, or give grace, to someone to whom help was more needed than you realized (times when God used them to meet a need.)

2. God has been working to give grace Naomi’s hope is rekindled in remembering the provision of God’s law which Boaz fits, a near relative (Goel) who could redeem. Does Naomi know yet what Boaz WILL do, or is she encouraged merely that she has seen God’s grace in the midst of trouble?

…from long ago. Rev 13:8; 1 Pet 1:18-22; Eph 1:3-6

A good further discussion on this point, is how does this relate to us? What difference does it make to you in life’s current storms, to know that God has been working with the whole world in view, and yet also knowing you, from before creation?

What is more important, knowing God will solve/fix/change the problem, or knowing God in the midst of the problem?

What do you think:

The point of the book of Ruth is not that that the end of this story will be even better than the beginning—that your tragedy is because God is working something even better. “What could be better than the death of my husband?! What could be better than the loss of my two children?! –How dare you!” The point is that even in the brokenness of this world, the shattered dreams that are the way of broken people in a broken world, God has not abandon us here. Out of brokenness He works redemption, all the while showing us we were made for, meant for, a redeemed reality that will surpass the brokenness of this life and world and will surpass even our best imaginings.

“Where can I find grace?”

Setting the scene. 2:1-3

Ruth finds grace, through Boaz, from God.

Who is this? (cp. John 10) 2:4-5

Humility meets God’s provision 2:6-7

(cf. Lev. 19:9-10; Dt. 19-22)

The danger of looking somewhere else (Gen. 3) 2:8-9

An outsider finds grace (Eph. 2:12-19) 2:10-13

Can I supersize that? 2:14-16

Ruth finds grace from God through Boaz.

Chapter 2 turns the corner from the bitterness of Naomi to provision and hope experienced in the introduction of Ruth to the godly man Boaz. The section drips with take-aways and application. There is the evident hand of the sovereign God at work as Ruth “happens to happen upon the part of the fields belonging to Boaz.” There are the evident character qualities of Ruth (faithfulness, industriousness, humility) and of Boaz (warmth, generosity, care). There are specific punch lines, “Where can I find grace?” “You have spoken to my heart.” that compare to our own experience.

There is dramatic real-life theology, truth about God, in his care for the powerless, His sovereignty in circumstances, His knowing of His own, the provision of grace even in OT Law, and the abundance of His grace above and beyond our hope or need.

There is also some big picture theology. You can compare Naomi to Israel (bitter about how God has treated her in her wanderings.) Ruth is like the church (Eph 2), outside the covenants and promises and yet she finds grace even beyond what was promised to Israel in the OT. Boaz, the man of standing and reputation, the strong and able one, who is actually nearer to them they first realize is a picture of Christ our “kinsman redeemer” who has the means and extends grace to us, beyond what we would ask or expect.

I’m hesitant to tell you just how to apply and dig deeper here in your Growth Group. One suggestion I would make is that just as this is a real story, the members of your group have been or are in a similar story. They will identify with different characters: Ruth, Boaz, the foreman, the reapers? How have they seen God’s hand of grace working through others. Most importantly for those who know Grace, how would we desire to see God extend His grace through us. Urge one another to be very specific on this, share the past failings and successes and commit to what the next time will look like.

In this story we see the heart of God revealed in the cross of Christ, and are reminded that God’s grace is best shared with others in the midst of the desperate needs of real life.

Where is God—when I can’t see Him… Ruth 1:19-22

There is an interesting chiasm that points out the center of this section, and its contrast between went out/brought back, full/emtpy:
19 they came to Bethlehem
20 Don’t call me pleasant…the Almighty…bitter
21 I went out full, empty the Lord brought me back
21b Why call me pleasant…the Almighty…calamity
22 …and they came to Bethlehem
The big issue is Naomi’s perspective, is she seeing things as they really are?

I went away full.
Was she really “full”? Depends on how you define full. She had her family intact but it was a time of famine and desperation, not plenty, the boys were weak and sick, not strong, they apparently chose to leave their inheritance and even have their sons take foreign wives, and settle in a foreign land. Life was not pleasant for Naomi then, and her husband Elimelech didn't really seem to trust and obey “My God is King.” It was perhaps more a cultural religious practice than real personal faith that stood the test of trials.

The Lord has brought me back empty.
She sees empty in terms of alone, with nothing, no hope of either provision or enduring happiness. She is not the first to fell this way: compare Exodus 5:21-23; Numbers 11:11-15; 1 Kings 17:20. Israel out of Egypt, Moses when the people grumbled, even Elijah expressed the same thing. God has done this to me! Yet, in that God was working new life from Egypt, and resurrection (in Elijah’s case). The prophet Habbakuk, in chapter 1 of that book, says” God where are you, why don’t you do something, and then, “no God, you can’t do that!” He openly challenges and questions God, but chapter 3 of his book closes in full trust. Naomi has not even recognized the blessing of Ruth. She is not alone, Ruth is beside her and God himself is there.
The truth is that Naomi, like Adam and Eve, and like us, has gone away and the Lord has brought her back.

Try to have people in your Growth Group describe situations where “someone” has felt this way, a time of darkness when it seemed the All powerful God either caused or did not prevent calamity. Let the group be a safe place for people to tell their story, people can be honest to God and one another. It is not good that church is often a place where one cannot be honest about how they really feel. We are taught not to express what we really feel, our anger and bitterness even toward God. But, does He not know? Find some psalms and other Biblical examples where people can be “honest to God” when their faith is shaken. Perhaps the group can find some.
What will help Naomi?

Naomi’s night-vision goggles.
My God is King (Ruth 1:2, 20b, 21c)
She heard (Ruth 1:6; Romans 10:17)
Now the two of them… (1:19; Hebrews 10:24-25)
The story has hinted toward three things that can help a person who has lost perspective and cannot see God.

1. First, remembering who God is. He is sovereign, the king, even if he doesn’t seem to be doing anything, He is the Almighty. The other name used, Yahweh or Jehovah, is God’s covenant keeping loyal love and mercy, redeemer of Israel name. God is all powerful and he is faithful in mercy and loving kindness to us, even when it doesn’t seem like it.
2. She heard. Compare Romans 10:17.
3. The two of them. Hebrews 10:24-25. Naomi is not alone, Ruth is there and Ruth with her, not with answers, but being there, will be central to the reversal that is coming and Naomi getting hope again. How have any of these three made a difference in dark times for members of your group?
   

You may have time to point out how chapter 1 ends. Have a Bible dictionary or other reference work ready and have someone look up what time of year Barley harvest is and what big feast of Israel occurs then. What does this suggest about the hint hope at this point of the story? Is the hope merely for barley bread, or is God hinting at something bigger?