bpChurch blog

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.