What are you waiting for? Ruth 3:14-18

Ruth 3 reminds me of my introduction to the Air Force, it was "Hurry up" and "Wait." After this very intriguing midnight proposal, now Ruth must return and wait to see how the matter will fall. Will Boaz be able to work things out? What is this "nearer relative" who "might redeem her" all about. Will she be married to Boaz, so other joker she doesn't even know, or to no one? First, she has to wait. Wait. Wait.

We love to wait. In our "instant" and "now" culture we love it when something is unresolved, we can't hurry it, we can't make it happen, all we can do is wait.... We love that don't we? We don't?

There are some beautiful parallels in this section between Ruth waiting for Boaz and the Church waiting for Christ to complete his promise of our redemption. These parallels are an important part of the story of Ruth, it is both a human story and a theological illustration of our redemption.

In your Growth Group:

• You could ask the group: Is there a time when you have waited for something promised (or expected) that you never did receive? How does this effect how you hope or wait for things now? Is there perhaps some doubt or guarding yourself against possible disappointment?
• You could discuss together how this passage parallels waiting for God to act in a situation when there is nothing more you can do. What was that like, or what is it like now? What helps you wait in faith?
• When we wait on God, do we always know what outcome we will see? (Did Ruth?) What outcomes do we know for sure? (the big ones, the eternal ones.) What outcomes do we not know as clearly?
• How do some things that Boaz did before departing for the "city" help Ruth to wait in faith? How can you compare this to what Christ provided for us before his departure?