Dealing “More than Enough” Hope
Ruth 2
Digging Deeper
"God's sovereignty does allow bitter hands to be dealt but will always deal ‘more than enough’ hope."
"We know there is no luck when it comes to God's providence. We know there is no coincidence when God is working out His plan. We know the impossible becomes possible when God is in it."
"You might have been dealt one of the worst hands, but with God, even one of the worst hands can be turned into one of the best hands because of His hesed (blessings)!"
KEY BIBLE VERSES
Ruth Chapter 2
DIGGING DEEPER
In the second chapter of Ruth, God continues to show up and orchestrate the steps in the lives of Naomi and Ruth.
When Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, it was the beginning of the barley harvest. Ruth went out to glean in the fields. The field she chose to work in belonged to Boaz, who was related to Naomi's family. Boaz took an interest in Ruth, and she found favor in his eyes. When Boaz met Ruth, he told her, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband —how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (Ruth 2: 11-12)
The stories of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz become intertwined at this point, and we see God's hand in their situation. God leads Ruth to choose Boaz's field. God has Ruth find favor in Boaz's eyes. God causes Boaz to be interested in Ruth as he takes her under his protection and tells her to glean only in his fields where he can watch out for her. God grants Naomi wisdom to see solutions to their difficult situation.
God was bringing all the pieces together in the lives of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz to bless them. Ruth was faithful, humble and hardworking. Boaz was a godly man who was generous and caring for others in need. Naomi was attentive and open to what was happening in her family's situation, expressed thankfulness for Boaz and his kindness towards them and gave Ruth sound advice.
WHAT NOT TO MISS
Main Point:
God's sovereignty does allow bitter hands to be dealt, but He will always deal "more than enough" hope.
YHWH's Hesed (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 23:6)
- Means kindness, mercy, compassion, loving-kindness, loyal-love, covenantal-loyalty.
-The Greek equivalent could be equal to the word agape love. (unconditional love)
-The Hebrew word for "hesed" appears around 250 times in the Old Testament, with half of the times in Psalms.
The answers to these three questions illustrate how God always deals out more than enough hope (hesed), even though He does allow us to experience bitter hands.
1. Where did Ruth glean? (Ruth 2:3, 20)
-Ruth is praying for favor since she is poor, widowed, childless, a foreigner, lives with Naomi, her mother-in-law, and Ruth is also working in the fields gleaning.
-Ruth gleans in a field belonging to Boaz.
Boaz is part of the immediate extended family of Elimelek. Therefore, Boaz could possibly redeem the family name of Elimelek.
In this context, if a man died and left no children, then his brother or a close family member could take his widow for his wife and carry on his name.
This arrangement was called a levirate marriage. (Deuteronomy 25:5-6)
Ruth finds herself in a field whose owner could be a kinsmen-redeemer who could save her, Naomi, and her deceased family from being blotted out of Israel.
-We know there is no luck when it comes to God's providence.
-We know there is no coincidence when God is working out His plan.
-We know the impossible becomes possible when God is in it.
2. Why would Boaz take notice of Ruth? (Ruth 2:5,10)
-Boaz arrives at his field, greets his harvesters and notices a new person gleaning in the field. Boaz is told she is a Moabite who returned from Moab with Naomi and that she is a hard worker.
-Boaz's mother was Rahab, and Ruth has a similar story to his mother. (Both were non-Israelites, were viewed unfavorably, their situations were on the brink of disaster and devastation, they confessed and professed faith in the God of Israel, and became a part of an Israelite family.)
Principle:
God was working his blessed hesed long before you experienced a bitter hand.
Before Naomi or Ruth were born, God was working hesed for them!
3. How does Boaz show hesed to Ruth… and Naomi?(Ruth 2:8–18)
1) He sees her as God sees her. (Ruth 2:8)
2) He directs her to stay in his field and his community. (Ruth 2:8)
3) He protects her. (Ruth 2:9)
4) He serves her. (Ruth 2:9)
5) He speaks praise and blessing over her. (Ruth 2:11–13)
6) He invites her to dine with him. (Ruth 2:14–15)
7) He multiplies her workload. (Ruth 2: 16)
Boaz’s actions resemble those of Christ. Boaz is demonstrating, reflecting and imagining the kindness, grace, mercy, loving-kindness and covenant-loyalty of God.
You might have been dealt one of the worst hands, but with God, even one of the worst hands can be turned into one of the best hands because of His HESED!
Even though you are dealt a bitter hand, God's sovereignty works to deal you “more than enough” hope through his blessings (hesed).
LIFE APPLICATION
Considering God's blessings, hesed, which person would you identify with in Ruth, Chapter 2, this week?
Would you identify with Boaz, who had resources he could bless and share with others who were less fortunate?
Would you identify with Ruth, a loyal friend to Naomi who shows herself to be humble, willing and thankful to work hard for her family's daily bread and needs to receive blessings?
Would you identify with Naomi, who has made some bad choices and had challenging life circumstances from which she is reeling but is still open to seeing and receiving God's blessings?
Pray that God will open your eyes to see all the incredible ways He works in your life and in your circumstances to bless you this week. Also, let your eyes be open to those to whom you can show blessings.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share when someone showed you unexpected kindness.
What is the relationship between Boaz’s family and Ruth's family?
What do we learn about Ruth and her character in Chapter 2?
What do we know about Boaz and how he lives his life?
Explain how God continues to guide and bless the steps of Ruth and Naomi in Chapter 2.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE PASSAGES
Day 1: Redemption - Isaiah 44:22; Lamentations 3:57-58; Job 19:25-27
Day 2: Hospitality - Titus 1:8; Leviticus 19: 33-34; Matthew 25:42-46
Day 3: Safety - Psalm 27:1; Psalm 91:1-2; Psalm 55:22
Day 4: Favor - Psalm 90:17; Isaiah 58:11; Psalm 30:5
Day 5: God's Blessings - Numbers 6:24-26; Malachi 3:10; Philippians 4:19
PRAYER
Lord, let me rely on Your faithfulness and divine guidance. Like Naomi and Ruth, when circumstances are not looking good and I am dealt a bad hand, let me rest in You and know that You plan to bless and prosper me. Help me to be open to your will for my life, and let me see that things are not random circumstances but that all things are in motion for my life by God so I may be blessed. When You show how You have blessed me and given me favor, let me be a witness for You to neighbors and nations who do not know of You and Your love for us. Let me not be discouraged, but encouraged, knowing that all things work together for the good of those who love You.
