God, My Redeemer = More than Enough
Ruth 4
Digging Deeper
KEY QUOTES:
"God provided Naomi a family that would usher in the cosmic redeemer who would redeem the world!"
"You need God's kind of love. His hesed, His unconditional, never-ending, gracious, merciful, covenantal-loyalty kind of love."
"The only way to personally realize God's powerful redemption is to confess Christ as Redeemer, King and Savior. But you won't confess Christ as Redeemer, King and Savior unless you see yourself like Naomi — unless you understand your condition is very similar to Naomi’s."
"When you personally realize God's powerful redemption is only found in Jesus, you'll understand that God is more than enough and has given you more than enough! Which will then lead to His people being a redemptive community empowered by the Holy Spirit."
At the time the book of Ruth was written, the family name was maintained through the children. Keeping the lineage going was important because if a family did not have heirs, then the family land would not be passed down to future generations. Therefore, it was important that Ruth marry and produce children to maintain the family legacy. Boaz understood this and took immediate action to properly claim the family inheritance. He wanted to marry Ruth, and he also wanted to ensure that the family of Elimelech and Naomi continued to possess their land.
God had a wonderful blessing that He gave Naomi's family. When we look at the shared lineage, it shows that King David was their descendant. Even more exciting, Jesus, our Redeemer, came from their lineage.
God redeemed Naomi's situation from one of bitterness to one of an amazing legacy— Jesus, the Savior of the world, as one of their descendants. How God worked all this out is encouraging for us. When things look bleak and impossible, God is in control.
He can make even the most awful circumstances turn out for good for those who are His children. We can trust Him in all things and at all times and take comfort that He is the almighty God, Redeemer of all things. God is always more than enough!
WHAT NOT TO MISS
The Main Point
God is more than enough and is personally realized through God's powerful redemption.
In the Old Testament, there are three words, and thus, three different concepts or elements to the words redeem or redemption.
1. To pay a sufficient price for a crime committed within society. (Padah) Exodus 21
2. To cover one’s sin by shedding the blood of one life (innocent) for the one who sinned. God ransomed/redeemed/delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. (Kipper) Leviticus 16 and 23
3. To buy back or ransom something that was lost or enslaved. (Ga'al) Exodus 6:6
To buy back someone who is enslaved and can't get out themselves.
To buy back land. (Leviticus 25)
To carry on the family name, if a husband dies and leaves no offspring then the widow will marry the nearest relative to perform the Levirate marriage. (Ruth 1-4)
Chapter 4 provides at least four ways Naomi and we, too, can powerfully realize God's personal redemption.
1. A man, Boaz, did what he was graciously obligated to do. (Ruth 4:1-10)
2. A woman, Ruth, chose graciously to love Naomi.
3. A baby, Obed, was graciously provided to Naomi by the Lord through Ruth and Boaz. (Ruth 4:13-14)
4. A community graciously blessed Naomi, Ruth, Boaz and Obed through support and prayer. (Ruth 4:11,14)
How does the Lord answer their prayers of blessing? (Ruth 4:16-17)
-Naomi went from bitterness to boldness and experienced God's betterness as he blessed her by bringing the cosmic redeemer through her family line.
-The book of Ruth isn't just about how God redeemed Naomi, but ultimately is a book that points to Jesus—the Cosmic Redeemer.
Where is Jesus seen in Ruth—particularly in chapter 4?
-Jesus is the Redeemer who came and ransomed us from the spiritual prison and enslavement that we had put ourselves in as a result of our sin.
-Jesus is the Redeemer, that in Him, God doesn't hold us responsible for our crimes we've committed against him and our sin/crimes against others.
-Jesus is the Redeemer who made the payment, which was His life, so that we could be free.
-Jesus is the Redeemer who was the ultimate sacrifice, who through His blood sprinkled on us cleanses us, washes us white as snow, and covers our sin, our shame and our guilt.
The Question: Is Jesus your Redeemer?
-When we personally realize God's powerful redemption is only found in Jesus, we understand that God is more than enough, and He has given us more than enough to lead His people into being a redemptive community empowered by the Holy Spirit.
God's redemptive community will cause us to do four things:
We will graciously fulfill the covenantal obligations God has given us.
We will choose graciously to love each other and the world.
We will watch the Lord graciously add to our corporate family.
We will graciously encourage, support, pray and bless one another in our community.
We will do these things because we will have come to believe that God, through Jesus, is more than enough!
LIFE APPLICATION
This week, consider the four ways that Christians are redemptive agents. Look at this through the eyes of how Jesus is the greater Boaz, Ruth, Obed and greater community. Choose one way that you will apply what you have learned about being a redemptive agent to your life.
Jesus is the Greater Boaz
Genesis 3:15, 12:1–3; 2 Samuel 7; Jeremiah 31:33–34; Jeremiah 33:15–16.
Boaz redeemed the family of Naomi and Ruth from being blotted out. Jesus is the greater Kinsman Redeemer, the greater hesed-redeemer. Jesus came and ransomed us from the spiritual prison and enslavement that we had put ourselves in as a result of our sin. Jesus made the payment for our sins by washing us clean and covering our sin, shame and guilt by giving His life on the cross so that we can be free.
Application for our lives: We are to bless others with our resources and help those who might be in need, even when it is personally costly for us to do so. We are to forgive others graciously and generously and not hold a grudge, remembering how God has forgiven us as a result of Jesus' death on the cross for our sins, providing us with grace, mercy and love when we did not earn it or deserve it.
Jesus is the Greater Ruth
John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:11.
Ruth modeled friendship, kindness, loyalty, dedication and obedience to her mother-in-law and to God. Jesus was the perfect humble servant, making choices that pleased God, His Heavenly Father. Jesus obeyed God, which was costly for Jesus as He gave His life on the cross, saving those who believe in His name from sin and by giving believers eternal life with Him.
Application for our lives: We are to demonstrate friendship, faithfulness and kindness to others, even at great cost to ourselves. We are to listen to those who give us godly advice even when it goes against what we would like to do.
Jesus is the Greater Obed
Psalm 2:12; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2–4; Luke 1:31, 2:11–12
Obed was the grandfather of King David and was part of Jesus' family tree. Obed in Hebrew means "servant of God or worshipper." Jesus is the greater ultimate servant and the One whom we worship.
Application for our lives: We are to be servants of our God, worshipping Him with our hearts, souls and minds in all that we do. We are to live our lives knowing that we, like Obed, will be leaving a legacy for future generations. We are to have a strong faith and testimony, reflecting on the wonderfulness of our God and Savior Jesus.
Jesus is the Greater Community
John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:11.
God loved the greater community, and He gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus demonstrated the greatest love by giving us life so that believers in Him can live eternally with Him in heaven.
Application for our lives: We are to go to neighbors and nations to share the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ even when we do not want to, and it is costly for us. We are to provide encouragement and support for those in the Christian community who need us and our love for them. We are to remain confident that God, in His almighty wisdom, works all things for the good of those who love Him, even when we cannot easily see this through our circumstances.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share a situation you thought was impossible that God ultimately redeemed and worked out for your good.
What is the central theme of the book of Ruth?
In what ways did Boaz wisely handle the situation of redeeming Ruth as his wife and redeeming Naomi's family?
List two reasons you think the other person, who was a closer relation than Boaz, turned down the opportunity to redeem the land that belonged to Naomi and Ruth.
Where in the book of Ruth do you see God creating a legacy that will last through the ages?
DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE PASSAGES
Day 1: Wisdom - Proverbs 2:6; James 3:13; Psalm 37:30
Day 2: Faithfulness - 1 Corinthians 4:2; Lamentations 3:22-23; Psalm 36:5
Day 3: Blessings - Numbers 6:24-26; Isaiah 41:10; Proverbs 4:7
Day 4: Renewal - Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 51:10; Lamentations 4:10
Day 5: Joy - Isaiah 9:3; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 27:6
PRAYER
Lord, I am facing a difficult and complex situation in my life, just as Boaz did in his time. May I, just like Boaz, take the time to consider what I must do. Let me do the honorable and right thing even if it might be costly or not yield what I would like. Let me rest in the fact that You control all things and that You know what is best for me. May I rest in the truth that You will work all things for my good and that You love me and care for me through all situations and circumstances.
