Your STM Cross-cultural Journey With RuthSample

So now, the redeemer goes to work. And my role is to wait for him?

Summary: Ruth has asked her master for help and he has promised to come through for her. But how is that going to work?

Setup: Ruth has boldly proposed a marriage partnership to Boaz, her employer. His response made her dreams come true—or even exceeded them. He agreed to do all that she asked. But he also explained that the customary order of family relationships must be honored. Another kinsman should have the first option of marrying her.

Now, Ruth can do nothing—not even go along with Boaz as he carries out his own plan. The situation is beyond her control.

Read: Ruth 4:1-12, observing ways that Boaz’s plan is similar to (or different from) Naomi’s plan. What outcome did each of them say they were seeking?

Then come back and tackle the questions below!

Reflect: Boaz gathered 10 elders of the city. Why might Boaz have chosen such a public setting for the conversation with the nearer kinsman?

Look Back: Think of a time when you showed patience (as Ruth did while waiting for Boaz to act). What enabled you to be patient?

Look Around: In what ways do God’s servants see Him at work? How do they demonstrate trust in God when they aren’t able to see how He is working?

Ask God & Others: How do God’s servants persevere when they don’t see results quickly?

Pray & Plan: How can you trust God more fully this week? How can you trust Him more at home?

Dig Deeper: Boaz is called a “close relative” or “kinsman redeemer.” Do a word study in Scripture on “redeemer.” What parallels do you see between Boaz and the ultimate Kinsman-redeemer, Jesus?