Get Your Hope Back Series

Early on, the story of Ruth is a series of setbacks for the story’s main characters, a couple of women, Ruth and Naomi. The rest of the story is their climb back. It’s kind of a Cinderella story, only so much better! And you’ll see why in the moments to come.

Why should you look at the Ruth right now? First, because we desperately need hope in our day. Ruth is a story to get your hope back. Visualize this: picture hope as a rope. Picture your invisible hope as something that is visible like a rope. We are in Fort Worth, Texas – cowboy country! Think of your hope as a lasso for a moment? What is your lasso attached to right now? Where you attach your hope?

Some of you attach your hope to better health for you or someone close to you. Some attach your hope to more money or a political candidate. Still others attach your hope to better grades and a scholarship for a better future. Whenever you attach your hope to anything in this life, your hope can be shaken. If your day-to-day hope is in political candidates, nations, grades, or friends, your hope can be crushed. But when you place your hope in Christ, you attach your hope to something that cannot be move.

Ruth is a story to get your hope back. Ruth raises your hope level. Ruth speaks of bright hope for dark days.

Second, the story of Ruth is a short novel for you to trust in God. You know, the Bible alone is the only book that has the answer to sin, sorrow, and death. Science doesn’t have the answer. Philosophy doesn’t have the answer. And medicine doesn’t have the answer to all that crushes us in this life and the next. But God does. The Word of God has the answers to life’s questions. Friend, you can trust God. And Ruth is a short novel to help you put your trust in Almighty God. Let Ruth show you why you place your trust and your hope in Jesus Christ today.

Catching Up

Naomi and her husband and two sons left their homeland in Bethlehem on account of famine. Shortly after they leave, Naomi’s husband dies. Her two sons marry two women of a different faith and for ten years the women prove to be barren – no children. And then her sons die leaving two widows in addition to Naomi. One of the widows stays back in Moab, while the second, Ruth, decides to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem.

Keep in mind that this is the very same Bethlehem were Jesus was born more than a 1,000 years later.

Now even though Ruth clings to Naomi, the early part of the story ends with Naomi’s bitter complaint. Listen to her, “I went away full and the Lord has brought me back empty … The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” This lady is crushed by life; she sees absolutely no hope.

Then, Ruth meets Boaz, a possible husband for her. Only Boaz doesn’t propose to Ruth and he doesn’t make any moves toward her. Get this: One evening Ruth comes to Boaz while he is asleep on the threshing floor. Women weren’t this forward in Bible times. Do you have any idea just how “feminist” the book of Ruth is? This young lady is asking this man to marry her! Your mother wouldn’t even allow you to do that and we live in America in 21st century! Plus, carefully note that the women name Ruth’s baby later on in chapter 4. Women didn’t name children in the Old Testament – men did this. Ruth shows our heroine in amazingly, beautiful ways.

Back to our story: all the workers are sleeping there on the floor scattered around Boaz as they have just celebrated a successful harvest (Ruth 3:6-7). Ruth lies at his feet while he’s sleeping and she uncovers his feet to alert him someone is there. Now, Naomi has directed the younger Ruth to do all this. So in the middle of the night, Boaz wakes up, turns over, and discovers there’s a woman lying at his feet. He says, “Who are you?” (Ruth 3:9). Ruth says this, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer” (Ruth 3:9b).

I love Boaz here. Today, many Americans would simply sleep together on the spot. But not Boaz – he has too much character for this. He knows such a thing is wrong. Boaz says in Ruth 3:11-13, “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning” (Ruth 3:11-13).