But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Ruth 1:3-5 ESV

CONSIDER
Over the next ten weeks of this new series, 30 devotionals will be written and shared. The other 29 will take us deeper into the scripture text, but to kick things off, we’re going behind the scenes of the series itself. Understanding the imagery and intention behind it can help us to apply the text in a unique way, giving us the proper language and visuals for engaging the text.
Once the Preaching Team prepares the weekly sections of scripture, questions and applications, and a summary of the text, the process of naming and branding the series begins for the Creative Team. The approach here was the same as always: to create something memorable that well represents what the text is saying. The phrase “hanging on by a thread” is relatable; we’ve all felt it at some point. And while hearing that may initially evoke an image of a rope fraying with a single strand about to snap, we love that there’s a different way to see this otherwise familiar phrase. Even in this first message, we learn that Ruth has come to the end of her rope on a number of occasions, barely hanging on. But as we’ll see, every decision, hardship, every regret, all the suffering didn’t have to make her snap. In the hands of God, they were threads of mercy, grace, and redemption being woven together to create a beautiful tapestry of her life. As her life seemed to unravel, not only was a bigger picture being created, but her story was being crafted together with the stories of others, including Jesus himself.
We pray that any time you hear the phrase “Hanging on by a Thread” from now on, that you envision not a fraying rope but threads in the hands of a brilliant Artist and Father, full of creative potential. 
As you consider this week where you are going, remember that you are just one decision away from the presence of God, who sees the completed tapestry of your life, who loves you, and is for you.

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Where am I going?

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In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. – Ruth 1:1 ESV

HEBREW
לָגוּר֙/lā·ḡūr: to sojourn; temporarily stay in a foreign land

CONSIDER
In order to more fully understand the decision that Elimelech made to lā·ḡūr(temporarily stay in a foreign land) in Moab, it helps to be familiar with a few sections of the Old Testament. The story of Ruth is set in the time period of the judges, and much of this period is recorded in the book of Judges. Seven times in this book we find the phrase, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” No seeking counsel, no asking God for his thoughts, just doing what seemed right on an individual basis. So history repeats itself and Elimelech continues this pattern, deciding to look for greener pastures in a morally corrupt land. History also repeats itself in this first verse of Ruth by echoing a phrase in Genesis 12. There was a famine in the land that Abram lived in, and this man also took his family on a lā·ḡūr to a morally corrupt land – Egypt. The difference, however, is that when Abram’s poor decision caught up with him, he returned to his land and benefited greatly by his return. By definition, a lā·ḡūr is a temporary stay, but what was supposed to be temporary became Elimelech’s permanent and ultimate reality. He did what was right in his own eyes and succumbed to the very fate he sought to avoid.
The fact that God has placed people in our lives to help us when we’re hanging on by a thread is proof of his goodness and plan for us. When we’re tempted to make snap decisions that “feel right” in the moment, the Spirit is available to remind us not to simply do what seems right in our own eyes. And as we begin our journey into the book of Ruth, may this season cause us to appreciate the voices of reason and truth God has gifted us with.

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Where am I going?

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But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. – Ruth 1:8

HEBREW
חֶ֥סֶד/ḥe–seḏ: lovingkindness, mercy

CONSIDER
The Book of Hosea records what the Lord desires from us. Some of us may assume he wants us to do a certain thing or behave a certain way, but God expresses something different in his word. He uses the Hebrew noun ḥe–seḏ(lovingkindness, mercy) to tell us what he wants from us. This word has little to do with our doing, and much more to do with our being. He–seḏ as a noun indicates that God desires us to be merciful people; to be those who exude lovingkindness with our lives because this describes his character. He wants mercy and not sacrifice.
As Naomi deals with the aftermath of famine, death, and relocation, she prays a blessing over her daughters-in-law. She wants the Lord to deal ḥe–seḏ with them because they have dealt ḥe–seḏ with her in her darkest hour. So what Naomi is saying is that Orpah and Ruth were both fulfilling the hope that the Lord had by being people of kindness! What a great reminder of what it looks like to display the ḥe–seḏ character of God. May we be unafraid to display kindness and mercy as we journey alongside others in their darkest hour.

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Where am I going?

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Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. – Ruth 1:16 ESV

HEBREW
לָשׁ֣וּב/lā·šūḇ: return to the familiar, reconsider one’s direction

CONSIDER
World War II was one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. It was fought in 55 theaters of war, four continents and several countries. Enter Operation Magic Carpet. This plan extricated military personnel from every branch of the armed forces, and became the largest air and sealift ever organized. From September 1945 to September 1946 an average of 22,222 people were brought home every single day – more than the capacity of Madison Square Garden! Within that span, 8 million Americans felt the joy of returning safely home.
But in the Biblical narrative, Ruth understands that home isn’t necessarily a place you return to. In fact, home doesn’t necessarily have to be a single place at all. When her Mother-in-Law releases her from staying by her side, Ruth requests that Naomi doesn’t urge her to lā·šūḇ (reconsider one’s direction and turn around) from following her to Judah. Ruth recognized that remaining in a familiar place without the Living God was not an option, because she had been changed by her encounter with him. Ruth instead chose hardship, trials, and the unknown because the Lord would be in that place along with her. When we commit to God our unconditional “yes,” we can trust that the seasons of difficulty will be invaluable because they will remind us that wherever they take us, His presence is all we need to feel at home.

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What next step will I commit to taking this week?

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Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” – Ruth 1:17 ESV

HEBREW
יֹסִ֔יף וְכֹ֣ה/yō·sîp̄ wə·ḵōh: and in ever increasing measure

CONSIDER
“Take the world, but give me Jesus,
sweetest comfort of my soul;
with the Savior watching o’er me,
I can sing, though thunders roll.”
-Take the World, But Give Me Jesus, 2nd verse

Fanny Crosby wrote over 800 hymns and poems dedicated to her Savior. Titles such as Blessed Assurance, To God Be the Glory, and I Am Thine O Lord were at one time staples of congregational worship around the globe. And yet Crosby’s clear gift is often juxtaposed with the disability often associated with her. Blind from a very young age, it’s easy to be found guilty of thinking that she found success despite her condition. But it is this blind condition that Crosby herself attributed much of her success to! Reflecting on her life, she was quoted as saying, “If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” Her commitment to following Jesus trumped her desire for life to be fair, comfortable, and even filled with optimal health.
When Naomi told Ruth that she was released from caring for her needs, Ruth doubled down on her commitments. Taking a cue from a traditional Hebraic oath, Ruth evokes the name of the Lord, thereby demonstrating just how serious she was. But she didn’t stop there. Ruth told Naomi, “May the Lord do so to me yō·sîp̄ wə·ḵōh (and in ever-increasing measure) if anything but death parts me from you.” Talk about commitment! Ruth is saying in essence, “I’m taking my commitment to the next level, and there is no changing my mind.” Ruth is an impressive example of what it looks like to have our actions align with our values. But as an ancestor of Jesus, her life reminds us that we have a Savior who was so committed to us that He was willing to endure the cross and scorn its shame (Heb. 12:2). It’s incredibly important to make sure we act on what we value, but it’s even more important to be aware that the reason this can happen is because of Jesus’ commitment to us. When we lean into this truth, we “can sing though thunders roll.”

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What next step will I commit to taking this week?

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And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. – Ruth 1:18 ESV

HEBREW
מִתְאַמֶּ֥צֶת/miṯ·’am·me·ṣeṯ: was fortified, was resolute in desire

CONSIDER
What next step will I commit to taking this week? At Centerway we believe that none of us has arrived at a place where we can stop taking steps in the right direction. But taking those steps will likely require a great deal of focus and determination, because the world is full of voices inviting us to head in their direction. It is this determination that causes us to stand out among those following the crowd. Naomi could see plainly that Ruth miṯ·’am·me·ṣeṯ (was fortified, was resolute in desire) to go with her to Judah. Something visceral could be seen in Ruth’s life, and Naomi sensed that Ruth’s steps would not veer from where she miṯ·’am·me·ṣeṯ to take them.
When those closest to us notice focus and determination in our lives, what direction do they see our footsteps headed? In other words, what are we resolutely in pursuit of? As we consider our next steps this week, it is important to not only assess what direction our steps are headed in, but how determined we are to take those steps. And if we find ourselves lacking this kind of commitment, it’s great to remember that the power of the Holy Spirit is available for this very purpose.

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What next step will I commit to taking this week?

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She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. – Ruth 1:20 ESV

HEBREW
שַׁדַּ֛י/el Shaddai: the Almighty (one); the most powerful over all the land

CONSIDER
How hot does sand need to be heated for it to liquefy and be turned into glass? Glassmakers note that the process begins at just over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the same temperature as a space shuttle re-entering the earth’s atmosphere! Clearly, it takes a lot of energy to change the raw material of potential into something the glassmaker can give a purpose to.
Just about all of us would take a hard pass on being subjected to the furnace of adversity. And yet, if we follow Jesus, we’ve committed our lives fully to His purposes. Those two truths come together in Naomi’s story, who, although she had aligned her life with el Shaddai (the Almighty), was still not fond of his process of sanctification. Life had not followed the script that she wrote for herself. It’s as if Naomi knew el Shaddai to have complete authority and power to transform but did not trust him to wield that authority for her good. And before we point the finger of judgment at her, we need to recognize that all of us do this on a regular basis! Naomi calls the Lord el Shaddai yet still wants to hold that title over her own situations. Sound familiar? But the good news is God knew this was a universal reality, so he developed a plan of redemption before the foundation of the world to send Jesus as living proof of God’s love. He endured the ultimate heat of punishment for us, and now we can trust that what we experience won’t be for our destruction but for our transformation. As hot as the furnace can get, when we trust God to use it to turn the raw material of our lives into something beautiful and purposeful, we begin to see the circumstances that shape our identity in a whole new way.

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How can I let God’s truth heal my identity?

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I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” – Ruth 1:21 ESV

HEBREW
הֵ֥רַֽע/hê·ra‘: has afflicted

CONSIDER
Around this time of year, people in upstate New York begin to see evidence of the changing season. The air is less humid, the leaves are changing, and the flowering plants that seem to be a mainstay along our roadsides and meadows show signs of dying. One of these plants is the white fringed orchid, an herb that has stunning white flowers arranged in a cluster at the top of the stem. The orchid cannot withstand the cold, and will seem to die off around the first sustained frost. But this herb is known as a perennial, and what appears to be dying is actually dormancy. Its rootstock will rest below the surface of the soil, safely enduring a long New York winter, and when spring arrives, its above-ground structures will regrow. To many, a perennial plant looks dead in winter; in reality what matters most is being protected so that it will thrive once again.
Isn’t it good to know that we can trust God to protect what matters most in us? When we know the Lord well enough to call him Almighty like Naomi did, we recognize that He is deserving of our trust and commitment. With this in mind, it could seem strange to us that Naomi expresses her bitterness that “the Almighty hê·ra (has afflicted) me.” However, as Claude mentioned on Sunday, God is sometimes an “easy target” for our hostility. When we sense bitterness taking root because of something we think God should have prevented (or allowed), Naomi’s story is a great reminder that what seems like affliction can actually lead to redemption! Life isn’t always fair and things won’t go as planned, but we can trust God to keep any pain that has afflicted us from destroying us completely.

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How can I let God’s truth heal my identity?

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So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. – Ruth 1:22 ESV

HEBREW
בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת/biṯ·ḥil·laṯ: beginning, new start

CONSIDER
She was returning home, but hardly anything seemed familiar. The brokenness she had experienced in her life gave the sense that her very identity was now changed. And yet, the fingerprints of God could be seen all over Naomi’s story. In God’s providential mercy, Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem at the biṯ·ḥil·laṯ (beginning, new start) of barley harvest. Israelite law provided for the care of widows through the freedom to glean the fields after their crops had been harvested. This meant that the season of provision for the poor was also biṯ·ḥil·laṯ. Barley itself was known in many regions as the grain of the poor because it grew in difficult places to farm, and unlike wheat, was cheap enough to feed to animals. But barley was also rich in nutrients and the earliest grain to mature each spring, causing it to be an important first meal for those who could barely survive the winter. God’s timing and provision allowed these women to arrive in Bethlehem early enough to glean the entire field they chose, as well as gain optimal nourishment from this abundant supply. It’s so good to be reminded that God’s timing is perfect because he knows both when we need a fresh biṯ·ḥil·laṯ and how to supply our needs as we begin that new season!

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How can I let God’s truth heal my identity?

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Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” – Ruth 2:10 ESV

HEBREW
לְהַכִּירֵ֔נִי/lə·hak·kî·rê·nî: that you should seek to get familiar with me
נָכְרִיָּֽה׃/nā·ḵə·rî·yāh: I am unfamiliar

CONSIDER
After researching the correlation between our comfort and what we find unfamiliar, sociologists coined the term “prototypicality.” This term is a measure of how close an object is to fitting into our assumed categories about that thing. Simply put, our brains are lazy, and once we have an idea of what a thing should be, every other example in that category should be seen the same way by us. For example, a prototypical car has four wheels, so if we see a car with three wheels – or five wheels or seven wheels – it will be hard for us to fit that into our car category.
Prototypicality isn’t a new concept. In fact, creating categories for things we aren’t familiar with is how humans have related to each other for thousands of years. Because Ruth was an unfamiliar Moabite widow, she would have likely been categorized by those in Judah as idle, fruitless, and unworthy of generosity. Jewish law would have little to no protection for her. But Boaz refused to see Ruth that way. She had caught his eye, and after inquiring about who she was, became so generous to her that it even confused Ruth. Using two variations of the same word, she asked, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, lə·hak·kî·rê·nî (that you should seek to familiarize yourself with me) since I am nā·ḵə·rî·yāh (a foreigner; lit. unfamiliar). In other words, Boaz treated Ruth as familiar even though she was unfamiliar to him. One of the beautiful things about the gospel is that it breaks our categories. God loved the world so much that whoever believes in him would have eternal life (John 3:16). Despite the reality that we fit into the punishment category, Jesus took notice of us and treated us differently than a prototypical sinner. It’s this generosity that gives us the grace to be generous to those inside and outside of any category in which we can place ourselves.

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Who will I be generous to this week?

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Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. – Ruth 2:1 ESV

HEBREW
חַ֔יִל/ḥa·yil: wealthy, efficient, strong, responsible

CONSIDER
Who will I be generous to this week? There’s a temptation in our culture to associate generosity with finances, but wealth isn’t a full picture of this multi-dimensional term. In fact, all of us could cite examples of those who have money but are far from generous, so money can’t be synonymous with generosity.
We see a larger and more complete example of generosity in the description of Boaz, who is identified here as a ḥa·yil (wealthy, efficient, strong, worthy) man of the clan of Elimelech. True, Boaz had money, but the noun ḥa·yil is more accurately translated to mean one who is capable of principled responsibility. In other words, if someone is a ḥa·yil person they will steward well whatever comes their way. And as this pericope unfolds, Boaz changes the people he encounters by stewarding a great relationship with his employees (v. 4), taking notice of the marginalized (v. 5), and leveraging his position of power to serve someone who was unable to pay him back (v. 8-9). Let this range of examples from Boaz encourage us to get creative with how we show generosity this week! Jesus changed everything for us when he demonstrated generosity with his life, and when we’re generous in every sphere of our lives, we can be an effective conduit of His power.

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Who will I be generous to this week?

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The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” – Ruth 2:12 ESV

HEBREW
יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם /yə·šal·lêm: cause to be at peace

CONSIDER
In June 2022, Minnesota Public Radio received the largest anonymous donation in its history. Someone gave the radio station $56 million on one condition: the entire gift must be spent exclusively on classical music. The money was received, an endowment was established, and classical music will now stream into the ears of any Minnesotan with an FM radio.
Depending on how you feel about classical music, this large gift was a really wise investment, or a really foolish one. You may even argue that this kind of cash would be better spent providing more of just about anything else. But there are some things that all humanity needs, and Boaz generously pronounces a blessing on Ruth that speaks to one of these. When he hears of Ruth’s faithfulness to care for her Mother-in-Law, Boaz proclaimed, “The Lord yə·šal·lêm (cause peace to come to) you for what you have done.” Taken from the root word for peace, yə·šal·lêm often gets translated “repay” in modern versions of this text, indicating Boaz hopes the Lord will give Ruth what she has earned. But yə·šal·lêm more literally carries with it the idea of God giving a person that which only He can freely give! Ruth could no more work to achieve the peace she needed than she could earn the hope she was buoyed by as she stepped out in faith. And although Boaz had the means to be financially generous, he knew that Ruth needed more than what he could offer on his own. It’s nice to know that the very thing that every single one of us could use more of is readily available to us.

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Who will I be generous to this week?

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And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
– Ruth 2:14 ESV

HEBREW
וַתִּשְׂבַּ֖ע/wat·tiś·ba‘: was sated, was filled up

CONSIDER
The first use of the root word for wat·tiś·ba‘ (was satisfied) in the Bible is in Exodus 16 when God promised to give those Israelites wandering in the desert manna from Heaven. He told Moses that there would be enough for everyone to be satisfied, and “then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” So the point of God’s provision to His people was so that they would know him through his kindness. Every generation of Israelites since the one that fled Egypt could point back to that act as proof of the goodness of God.
God’s kindness was also on display in the story of Ruth, who was invited by Boaz to have a meal with him and his workers. Although Israelite law provided mercy for the marginalized, Boaz was under no obligation to be as kind to Ruth as he was. But as a result of it, Ruth wat·tiś·ba‘ and her mother-in-law would be transformed from bitter to benevolent. Isn’t it great to see that the power of kindness reaches far beyond the moment it is extended? Reflecting the kindness of God with our lives has the ability to impact generations and households in significant ways.

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How will I express kindness?

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When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. – Ruth 2:15 ESV

HEBREW
תַכְלִימֽוּהָ׃/ṯaḵ·lî·mū·hā: humiliate her

CONSIDER
One of our Because and Therefore statements at Centerway goes like this: Because he first loved us we value LOVE FIRST therefore we say “come as you are” and welcome people to belong before they believe. Because we truly love people, we will speak the truth in love. At face value, this statement seems like an obvious position for churches, Christ-followers, and humans in general to take. But because this world is far from perfect, there are many examples one can point to when love isn’t the priority. In fact, the refusal to love has at times become politically, culturally, and socially acceptable.
It may seem as though Boaz’s request for his Jewish workers to respect Ruth while she is working and not ṯaḵ·lî·mū·hā (humiliate her, insult her) would be similarly obvious. Wasn’t it a no-brainer to allow a fellow human being to collect food unmolested? Although laws were enacted to care for the poor and marginalized, it became culturally acceptable to prey on the weak and unprotected for one’s own pleasure or personal gain. So because Boaz wanted to ensure that his young workers didn’t humiliate or insult this woman from an outside culture and ideology, he used his power to transcend the sinful norms of his day! Are we willing to take that posture and love first, even when it goes against the norms of our day? Because he first loved us, may we use whatever position we have to point to him with the love we display.

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How will I express kindness?

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And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” – Ruth 2:20 ESV

HEBREW
עָזַ֣ב/‘ā·zaḇ left, forsaken, or disconnected from

CONSIDER
He’s known as the World Walker. From 1977 – 1983, George Meegan set a record by walking from the southernmost tip of South America to the Northernmost part of Alaska. Meegan took 41 million steps, traveled 19,019 miles on foot, and set eight world records in the process. His journey was meant to be done in tandem with his future wife Yoshiko, but only a few miles into the journey, she was held at gunpoint by an escaped convict for reasons unknown. Although she would continue to meet up with Meegan throughout the journey – and even marry him in Argentina – Yoshiko wisely abandoned her plan to walk side by side with the man who was on a continuous hike for six years.
As Claude mentioned on Sunday, scholars typically agree that Naomi’s use of the phrase “whose kindness has not ‘ā·zaḇ (left, forsaken, or disconnected from) the living or the dead” is meant to be connected with the character of God. The Hebrew verb ‘ā·zaḇ carries with it the idea of walking in a different direction than someone else. Naomi’s pronouncement of blessing over Boaz, then, is a pronouncement that God’s kindness will always be found along the journey. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the event we can point to if we ever start to doubt this truth. George Meegan surely knows what it’s like to be ‘ā·zaḇby the love of his life, but when we focus on the Lord’s plan for us and keep an eye out for the kindness of God in our lives, we will never sense it heading in a different direction than He is asking us to walk.

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How will I express kindness?

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Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
– Ruth 3:1 ESV

HEBREW
מָנ֖וֹחַ/mā·nō·w·aḥ: safety, rest, security

CONSIDER
Less than 350 years after the resurrection of Jesus, a man named Augustine was born in North Africa. By his own admission, Augustine spent his first decades searching for the good life, from theft to sexual promiscuity and everything in between. But his Christ-following mother prayed earnestly for Augustine, and this man who started out running from God would become one of history’s most significant proponents of grace. In his work Confessions, Augustine prayed, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Augustine knew firsthand that the pursuit of worldly pleasures only perpetuated the unsettled feelings they promise to alleviate.
As true as Augustine’s prayer may be, we as humans can sense those feelings of restlessness without anyone having to tell us they exist. In fact, one of the first things we see Naomi say after her encounter with the grace of God is that she would like to help Ruth experience mā·nō·w·aḥ (rest, security). This Hebrew word is not an adjective, a description of a certain kind of life, nor is it a verb – requiring some kind of action on Ruth’s part. Mā·nō·w·aḥ is a noun, indicating that Naomi wants Ruth to enter into the state of being secure and at rest. Naomi may have seen marriage to Boaz as a way to attain this mā·nō·w·aḥ, but the Holy Spirit also saw that Ruth and Boaz would be an important link in the lineage of Jesus, the Prince of Peace! Even if we’ve begun life troubled and searching, the mā·nō·w·aḥ that he offers promises to envelop every longing our restless hearts could have. And it’s from this rest we can bravely move toward what God is asking of us.

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What God-risk will I take?

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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. – Ruth 3:11 ESV

HEBREW
תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י/tî·rə·’î: fear; experience dread or terror

CONSIDER
What are some things that keep us from taking risks? Typically, avoiding risk stems from the fear that something will or won’t happen. In the Bible, the first reference to humans avoiding risk due to fear happens a mere three chapters into Genesis, when Adam didn’t risk meeting with God in the garden because Adam realized he was naked. Adam wouldn’t take a literal God-risk because of the fear of what might happen when God saw him for what he was.
Ruth had reason to fear, too. She was a widowed woman from the wrong side of the border, and, as such, was susceptible to the cultural and social effects of sin. So when Boaz instructed her “do not tî·rə·’î (fear; experience dread or terror), Ruth had a choice to make. She could live pessimistically with an “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitude, or bravely risk the implications of trust in a man who owed her nothing. And it’s no exaggeration that we today are benefactors of her decision to take that God-risk! Ruth took Boaz at his word, and 17 generations later Jesus would be born from their lineage. It was his obedience in the face of the ultimate dread of the cross that gives us the ability to be brave in any situation we could face. May Ruth’s refusal to let tî·rə·’î keep her from a God-risk remind us that the things we could fear the most have been dealt with through the work of Jesus!

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What God-risk will I take?

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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 3:13 ESV

HEBREW
לְגָֽאֳלֵ֛ךְ/lə·ḡā·’o·lêḵ: to redeem you; lit. to perform the duty of a close relative for you

CONSIDER
In the Spring of 2022, the country of Sri Lanka became enveloped in a crisis. A catastrophic economic emergency brought about violence targeted toward local and national government officials. In the midst of fear and confusion about the future, Sri Lanka engaged in a lockdown that resulted in most civilians having access to only one meal per day. In response to this reality, Assemblies of God missionaries in Sri Lanka developed an initiative that would satisfy both the physical hunger of those they are called to, and impact their spiritual hunger as well. Meal packs were bought by people all over the world to be distributed to people in Sri Lankan churches. But each church member was offered two packs of meals: one for their family and a second to give to a neighbor in need. This was quite culturally significant because traditionally the family was expected to provide tangible relief for those in need. Strangers were under no obligation to help those in need. By providing meals, Christ-followers could be the hands and feet of Jesus, as well as express the truth that He has called us to love others beyond their expectation.
To be a person lə·ḡā·’o·lêḵ (to redeem; to perform the duties of a close relative for you) in Ruth’s day meant to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. For Naomi, Boaz was providentially in line lə·ḡā·’o·lêḵ according to Mosaic law. However, he was not the first in line according to that law, and therefore had almost no obligation to Naomi and certainly none to Ruth. In addition, he could have pointed to the list of things he had already done for Ruth and told her, “By my culture’s social and legal standards I’ve been more than generous to you, so have a nice life!” But instead, Boaz in effect said, “Even though it will make a serious impact on my finances, legacy, and day-to-day life, I choose lə·ḡā·’o·lêḵ.” What a beautiful sentiment! The story of Boaz and Ruth reminds us that we are all in need of redemption, and when Jesus was asked to go to the cross to guarantee this redemption, He didn’t point back to all he had already done. Jesus counted the cost and joyfully endured the cross to perform the duties of a close relative for us.

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What God-risk will I take?

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And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. – Ruth 3:15 ESV

HEBREW
וְאֶֽחֳזִי־/wə·’e·ḥo·zî-: hold, grasp, extend

CONSIDER
When we’re introduced to Boaz in the book of Ruth, it doesn’t take long to recognize that generosity matters to him. This characteristic is seen in the way he handled his resources, cared for his staff, and protected the marginalized. But it went even further. When Ruth took a risk and offered herself to Boaz in marriage, he displayed generosity back to her in both subtle and overt ways. He clearly would not take advantage of Ruth’s position in society or level of desperation, but he also refused to passively offer aid in vague, general terms. His gesture would have been viewed as generous if he would have simply told Ruth, “help yourself to whatever grain you can carry out of here, and good luck!” Instead, he actively asked her to bring her garment and wə·’e·ḥo·zî– (hold, extend, grasp) it out, and proceeded to load it up with six measures of barley – upwards of nearly 100 pounds of grain! Boaz saw what Ruth had available to her and he leveraged it for blessing. The excuses were there for him to make: hadn’t he already shown her kindness? Wasn’t she unprepared to receive the blessing he had in mind? But the heart and generosity of Boaz was bigger than any rationalization a person could make.
At Centerway, we have a Because and Therefore statement that aligns well with the story of Boaz. In part, it reads, Because God gave us everything we value GENEROSITY therefore we are open-handed and happily go above and beyond with our time, our talent, and our treasure. God didn’t stop at giving us just enough to survive, but willingly gave us his Son! And what little we have to wə·’e·ḥo·zî– out to receive his blessing has been filled to overflowing. Because of that gracious provision, we are able to rise above any excuse we can generate and generously provide for those around us.

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Write out the Lord’s provision on your life.

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And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, – Ruth 3:16 ESV

HEBREW
מִי־אַ֣תְּ/’at mî-–: who are you

CONSIDER
When John Cadbury founded his now famous candy company in England, there wasn’t much to differentiate his product from Parisian chocolate. Chocolatiers throughout that region had the market cornered, because they had the ability to use the finest ingredients and were synonymous with other luxury items. By the 1860’s, Cadbury was consistently on the verge of bankruptcy and looking for that “one big thing” to set them apart. But all that changed in 1868, when John’s son Richard decided to experiment and shaped the chocolate box into a heart. That single marketing act revolutionized the chocolate – and Valentine’s Day – industry, so that over 150 years later Cadbury is now a household name just about the world over. Their product didn’t change, but somehow they were a completely different company.
There are moments in a person’s life that leave the impression that change is about to happen. To be sure, we can easily point to large, life-altering events such as the birth of children or a shift in career. But much like the heart-shaped chocolate box, there can also be smaller and more mundane shifts to our world that seem to change us in surprising ways. At the end of Ruth 3, we get a somewhat prophetic picture of identity shift with Ruth when her mother-in-law asks, “’at mî, my daughter?” English versions of this Hebrew phrase often translate the intention behind the words (“How did you fare?” or, “How did it go?”). However, ’at mî literally translates to who are you? Clearly Naomi knew who Ruth was, but because of the kindness of Boaz she would soon have a change in identity. Sometimes, in the midst of looking for the extraordinary to adjust our lives, God reminds us that his most life-shaping miracles often take place in ordinary circumstances.

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Write out the Lord’s provision on your life.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” – Ruth 3:17 ESV

HEBREW
מִי־אַ֣תְּ/rê·qām: in an empty condition, empty-handed

CONSIDER
This week, we were challenged to write out God’s provision on our lives. As simple as that may sound, the act of “putting pen to paper” is crucial, in part because the writing will exist even when the feeling of being provided for doesn’t! When Naomi unexpectedly lost her family members in a foreign country, it was clear that God’s provision was not on her mind. In fact, in Ruth 1:21 we see her blaming God for his lack of provision and causing her to come back home wə-rê-qām (in an empty condition). And although it would be ridiculous to ask Naomi to “cheer up” or “count your blessings” in the midst of her pain, the fact remains that God’s provision has been woven throughout all of our stories, regardless of the highs and lows we experience. With Naomi’s lack of hope in mind, today’s verse is a great reminder that God is with us in every chapter of our lives. Upon Ruth’s return from Boaz, she tells Naomi that he provided an extravagant amount of grain so that Ruth would not return to her rê·qām. What Naomi blamed God for in the past would now be cause to rejoice! When we write out those things that the Lord has done for us, not only does our list becomes a testimony to the provision of God in every circumstance, but it stands as a consistent reminder that his sacrifice has a way of keeping us from ending our story rê·qām.

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Write out the Lord’s provision on your life.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. – Ruth 4:1 ESV

HEBREW
ס֥וּרָה/sū·rāh: take a detour from the intended path

CONSIDER
His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour.
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
– William Cowper, God Moves in a Mysterious Way

No matter your spiritual background, you’ve likely heard or said the phrase “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” That phrase is a rendition of the one that poet William Cowper penned in 1773. His hymn’s title may have found its way into our vernacular, but it’s the message of his work that has even greater significance. Cowper had spent the years before writing this hymn suffering from severe depression, and was even institutionalized in an attempt to treat his symptoms. However, this season of his life contributed to a deeper understanding that “His purposes will ripen fast,” and the very thing that seems like a detour to us could be God’s mercy in disguise. Cowper’s hymn title would prove prophetic in his own life, in part because he leveraged the popularity of this and other hymns as a platform to support the abolitionist movement in the 18th century.
The story of Boaz and Ruth also speaks to the reality of God’s mysterious work. Boaz chose to pursue Ruth even though there was no social or financial benefit to him. In fact, by asking her closer redeemer to sū·rāh (turn aside, take a detour from the current path) and meet with him, Boaz was risking the very life he worked hard to build. The man who had the nearer right to redemption was unwilling to turn away from the path he was on, and gave up that right after counting the cost. If Boaz’s prayers were similar to ours – bless me with wealth, security, comfort, etc. – God’s answer would probably have been a resounding “no.” So in many ways, Boaz had to sū·rāh from his own plans to pursue the life God had in store for him. May this be a reminder that the detours of our own lives don’t have to be seen as a lack of concern on God’s part. Rather, those detours that He allows us to travel could lead to the very gift for which we have been praying.

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How will I thank God for His “no”?

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Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” – Ruth 4:6 ESV

HEBREW
אַשְׁחִ֖ית/’aš·ḥîṯ: I ruin

CONSIDER
Much is made of Bill Gates’ risk to start Microsoft. He chose to drop out of Harvard after only two years to begin what would be the largest software company in the world. While it’s true that Gates had no guarantee that he would succeed and that the odds of success were far from being in his favor, his father was an attorney who founded his own law firm in Seattle and his great-grandfather was a business owner and gold prospector during the Klondike gold rush. Bill Gates grew up in an emotionally healthy and financially abundant environment, and if Microsoft had failed, it’s highly unlikely it would have resulted in poverty or death for the Gates family.
But this wasn’t the case in the agrarian society that the story of Ruth is set in. One imprudent financial decision could very well change the trajectory of a family for generations. Upon hearing that doing so would mean dividing up his inheritance even further, Ruth’s closest kinsman-redeemer told Boaz “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest ’aš·ḥîṯ (I ruin) my own inheritance.” He didn’t want to risk his future by taking responsibility for this marginalized Moabite, so he passed that right onto Boaz. In the 21st century, allowing God to take control of our lives when we can’t see what the future holds may feel a lot like ruining what we’ve built up. But just one glimpse of the overwhelming wealth of his love for us will mean that trusting God is the safest choice we could make.

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How will I thank God for His “no”?

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Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” – Ruth 4:6 ESV

HEBREW
גְּאֻלָּתִ֔י/gə·’ul·lā·ṯî: right of redemption, place in the family line

CONSIDER
It’s called the meat paradox: the feeling of guilt associated with loving animals and loving steak at the same time. If you have a pet and also have had a Big Mac, there’s a chance you’re susceptible to these feelings of remorse. Psychologists have identified the meat paradox as one of many examples of behaviors that don’t fully align with beliefs, otherwise known as cognitive dissonance. We can genuinely believe something to be true, and yet there are moments when that belief doesn’t translate into appropriate action.
Thankfully, Jesus never suffered from cognitive dissonance. True, there were moments when he wanted God’s will to be easier or less costly, but God’s “no” never deterred Jesus from the work he was called to. Jesus counted the cost, saw that we were worth the price, and stepped in and took our place! As the story of Ruth arrives at its climax, we find Boaz counting the cost, too. He wouldn’t let his comfort, his capital, or his convenience get in the way of what he knew to be the right decision. When Ruth needed it most, Boaz’s behaviors and beliefs aligned, so when the other kinsman-redeemer said “take my gə·’ul·lā·ṯî (right of redemption, place in the family line) yourself” he stepped right in. As the sacrifice of Boaz points ahead to the larger sacrifice of Jesus, may our worship be rooted in Christ’s willingness to both take our place and become our redeemer.

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How will I thank God for His “no”?

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Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. – Ruth 4:9 ESV

HEBREW
עֵדִ֤ים/‘ê·ḏîm: witnesses, evidence

CONSIDER
In the book of Acts, we see Jesus speaking to a group of his friends and followers just before he ascended into heaven. He prophetically told them that “you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Greek word Jesus used for witnesses is the legal term martyres, and it became synonymous with one who gave their life for what they believed. It didn’t take long before martyres was used both for someone who had seen firsthand the works of Jesus, and for a person who was killed for testifying to the truth of those works. This connection of terms should remind us that our witness carries a great deal of responsibility.
But the connection between witness and responsibility was not a novel experience. The consequences of being a false witness are laid out in the Levitical law, and here in Ruth 4, the root word for witness is used three times, showing its significance in this context. Boaz wanted his redemption of Ruth to be legally binding, and so he went through the proper cultural channels to do so. When he told the people at the gate “You are ‘ê·ḏîm (witnesses, evidence) this day…” of a legally binding transaction, Boaz was declaring that they now bore the responsibility to honestly share what they knew to be true in the event that it was disputed. And we heard Sunday, the act that requires a witness for both Boaz and Jesus is the intentional sacrifice each made for others at significant cost to themselves. The sacrifice Boaz made was for a single person and pointed ahead to the greater sacrifice of Jesus on behalf of whoever believes (John 3:16). So our call to be witnesses of Jesus’ work has less to do with defending a theological position and more to do with taking responsibility for pointing to the heart of the gospel.

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Who will I speak blessing over?

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Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, – Ruth 4:11 ESV

HEBREW
חַ֣יִל/ḥa·yil: with strength and efficiency

CONSIDER
By the end of World War 2, the United States army had amassed the largest fighting force in human history. In 1945, there were 12 million soldiers, sailors and airmen in uniform, with more than 60% of those men and women fighting overseas. With the world at a political and cultural crossroads, the United States of America demonstrated strength through their military might, and ushered in a new era of hope and relative peace on a global scale.
In a very real sense, Americans used their armed forces to act ḥa·yil (with strength; efficiently). In fact, this Hebrew word is a noun whose root word often gets translated army. So when the people and elders at the gate of the city spoke blessing over Boaz, we can see that they were encouraging Boaz to act with strength, might, and efficiency in Ephrathah. But the context of this word is important, too. It occurs right after the people pronounced a blessing over Ruth to be like Rachel and Leah. Each woman was at one time barren, and yet each woman trusted in the Lord to change her circumstance. And since Ephrathah means fruitful, the blessing Boaz receives prophetically has less to do with showing off his strength in tough times than it does leveraging that strength to carry the weight of future blessings in good times. By sacrificing for Ruth and acting ḥa·yil, Boaz ensured that both of them would experience the blessing of fruitfulness that would impact generations.

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Who will I speak blessing over?

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and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman.” – Ruth 4:12 ESV

HEBREW
יִתֵּ֤ן/yit·tên: will graciously bestow

CONSIDER
Who will I speak blessing over? If we think this question hinges on what we have to offer, and then find ourselves in a season of discouragement, we might be stingy with our response. “You can’t pour from an empty cup” we could think, and then instead of seeking to bless others we turn our attention inward in a feeble attempt at self-preservation. But what if this question has nothing to do with what we have to offer? What if instead, we are designed to simply bring our “yes” and be conduits of God’s boundless blessings? As the elders and people at the city gates pronounced blessing on Boaz and Ruth, they prophetically pronounce a gift “because of the offspring that the Lord yit·tên (will graciously bestow) upon you.” Notice that the blessing of the people had nothing to do with what they could offer themselves? They merely brought their yes and lent their voice to share the truth of God’s character. Their pronouncement was connected to the stories of Tamar they had grown up hearing, who in difficult circumstances gave birth to Perez and Zereh, thus restoring a legacy to Judah when things looked dim. The blessing that Boaz heard spoken over him was a reminder that God is in the business of creating new things out of nothing (Romans 4:17) even though we may have nothing to give but our yes. May this truth compel us to pray that God would actively lead us to people who need this reminder, too.

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Who will I speak blessing over?

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Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! – Ruth 4:14 ESV

HEBREW
וְיִקָּרֵ֥א/wə·yiq·qā·rê: recited, declared, made famous

CONSIDER
What a journey! As we come to the end of our time in Ruth we can (and should) reflect on what the grace of God has looked like throughout this story. Much like life, there have been unexpected twists and turns along the way, and yet we have seen the faithful hand of the Lord at every point. In fact, it would have been easy to assume at the outset that because the narrative bears her name, Ruth was going to be the main character of this tale. But this week’s text reveals who this book is actually all about.
Upon hearing that the once barren Ruth is now pregnant, those celebrating with her declare, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be wə·yiq·qā·rê (recited, declared, made famous) in Israel!” So whose name do they hope will be wə·yiq·qā·rê in Israel? This Hebrew verb is conjugated in the imperfect tense, which is used to describe actions that have yet to happen. So although this could be linked to some future action that Ruth’s children perform, taken within the context of everything God has done to this point, it’s clear that this blessing was meant to refer to more than human effort. While those surrounding Ruth are speaking blessing over her and her offspring, it is the name of the Lord that will be wə·yiq·qā·rê as he weaves together a greater story than anyone could have imagined! And as we reflect on the restoration he has provided for us, may we be quick to point to Jesus – Boaz and Ruth’s descendant – as the main character of our story, too.

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How will I celebrate restoration this week?

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He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” – Ruth 4:15 ESV

HEBREW
לְמֵשִׁ֣יב/lə·mê·šîḇ: one who turns back to a place; a returner

CONSIDER
Thanksgiving in America is traditionally celebrated with feasting and resting. Many of us eat way too much and sit on the couch for way too long! We might even begin to believe a narrative that by doing so we’re imitating “the first Thanksgiving” in 1621, where Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe took a break from their labor and sat down to a bountiful feast. And while many elements of this encounter are historically accurate, the call to celebrate Thanksgiving also centered around days of fasting and prayer rather than eating and celebrating. Because roughly half of the Puritans that braved the journey to America on the Mayflower wouldn’t survive their first New England winter, that first Thanksgiving was both a time to rejoice that they had made it, and plead for mercy because of what was to come.
There are moments when our recollection of the past doesn’t line up with the reality that we are trying to recall. And in those moments we can be tempted to argue that either restoration hasn’t fully taken place in our lives, or that we deserve more than what we’ve been given. Ruth was surrounded by people who hoped that the child she was given would be “lə·mê·šîḇ (one who turns back to a place; a returner) of life” for her. But from the outside looking in, the life Ruth came from wasn’t much to return to. Death, disruption, and desolation seemed to be central to her story. But the prophetic blessing of lə·mê·šîḇ was designed to remind people of the kindness of the Lord that had brought her there in the first place! God hadn’t forgotten about this marginalized widow from a pagan country, and it’s clear to us today that her past was marked far more by grace than by the unimaginable. Celebrating restoration for us this week may require the same focus on God’s unseen hand of provision and mercy that guided Ruth along her journey.

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How will I celebrate restoration this week?

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And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. – Ruth 4:17 ESV

HEBREW
עוֹבֵ֔ד/‘ō·w·ḇêḏ: worshiper, servant of God

CONSIDER
It’s no secret that Christmas is big business for the entertainment industry. Hallmark Channel alone has 41 new movies on their holiday roster, and even channels like HGTV and Food Network have created feature films for Christmas this year. While these kinds of movies often get criticized for their predictability, those who enjoy them often do so because they are unapologetically looking for a “happily ever after” story.
The book of Ruth concludes with a similar type of ending, and yet it doesn’t have the predictable resolution that one might expect. True, we are leaving Ruth as she “gets the guy” and expands her family, but we also notice that the women of the neighborhood were able to name her child and did so saying, “a son has been born to Naomi” (emphasis added). After journeying with Naomi through the highs and lows of life from the outset of the book, the story ends with the neighborhood women naming Ruth’s son ‘Ō·w·ḇêḏ (worshiper, servant of God) on account of her Mother-in-law. Death, bitterness, and pain didn’t have the final word in her life – the goodness of God did! ‘Ō·w·ḇêḏ’s birth meant that Naomi’s late husband would have his name and land perpetuated, and that led those around her to declare that this family had a reason to respond to the Lord in worship. God’s restoration was so complete that it left an impression on other people. The way the Book of Ruth ends is a poignant reminder to us that our lives are designed for a greater purpose than “they lived happily ever after.” May we recognize the impact that our surrendered life can have on others, and allow worship to be the response we offer to God for his continued faithfulness.

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How will I celebrate restoration this week?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!