Sunday, October 9

Read Ruth 3

After the excitement of Ruth 2:19-20, v 23 seems to indicate a lengthy passage of time.  Why do you think the relationship between Boaz and Ruth seems to stall for months?  Have you ever experienced a surge of excitement and anticipation over something that didn’t immediately materialize?  What happened and how did you cope during the season of waiting?

Saturday, October 8

Read Ruth 2
Boaz speaks blessing over his reapers (v.4), who return the same blessing back to him.  Is there an employer/employee principle here?  Read Genesis 39:2-5.  What does this text suggest about God’s activity in an employee/employer relationship?  How have you seen this demonstrated in your own workplace?  What can an employer learn from Boaz’s approach to management?

Friday, October 7

Read Ruth 2
Ruth was a Moabite.  Moab was the son of an incestuous relationship (Gen. 19:31-35) and, as an immoral nation, the Moabites were Israel’s enemy. Knowing her heritage, why was Boaz so kind to her? How have you seen the kind of grace Boaz showed to Ruth reflected in God’s grace upon your own life?

Thursday, October 6

Read Ruth 2
We learn a lot about Ruth’s character in chapter 2. Describe her attributes based on what you observe in the chapter. Look at what she does as well as what Boaz (v. 11) and his foreman (v. 6-7) say about her. What might people say about you? Is it different than what you would like them to say?

Wednesday, October 5

Read Ruth 2
How has Naomi’s character changed from chapter 1 to chapter 2? List the changes. Can you relate to her? Do you feel more like the Naomi of chapter 1 or the Naomi at the end of chapter 2? Why?

Tuesday, October 4

Read Ruth 2
Read through chapter 2 and list all the ways that Boaz blesses Ruth and goes beyond what the Law says about gleaning.  There are at least five ways. How could you go out of your way to bless someone beyond their expectations of you?

Monday, October 3

Read Ruth 2
Ruth went out and began to glean in the fields of the harvesters (2:3). Red Lev. 19:9-10, 23:22, and Deut. 24:19-21 to discover what the Jewish Law said about gleaning.  What does gleaning look like today?

Sunday, October 2

Read Ruth 2

Once Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, Ruth asked Naomi’s permission to go and glean in the fields (2:1-2). Naomi granted Ruth permission and sent her on her way. What might that have been like for each woman (asking permission and granting permission)? Ho did that affect the end of the story in Ruth? Have you ever been in the role of having to ask permission or grant permission? What happened?

Saturday, October 1

Read Ruth 1

In the time of Ruth, widows had little to no options.  As women, they had no opportunity to work and so their survival depended on the support of others.  Instead of holding onto her daughters-in-law as support, Naomi encouraged them to leave her and return to their homes.  Describe a time when you wrestled through a choice between your own selfishness and the long-term interest of someone you love. How did you see God at work in this decision?