Sometimes All You have Is HopeRuth Chapter 3

Everyone has times in their lives when things seemed hopeless

FinanciallyEmotionallyRelationallyPhysically

But now there is reason to hopeTheir hope is in Boaz“A man of standing”

A man who shows interest in caring, providing and protecting

Ruth and Naomi

Naomi says to Ruth…It’s time to see if he will do what

he seems willing to doNaomi (a native to the culture) tells Ruth (the foreigner) what

to do and it’s pretty scary!

Ruth 33Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

4When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”5“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered.

The risk level is very highWhat if he rejects her?

What if he takes advantage of her?

Why is she willing to take this risk?The fact is, Ruth has few options

Ruth is poorA widow

A foreignerA woman

She does what she is toldShe has her hopes for…

A partnerA providerA home Children

Boaz acts properly towards RuthThis is promising

Its hopeful

10“The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.

You are kindYou are noble

I will do what you ask

12Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. 13Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”

We must follow proper procedure

We have to wait… and hope

14So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

He protects her honor

15He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town.

He does not send her home empty handed

Proof of his intentionDemonstrate his desire to be a

provider

16When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”

Ruth tells her all that took placeShows Naomi the Barley

18Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”

So they waitAnd they hope

Sometimes all we can do is hopeThere are no guarantees

Maybe Boaz will follow thoughMaybe he won’t

All we can do is wait

Hoping and waiting are difficult things to do

Twelve years of waiting and hopingWe want to get to the end

The conclusionThere is something healthy about

waiting and hoping

Hoping and WaitingReminds us that we are not in controlReveals the other persons character

Molds our characterGood things take timeGod will do right by us

18Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”

“Wait, for God will not rest until the matter is settled.