Ideas and questions for group members and leaders for Ruth 3–4

Ruth 3-4 (select verses) Questions

Warm up in pairs: Tell about a time the Lord was working behind the scenes in your life but you did not realize it until later.

Ruth 3:1-10

1. What did Naomi tell Ruth that she was seeking for her? Security or rest
2. In 3:1-7, was Naomi giving advice to Ruth of how “to catch a man, i.e. Boaz “or was it part of God’s plan to get Ruth and Boaz together that would ultimately lead to Jesus being born in Bethlehem? Both. Naomi was wanting to find a husband for Ruth, not realizing that it was part of the Lord’s overall plan in the ancestry of Jesus. 
3. Was lying at the feet of Boaz a bit forward or even unusual in that day? No.
4. What did Ruth mean by saying to Boaz to spread his covering over her? To marry her.
5. Would Boaz know what she meant when she referred to him as “close relative or redeemer”? Yes. The concept of kinsman redeemer was not new in Israel. It is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
6. What do we learn about Boaz in 3:10? He was older than Ruth, but his age is not given.

 Ruth 3:11-18

1. How did the people in the city know that Ruth was of noble or excellent character since there was no social media or electricity? The city gate would be comparable to social media today in one sense. Word of mouth.
2. What did Boaz promise to Ruth? That he would do whatever she asked.
3. What do you think Ruth was feeling when Boaz told her that another kinsman redeemer that would have to be asked if he wanted to redeem her? We can only speculate, but perhaps she was hoping the other guy wouldn’t redeem her because she wanted Boaz to redeem her. She must have wondered what the other guy was like and would he make a good husband. 
4. What was Boaz’s love language? Gift giving based on all the barley he gave her.
5. Do you think Boaz was hoping or praying the other redeemer would not redeem Ruth? Most likely based on his actions toward Ruth and Naomi.

 Ruth 4:8-17

1. As kinsman-redeemer, what did Boaz receive? All that belonged to Elimelech and his two sons and the widow of Mahlon, Ruth the Moabitess. 
2. Even though this was a legal transaction in one sense, did Boaz and Ruth love each other? Very much so. It is one of the greatest love stories of all time.
3. Based on the words the women spoke to Naomi, how would her life and the life of Ruth have turned out differently if Boaz had not entered their lives? Their stories would not have had such a happy ending.
4. How would our lives have turned out if Jesus had not been entered them as our kinsman redeemer? Not a happy ending.
5. Do you know people like you would like to see Jesus enter their lives? We all do and must be fervent in our prayers and actions toward them.
6. According to Luke 2:1-5, why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem? Because Joseph was from the lineage of David. If Naomi had not returned to Bethlehem and if Ruth had not come with her, etc. then Joseph and Mary would not have returned to Bethlehem for Jesus to be born.
7. Did a kinsman-redeemer have to be a family member? Yes. As our kinsman-redeemer, how did Jesus become our “family member”? By becoming part of the human race at his  birth.
8. Just as Boaz made a bright future for Naomi and Ruth, how has our Kinsman-Redeemer given us a brighter future? Life with Jesus is better, PLUS he provided the way for us to live forever in heaven.
9. As kinsman-redeemer, Boaz redeemed the land for Naomi. What land will Jesus redeem? The scroll in Revelation 4:1-2; 5:1 was the title deed to earth by right of creation and redemption. (David M. Levy) “When Adam sinned, the scepter of authority of Earth fell from Adam and was snatched up by Satan. But God promised to send a Redeemer who would pay the purchase price to buy back what was lost.” (Article “Unsealing the Title Deed” by Tom Simcox in Israel, My Glory magazine, July/August 2022)