Something out of nothing~ Bob Coy

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!"-Ruth 4:13-14 (NKJV)

Ruth's story is one of redemption. It started out tragically. Her husband died, and she made the precarious journey from her homeland of Moab to Israel, which was the land of her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. The two of them had virtually nothing-empty hearts, little money, and few prospects of changing their situation-as they made their way to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem.

But Ruth caught the eye of Boaz, a wealthy landowner who was also a relative of Naomi. Under Jewish law, a provision allowed relatives to redeem property that had been lost. This was accomplished by marrying the widow and paying the current landowner a fair price. This meant Boaz could marry Ruth and legally purchase the property that had belonged to Naomi's deceased husband. By doing so, he would be able to provide for both women. Boaz and Ruth's relationship progressed; they married and had a son.

Naomi's friends celebrated her success and said to her concerning Boaz, "May his name be famous in Israel!" Whether they realized it at the time, their words had prophetic significance. The name (or lineage) of Boaz has become the most famous in human history. Not only did it produce King David, but generations later it led to the King of kings, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-16). This means that Ruth-a one-time widow from Moab, a nobody with nothing-received a husband, a son, and the honor of being associated with the most prestigious lineage known to man.

This prophecy demonstrates how God can make something out of nothing, which is what He does in each of our lives when we receive the redemption found in Jesus.

Discuss and share an example of how you have seen God bring something from nothing. How did God get the glory in this situation?

Dig into Ruth 4:5-15. How did the people respond to the actions of Boaz? How is this story of redemption a reminder of what God has done for each of us? What is God doing in you to bless generations to come?

Decide with your group to make the name of your redeemer famous in your community. What could your group do to lift up the name of Jesus where you live? Determine ways you could actually celebrate the name of Jesus in such a way that others would be attracted to Him.