11.16.25___SBCC_Main___Ruth_4_13-22___From_Famine_to_Family___Manuscript.docx

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Presence in the Midst of Emptiness

When life feels barren and hope seems distant, God is quietly at work. The story of Ruth begins in a season of famine—where loss, grief, and uncertainty fill the days. Yet, even in these empty places, God’s loyal love (hesed) is not absent. He draws near to those who feel abandoned, weaving His faithfulness into the fabric of their pain.
Emptiness is not a sign that God has left; it is often the very place where He invites us to experience His love in new and deeper ways. When we bring our losses, doubts, and unmet desires to Him, we discover that He is present, working behind the scenes to bring restoration and hope. God’s presence in our emptiness is a promise that we are never alone, even when we cannot see the way forward.

“And she said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 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 1:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel empty or abandoned right now? Take a moment to invite God into that specific place, asking Him to show you how He is present with you even in your emptiness.

Day 2: Faithful Obedience in the Ordinary

God often works through simple, everyday acts of obedience rather than dramatic miracles. Boaz’s role as kinsman-redeemer was not about grand gestures, but about faithfully following God’s law in the ordinary details of life. His willingness to do what was right, even when it was costly or unnoticed, became the means by which God brought healing and restoration.
We are called to walk in obedience, not because we can fix every problem, but because God’s sovereignty is at work through our faithfulness. Our small acts of love, kindness, and integrity matter deeply. As we persistently follow God’s commands, we can trust that He is weaving our obedience into His greater story of redemption, bringing about restoration in ways we may never fully see.

“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. And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 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.” (Ruth 3:11-13, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small act of obedience you sense God calling you to today, even if it seems insignificant? How can you trust Him with the outcome?

Day 3: God’s Law as a Pathway to Love

God’s commands are not meant to burden us, but to lead us into deeper love for Him and for others. In Ruth’s story, the law provided a way for Boaz to show tangible love and care, turning what could have been a cold rule into a channel of God’s compassion.
When we obey God’s commands, not to earn His favor but to live out the love we have received, we participate in His ongoing work of redemption. The law becomes a guide that shapes our hearts and actions, helping us to love our neighbors and reflect God’s character in the world. Through obedience, we become part of God’s story of restoration and hope.

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:17-19, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a command of God that feels burdensome to you? How might seeing it as an expression of His love change the way you respond to it today?

Day 4: Christ Fills Our Deepest Longings

The wounds and longings we carry—whether for family, healing, or belonging—are not meant to be filled by temporary solutions. Ruth’s story points beyond itself to Jesus, the ultimate Redeemer, who alone can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.
Our emptiness and persistent wounds become places where we can invite Jesus to meet us. He does not promise to remove every pain, but He offers His presence and love as the answer to our deepest desires. In Christ, we find the fullness our hearts crave, and our stories of loss become testimonies of His grace and redemption.

“For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” (Psalm 107:9-13, ESV)

Reflection: What is one longing or wound you have tried to fill with something other than Christ? How can you invite Jesus to meet you in that place today?

Day 5: Welcoming the Broken into God’s Family

God’s family is made up of imperfect, unlikely people—outsiders, the broken, and those who know their need for grace. The genealogy at the end of Ruth, and later in Matthew, is filled with people who would not have been chosen by the world’s standards.
In Christ, our brokenness is not a barrier to belonging, but the very thing that qualifies us for His grace. As recipients of God’s loyal love, we are called to extend that same radical welcome to others. The church is meant to be a true home for the lost, the hurting, and the imperfect—a place where everyone can find belonging in God’s family.

“And Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon.” (Ruth 4:18, 21-22, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life or community might feel like an outsider or unworthy of belonging? How can you extend God’s welcome and love to them this week?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon:**

In this sermon, we explored the final chapter of Ruth, focusing on how God moves His people from famine to family. Using the story of Ruth and Boaz, the message highlighted the deep significance of God’s hesed—His loyal, covenant love—especially in seasons of emptiness and loss. The narrative of Ruth is not just a love story, but a profound illustration of how God meets us in our famines, fills our emptiness, and invites us into His ever-growing family. Through personal stories of loss and healing, the sermon connected the ancient text to our present struggles, showing that God’s faithfulness and love are still at work today. Ultimately, the genealogy at the end of Ruth points us to Jesus, reminding us that we are adopted into God’s family, not by our perfection, but by His grace.

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Key Takeaways

1. God Is Present in Our Emptiness: The story of Ruth begins in a time of famine—of food, leadership, and family. Our own lives often echo this emptiness, whether through loss, doubt, or unmet desires. Yet, the book of Ruth reminds us that God is not absent in these seasons; He is present, working through His hesed, even when we feel most abandoned. Our emptiness is not a sign of God’s absence, but often an invitation to experience His faithful love in new ways.
2. Obedience and Sovereignty Work Together: Boaz’s role as kinsman-redeemer was not about grand gestures, but simple, faithful obedience to God’s law. The story shows that while we are called to follow God’s commands—especially His law of love—it is ultimately God who does the filling and the healing. Our responsibility is not to fix every problem, but to persistently walk in obedience, trusting that God’s sovereignty will bring about the restoration we cannot achieve on our own.
3. God’s Law Is an Expression of His Love: Often, we see God’s law as cold or burdensome, but in Ruth, following the law becomes the very means by which God’s love is made tangible. The law was always meant to lead us into deeper love for God and neighbor. When we obey God’s commands, not to earn His favor but to live out the love we’ve received, we participate in His ongoing work of redemption and restoration.
4. Our Emptiness Points Us to Christ: The deep longings and wounds we carry—whether for family, healing, or belonging—cannot be filled by temporary solutions. The story of Ruth points beyond itself to Jesus, the ultimate Redeemer, who fills our eternal emptiness with His presence and love. Our unmet desires and persistent wounds become places where we can invite Jesus to meet us, trusting that He alone can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.
5. The Family of God Welcomes the Broken: The genealogy at the end of Ruth, and later in Matthew, is filled with imperfect, unlikely people—including outsiders like Ruth. This is a powerful reminder that God’s family is not for the flawless, but for those who know their need for grace. In Christ, we are adopted into a family where our brokenness is not a barrier, but the very thing that qualifies us for belonging. As recipients of God’s hesed, we are called to extend that same radical welcome to others, making the church a true home for the lost, the hurting, and the imperfect.

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: From Famine to Family (Ruth 4:13-22)**

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### Bible Reading

- **Ruth 4:13-22**
- **Matthew 1:1, 5-6**
- **Ephesians 1:4-6**

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### Observation Questions

In Ruth 4:13-22, what specific actions does God take in the story, and what actions do people (like Boaz and Ruth) take?
According to the genealogy at the end of Ruth, who are some of the key people mentioned, and why is it significant that Ruth is included?
In Matthew 1:1, 5-6, which names from Ruth’s story are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, and what stands out about the people included?
In Ephesians 1:4-6, what words or phrases are used to describe how God brings people into His family?

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### Interpretation Questions

The sermon talked about “hesed”—God’s loyal, covenant love. How is hesed shown in the actions of Boaz, Ruth, and God in this story?
The story begins with emptiness and loss, but ends with fullness and family. What does this say about how God works in seasons of emptiness?
The law of the kinsman-redeemer (goel) was a way for God’s people to care for each other. How does following God’s law become an act of love in this story, rather than just a rule to follow?
The genealogy in Ruth and Matthew includes outsiders and imperfect people. What does this reveal about who belongs in God’s family?

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### Application Questions

The sermon shared personal stories of loss and emptiness. Can you think of a time in your life when you felt empty or alone? How did you see (or not see) God’s presence during that time?
The story of Ruth shows that God is present in our emptiness, not just our fullness. What is an area of emptiness or longing in your life right now where you need to invite God’s hesed?
Boaz’s obedience was simple and faithful, not flashy. Are there small, everyday ways you can obey God’s law of love this week, especially toward someone in need?
The law was meant to lead to love. Is there a command or teaching of Jesus that feels hard or “cold” to you? How might seeing it as an expression of God’s love change your perspective or actions?
The genealogy of Jesus includes people with messy, broken stories. Do you ever feel like your brokenness disqualifies you from belonging in God’s family? How does this story challenge that belief?
The sermon described the church as a family that welcomes the lost, hurting, and imperfect. Is there someone in your life or in our church who needs to experience that kind of welcome? What is one practical step you can take to extend God’s hesed to them?
The story ends with adoption and belonging through Jesus. How does knowing you are adopted into God’s family by grace (not by your perfection) affect the way you see yourself and others?

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**Closing Prayer:**
Invite the group to pray for areas of emptiness, for courage to obey God’s law of love, and for the church to be a true family for all who are hurting or feel like outsiders.

Sermon Quotes

"On the surface, the book of Ruth is an unlikely love story, but like my grandpa’s camera, this seemingly ordinary story gains so much more meaning when we realize the deep family roots living beneath the surface."

"Our causes for emptiness may all be different, but the temptation to fill it ourselves is the same for all of us. We will never be able to fill an eternal level of emptiness with temporary things."

"God’s law shows God’s love for His people. Following the law was the way of love. Throughout the Bible, God has made His will for His people quite clear through His laws."

"Boaz followed, God filled. Boaz gave his obedience, God gave him Obed. Similarly, we are not responsible for the filling or healing of our lives. We are called to follow God’s clear law, which will lead us in His way of love."

"If you’re perfect, I’m sorry to say you don’t belong in this family. But if you’re imperfect, you are a perfect fit. Welcome home."

"This family becomes a home for the sinful, the lost, the blind and the broken. From the fields of Bethlehem to South Bay Community Church, it is the same hesed of God that welcomes us into the family of Christ."

"Are you tired of living in a perpetual famine? Are you exhausted from trying to fill the undeniable emptiness in your heart? I pray you hear the welcoming voice of Jesus saying, 'come home my child.'"

"We are not just saved out of hell, but we are also redeemed into a family. Jesus did not die just to get us into heaven in the future. The forgiveness and life that Jesus offers opens the door to God’s house and God’s family now."

"So while God may not fill every desire, every womb and every family photo, we can choose to follow the Jesus who promised to fill us with His love and joy as we abide in Him."

"Just like my grandpa’s camera has been passed down to me, we get to pass down the timeless hesed of God and meet people in their times of famine to welcome them into our family."

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