Redeemed by Grace: The Story and Hope of Ruth

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Redeeming Power in Hopeless Situations

Even in the midst of loss, grief, and apparent hopelessness, God is at work to redeem and restore. Naomi and Ruth’s story begins with tragedy—famine, the loss of husbands and sons, and the threat of destitution. Yet, through their journey, God’s providence is quietly unfolding, preparing a way for redemption and a future they could not have imagined. When all seems lost, God’s redeeming power is not absent; He is already setting the stage for hope and restoration, even when we cannot see it. [35:28]

Ruth 1:16-17 (ESV)
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel most hopeless or empty right now, and how might you invite God to begin His work of redemption in that very place today?

Day 2: The Role of the Kinsman Redeemer

God’s law provided for the vulnerable through the kinsman redeemer—a relative who could restore what was lost, protect the family, and secure a future. Boaz steps into this role for Ruth and Naomi, embodying compassion, faithfulness, and obedience to God’s ways. This ancient provision points forward to Jesus, our ultimate Redeemer, who meets us in our vulnerability and restores our inheritance as children of God. [49:31]

Ruth 3:10-13 (ESV)
And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 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. Lie down until the morning.”

Reflection: Who in your life is in need of compassion or advocacy, and how can you step in to reflect the heart of the Redeemer to them this week?

Day 3: Jesus—Our Willing and Able Redeemer

Just as Boaz was both willing and able to redeem Ruth, Jesus is our true Kinsman Redeemer—He took on flesh, became our brother, and paid the price to buy us back from sin and death. He is not only able to save, but He is willing, full of love and compassion, and He secures our future and inheritance in the family of God. [57:29]

Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to believe Jesus is both willing and able to redeem you, and how can you bring that to Him in prayer today?

Day 4: From Outsider to Family—Welcomed by Grace

Ruth, a Moabite and outsider, is welcomed into God’s people and becomes part of the lineage of King David and Jesus. Through Christ, we too—once foreigners and strangers—are brought near, made members of God’s household, and given a new identity as beloved children. God’s grace welcomes those who feel far off and gives them a place in His family. [55:28]

Ephesians 2:11-13 (ESV)
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Reflection: Is there a part of your story or identity that makes you feel like an outsider? How might you receive and rest in the truth that you are fully welcomed and loved in God’s family?

Day 5: God’s Redemption Has a Purpose Beyond Ourselves

The redemption of Ruth and Naomi was not just for their own sake—it became part of God’s greater story, leading to King David and ultimately to Jesus, the Savior of the world. Our stories of redemption are woven into God’s larger plan to bless and save others. As we experience God’s redeeming love, we are called to live with a higher purpose, serving and pointing others to the hope found in Christ. [53:19]

Ruth 4:13-17 (ESV)
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and 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 redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Reflection: How might God be inviting you to use your story of redemption to encourage or bless someone else this week?

Sermon Summary

Today, we journeyed through the book of Ruth, a story set in the time of the judges, a period marked by famine, loss, and uncertainty. Ruth’s narrative begins with tragedy: Naomi, her mother-in-law, loses her husband and both sons, leaving her and her daughters-in-law vulnerable in a patriarchal society where women’s survival depended on male relatives. Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to return to their families for security, but Ruth’s steadfast loyalty shines through as she clings to Naomi, declaring, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” This is a pivotal moment—not only does Ruth choose Naomi, but she also chooses the God of Israel, moving from a background of idolatry and curse to faith and belonging.

Ruth’s story is both historical and allegorical. Historically, Ruth and Boaz become the great-grandparents of King David, placing Ruth—a Moabite, from a cursed nation—directly in the lineage of Jesus. Allegorically, the story points to God’s plan of redemption. The concept of the “kinsman redeemer” is central: in ancient Israel, a close male relative could redeem a family member from poverty or slavery, restore their inheritance, and secure their future. Boaz, a man of integrity and compassion, fulfills this role for Ruth and Naomi, not only rescuing them from destitution but also weaving them into God’s redemptive story.

This narrative is a profound foreshadowing of Jesus, our ultimate Kinsman Redeemer. Like Ruth, we are outsiders, under the curse of sin and death, unable to save ourselves. Jesus, fully God and fully human, steps forward—willing and able—to redeem us. He pays the price, restores our inheritance, and brings us into the family of God. The story of Ruth reminds us that God’s grace reaches beyond boundaries, that He redeems the broken and the outcast, and that His plans are always unfolding, even in the midst of our pain and loss.

If you feel hopeless, alone, or far from God, know that your Redeemer is here. Jesus is willing and able to buy you back, to call you by name, and to secure your future. The invitation is open: come into the family of God, where redemption and hope are found.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Redemption Reaches the Outcast God’s redeeming love is not limited by our background, failures, or the curses we inherit. Ruth, a Moabite from a nation under God’s judgment, is welcomed into the family of faith and becomes an ancestor of Jesus. This reveals that God’s grace is greater than our history, and He delights in bringing outsiders into His redemptive plan. [41:10]
2. The Kinsman Redeemer: Willing and Able Redemption requires a redeemer who is both willing and able. Boaz’s actions prefigure Christ, who, as our true Kinsman Redeemer, meets every requirement: He is our brother in humanity, has the means to save, and chooses to do so at great cost. Our hope rests not in our ability, but in the sufficiency and willingness of Jesus to rescue and restore us. [49:31]
3. Faithful Love in the Midst of Loss Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi and her embrace of Naomi’s God demonstrate a love that persists through suffering and uncertainty. True faith is often revealed not in prosperity, but in steadfastness during hardship. God honors such faithfulness, weaving it into His greater story of salvation and hope. [44:24]
4. Our Story Intertwined with God’s The story of Ruth is not just about ancient people; it is about us. Like Ruth and Naomi, we are in need of redemption, and through Jesus, we are brought from alienation into belonging. Our lives, no matter how ordinary or broken, are caught up in God’s unfolding plan to bless and restore. [54:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:47] - Setting the Scene: Ruth’s World
[33:34] - Ruth’s Historical and Allegorical Significance
[35:28] - The Plight of Women in Ancient Times
[37:06] - Naomi and Ruth’s Vulnerability
[39:00] - The Allegory of Redemption
[41:10] - Ruth the Moabite: From Curse to Covenant
[43:04] - Loss, Return, and Ruth’s Commitment
[44:24] - Ruth’s Faith and Claiming God
[46:22] - Boaz: A Godly Redeemer
[48:17] - The Role of the Kinsman Redeemer
[49:31] - Requirements for Redemption
[51:11] - Ruth’s Proposal and Boaz’s Response
[53:19] - The Birth of Obed and the Lineage of David
[54:38] - Ruth’s Place in God’s Salvation Story
[55:28] - Jesus: Our Ultimate Redeemer
[57:29] - The Invitation to Redemption
[59:05] - Jesus Buys Us Back
[59:41] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ruth 1:16-17 (ESV) — > But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Ruth 3:10-13 (ESV) — > And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 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. Lie down until the morning.”

Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV) — > Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Observation Questions

What does Ruth’s statement to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17 reveal about her commitment, and what is significant about her choice of words regarding Naomi’s God? ([44:24])
According to Ruth 3:10-13, what requirements did Boaz mention for someone to be a kinsman redeemer? ([49:31])
In the sermon, what were some of the reasons the nation of Moab was considered cursed, and why is it important that Ruth was a Moabite? ([41:10])
How does Galatians 3:13-14 connect the story of Ruth to the work of Jesus as our Redeemer? ([55:28])

Interpretation Questions

Why is Ruth’s decision to leave her homeland and follow Naomi considered such a radical act of faith, especially given her background as a Moabite? ([44:24])
The sermon describes Boaz as both willing and able to redeem Ruth and Naomi. Why are both willingness and ability necessary for true redemption, and how does this point to Jesus? ([49:31])
The concept of the “kinsman redeemer” is central in Ruth. What does this role teach us about God’s character and His plan for people who feel like outsiders? ([39:00])
The sermon says that Ruth’s story is both historical and allegorical. How does seeing Ruth’s story as a foreshadowing of Jesus change the way we read it? ([54:38])

Application Questions

Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi meant leaving behind her old life and stepping into the unknown. Is there an area in your life where God might be calling you to step out in faith, even if it means leaving your comfort zone? What would it look like to say, “Your God will be my God” in that situation? ([44:24])
The sermon highlighted that God’s redemption reaches the outcast and those with a difficult past. Are there parts of your own story or background that make you feel like an outsider? How does Ruth’s story encourage you to see yourself differently? ([41:10])
Boaz was both willing and able to redeem Ruth, just as Jesus is willing and able to redeem us. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to believe that Jesus is truly willing to redeem you? What holds you back from accepting His redemption? ([49:31])
The story of Ruth shows that God weaves ordinary and even painful stories into His bigger plan. Can you think of a time when God used a hard or broken part of your life for something good? How might He be working in your current circumstances? ([54:38])
The sermon mentioned that Jesus “calls us by name and secures our future.” What does it mean for you personally to be called by name and brought into God’s family? How does this change the way you see your identity and future? ([59:05])
Ruth’s faithfulness was shown in the midst of loss and uncertainty. When you face loss or uncertainty, what helps you remain faithful? Is there a practical step you can take this week to trust God more in a difficult area? ([44:24])
The invitation at the end of the sermon was to come into the family of God, where redemption and hope are found. If you feel far from God or hopeless, what would it look like to respond to that invitation today? ([57:29])

Sermon Clips

The name Ruth means friend, or actually kind of compassionate friend or companion. And she's the heroine of this story. Ruth is a Moabite, and this reality—being a Moabite—is not a small matter. You see, Moab was a country east of Israel, east of Judah. It's across the Dead Sea and it is arid, it is a desert region. And Moab was a nation that had been cursed by God. [00:41:10] (30 seconds) #RuthTheCompassionate

Two important things happen to Ruth. We read how Ruth, you know, kind of lays herself at Naomi's feet and pleads with her, and Ruth claims God. Look at Ruth chapter 1, verses 16 and 17. But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, your God my God. Where I die, where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do to me so and more also if anything but death parts me from you. [00:44:08] (39 seconds) #FromIdolatryToFaith

In order for a relative to actually be a kinsman redeemer, to redeem the land and the lineage, three things had to happen. Are you with me here? This is such a great story. Don't nod off. One, they have to be a blood relative. They have to be related to the husband, because it's his land and it's his lineage. And it's like, you know, Naomi's like, Man, the name is going to be blotted out in Israel. We don't have this kinsman redeemer. So first of all, they must be a blood relative. Second, they must be able to redeem. In other words, they must have the means to buy the land and to deal with that, but also then to give the land away eventually. See what I'm saying? Like to give it to the person that they're redeeming, because it's their land ultimately. So they had to be a blood relative, they had to have the means, but then they also had to be willing to do it, to take on this. [00:49:23] (59 seconds) #HopeThroughBoaz

And like Ruth, we too are foreigners. We are Gentiles by birth. And because of this, we're not born heirs of the promise. In Ephesians 2, verse 11-13, it says, Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in flesh—and it goes on—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth—that also means citizenship—alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ. [00:56:14] (34 seconds) #GentilesMadeHeirs

You see, Jesus is our kinsman redeemer, and the story of Ruth is not simply historical, and we can see the line of Jesus. It's also this story that tells us there's a redeemer coming for you and me, who is willing and able. He took on flesh—he needs to be a relative—he becomes human for our sake, a brother in the flesh. And Jesus is able. At the cross, he defeats the curse of sin and death and reconciles us back to the Father. And Jesus is willing to redeem you, and he has come here today for you. [00:57:29] (38 seconds) #JesusTheKinsmanRedeemer

There is no darkness, no sin, no death that you've been a part of, that you've been participating in, that is bigger than God's love or salvation that is yours through Jesus Christ. Amen? He's able. He's defeated sin, death, and the devil, and he is willing. He loves you. Jesus is here to buy you back from the wages of sin and death and redeem you as his own. He's paid the price. You are his. [00:58:51] (32 seconds) #VictoryInJesus

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does the story of Ruth reveal about God's plan?

How does Ruth's story illustrate redemption through Jesus?

What is the significance of the kinsman redeemer concept?