Chapter 3~Where are we supposed to go in a new place?

Happy Thursday! I'm excited to dig into Chapter 3 with you.

Are you keeping a running list of the attributes each chapter mentions about God? Remember that we will compare the list you made at the beginning with this running list from each chapter. So far we have 14 attributes of God and today we will add two more.

GOD
The attributes we see in chapter 3 are that:

• God blesses individuals -vs 10
• God lives -vs 13

KEY WORD
Redeem=restore the honor or worth of person, exchange or buy back for money; under threat, save from sins

BOAZ

• Boaz was a kinsman redeemer which means he had the social obligation to redeem his relatives and family who had fallen on hard times and returned to Bethlehem empty.
• He took his responsibility seriously and we see him fulfilling it with integrity and grace.
• He took his relatives that were empty in every way and blesses with provisions and a new life.

To better understand his position, let's read the scriptures that explain his responsibility.

• Duet. 25:5-10-brother's obligation to take wife of dead brother.
• Leviticus 25:48 48-they retain the right of redemption after they have sold themselves.
• One of their relatives may redeem them:

But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer. -Numbers 5:8

• Redeemer-one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs

(Lev. 25:48, 49; Num. 5:8; Ruth 4:1; Job 19:25; Ps. 19:14; 78:35, etc.).

• This title is peculiarly applied to Christ as He redeems us from all evil by the payment of a ransom.
• Boaz is a picture to us of Jesus being our Redeemer.

Here are some things scripture says about our Redeemer:

I know that my redeemer[a] lives,
  and that in the end he will stand on the earth. -Job 19:25

 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
  be pleasing in your sight,
  LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. -Psalm 19:14

They rembered that God was their Rock,
  that God Most High was their Redeemer. -Psalm 78:35

YOU

• Do you know Jesus as your Redeemer?
• What specific areas of your life has He Redeemed? Take some time and thank Him.

WHERE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO IN A NEW PLACE?

There are two other things that stick out to me in this passage.

1. What we should strive to be in new situations which we can only accomplish if we rely on God to help us.

Ruth 3:12 says,

"Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence."

Ruth, a foreigner, had come to be known by people in her new land as a woman of excellence. It wasn't because of:

• what she had
• who her parents were
• her achievements or social status.

Ruth was known as a woman of excellence because of her:

• strong faith in God
• faithfulness to Naomi
• hard work
• ...everything we highlighted about her last week.

By man's standard it didn't fit the perfect picture, but in this new place with new people, she had achieved excellence. How do we as women of God become known for excellence? Look at these two scriptures and write down what God's picture of excellence is:

• Proverbs 31
• Philippians 4:8,9

2. This second one is a TOUGH one for many of us women. Naomi gives Ruth a specific instruction that comes hard for most women and you find it in verse 18. BE STILL! Often, we will not know an answer from God until we are willing to BE STILL. The Bible says, be still and know that I am God.

Ladies, we will find excellence in the new places in our lives if we will take some time to be still before Almighty God!

I am praying that you are able to BE STILL.
Love,
Glenda