Message of Hope: When you feel alone in life, God is still with you.
Listening and Learning:
Take the time to read and answer the following questions. If you’d like, you can share them in the comments section of this blog entry. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. There is no answer key to go to 😉 This is just a way of digging deeper into the Word.
1. The book that comes before Ruth is called Judges. It tells the story of leaders who rescued Israel time after time during a 300 year time period when the people were unfaithful to God. In our world today, who do you think would function most like the judges in our culture?
2. This story happens about 3000 years ago, about 1100 BC. How do you think most people made a living and got food to eat?
3. 3000 years ago, what do you think was the role of women in society and how does this complicate the fact that Ruth and her two daughters are without their husbands?
Living in the Moment 
Good Morning! How are things going in the study of Ruth so far? I found today’s first questions a bit of a challenge. Any other thoughts on it? I would LOVE to hear what you gleaned?1. The book that comes before Ruth is called Judges. It tells the story of leaders who rescued Israel time after time during a 300 year time period when the people were unfaithful to God. In our world today, who do you think would function most like the judges in our culture? I find this question difficult to answer as I don’t know much about the Judges in the Bible, but I do know that their primary job was not that of judicial law as we know it today. They were involved in military matters as it involved the Israelites and the threats against them due to their disobedience against God. God had appointed these leaders to rescue Israel. If I think of our culture today, I would think of the judges as those people who lovingly try to intercede and help those who are having trouble in their Christian faith, steering them on the correct path. Or perhaps this is a political question? 2. This story happens about 3000 years ago, about 1100 BC. How do you think most people made a living and got food to eat?Most likely farming and hunting and gathering.3. 3000 years ago, what do you think was the role of women in society and how does this complicate the fact that Ruth and her two daughters are without their husbands?The role of women in society was to support their husband and raise a family. A woman would not ‘work’ outside of the home, so for Ruth and her two daughters-in-law to survive without their husbands or families nearby must have been quite challenging.
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Cathy BarkmanI don't know a lot about the judges / \”rescuers\” of our current culture. I do know about myself. I go through times of unfaithfulness. I am rescued through – bible study with new friends (thankyou for joining and sharing your own thoughts), prayer (praying to God and through others praying for me), church – participating with a group of fellow believers as we help each other to remain faithful, getting together with family and friends for discussion and encouragement about spiritual matters. In the coming year I want to continue to be “rescued” by God as I put time aside to be still and listen (something I need to work on) to what God’s plan is for my life as I try to grow nearer and more faithful to Him.The Zondervan Handbook to the Bible says about the book of Ruth…- In the society of the time, women were wholly dependent on their fathers and husbands for provision. They would inherit property only in exceptional circumstances and under strict rules.- This story begins with three women who, in human terms, are objects of pity, dependent on charity.These comments lead me to think that husbands were in charge of making a living and making sure there was food in the house for the wife to prepare. If the husbands passed away the property where they lived most likely was not passed on to his wife. How difficult it will have been for wives to have lost most of what they had upon the death of their husbands. Zondervan goes on to give some hope for Naomi and Ruth — What the story goes on to reveal is God’s special concern for ‘the helpless’.- Here God is intimately concerned in humble affairs.- He is the One who orders all the circumstances of daily life, even for the most unimportant people.How comforting and reassuring. God is going to be Naomi and Ruth’s rescuer and we also can be assured that God will look after us no matter how small or insignificant we feel in our very large world.
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\”How comforting and reassuring. God is going to be Naomi and Ruth’s rescuer and we also can be assured that God will look after us no matter how small or insignificant we feel in our very large world.\” Beautifully said, Cathy. I think you are so right in that God is our ultimate 'rescuer' and although it is so wonderful and important to have a community of support around us that God uses to encourage us and help us grow in our faith, He is the ultimate rescuer.Thanks for sharing your findings in the Zondervan Handbook of the Bible. All of our books are still packed away in our moving trailer, so my research (besides my little compact Bible) is limited to the internet right now and I am missing my Study Bible and handbooks.
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Thank you once again. Reading your comments helps me to grow in my faith. God is always there. I marvel at the many ways he finds to show us! Cindy
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Yes, Cindy. Isn't it amazing…the many ways He finds to show us that He is always there. Always…even in times when it may not feel like it.
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I agree with Cathy: How conforting it is to know that our God is right there with us, no matter how small or insignificant we feel! I am at peace knowing that He will meet my every need as I lean on Him. Thank you girls!! I felt very encouraged through my busy day today, and I receive God's provision daily! Blessings!!Rosy
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