Boaz Redeems Ruth
(Ruth 4)
We left Ruth at the threshing floor after she asked Boaz for his protection. Early the next morning, Boaz went straight to the city gate, the place where all the important decisions in town were made. There he found the other relative, the one who was actually closer to Naomi's family than he was. Boaz laid the whole thing out fairly and honestly. Naomi needed a kinsman redeemer, someone to buy back her land and take care of Ruth. The man thought it over and decided he couldn't do it. Helping Ruth might put his own inheritance at risk. So he did what custom required: he pulled off his sandal and handed it to Boaz. That was how a deal got sealed back then, out loud, in front of witnesses, with nothing left to argue about.
Boaz turned to the elders and everyone gathered at the gate and announced that he would buy the land and take Ruth as his wife. The people cheered and prayed God's blessing on the new family. Before long, Boaz and Ruth had a son, and they named him Obed. The woman who once asked to be called Mara, bitter, was now a grandmother holding a baby in her arms. Her friends and neighbors gathered around her and said, "Praise the Lord, who has not left you without a guardian-redeemer."
All of it was God's plan at work, turning a story that started in grief into something beautiful. And there's one more thing worth knowing. Obed grew up and became the grandfather of King David. Ruth, a woman from a foreign country who chose to follow the God of Israel, ended up woven into the family line of Israel's greatest king. Her faithfulness mattered more than anyone in Bethlehem could have guessed. What started as one small choice to stay loyal became a blessing that reached far beyond anything Ruth could have imagined. Next time, we begin a new set of lessons about the life of Ruth's great grandson, David.
A Curious Question
The book of Ruth starts with a funeral and ends with a wedding and a baby. I wonder, why do you think God loves to turn "sad endings" into "new beginnings"?
Jesus Connection
This story is a perfect picture of Jesus Christ. Just like Boaz went to the city gate to pay the price to rescue Ruth, Jesus came to earth to pay the price for our salvation. Because Ruth was a foreigner, she had no right to the land, but Boaz brought her into his family anyway. Galatians 4 tells us that God sent his Son to redeem us so that we could be adopted as his own children, with the full rights of sons and daughters. In the same way, the gospel tells us that even though we are far from God because of our sin, Jesus redeems us and makes us children of God forever.
Discussion Questions
- Why was the sandal being passed from one person to another so important in this story?
- How did God show Naomi that He had never forgotten her, even during her hardest times?
- Ruth started as a "foreigner" but ended up in the family line of King David. What does that tell you about who God welcomes into His family?
- What are some ways we can see God "weaving" a beautiful story in our own lives today?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
- When things seem sad or difficult, how can I remind myself that God's story for me isn't over yet?
- Who is someone in my life like Naomi who might need to be cheered up with a kind word or a visit?
- How can I show "official" kindness this week, making sure I keep my promises just like Boaz did at the gate?
Memorize God's Word
Ruth 4:14: "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer."
Hand Motions:
- Praise be: Lift your hands high toward the ceiling.
- to the Lord: Point both index fingers up.
- not left you: Shake your head "no" and then reach out to grab a friend's hand or your own.
- guardian-redeemer: Make a shield shape with your arms in front of your chest.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank You for happy endings and for Your great faithfulness. Thank You for bringing Ruth and Boaz together and for the gift of baby Obed. Most of all, thank You for sending Jesus to be our Redeemer so that we can be part of Your family forever. Help us to trust You with our whole story. Amen.
Craft or Activity
The "Official Deal" Sandal
Kids trace their own foot to make a paper sandal, then use it to retell how Boaz made his promise to Ruth official at the city gate.
Materials Checklist:
- Trace your foot: Trace your own foot, with your shoe on, onto the brown construction paper.
- Cut the sole: Carefully cut out the footprint shape to make the "sole" of the sandal.
- Punch the holes: Punch two holes near the top, the toe area, and two holes near the middle.
- Add the straps: Thread the yarn through the holes and tie it to look like sandal straps.
- Write the verse: On the bottom of the sandal, write "God is my Redeemer" or the memory verse.
- Retell the story: Use the sandal to retell the story of how Boaz made his promise official.
Effective Teaching Techniques
- The "Sandal" Moment: When you tell the part about the man taking off his sandal, actually take off your own shoe and hand it to a student. It always gets a laugh and makes the point memorable.
- Genealogy Focus: Draw a simple family tree on the board: Ruth + Boaz -> Obed -> Jesse -> David -> -> -> JESUS. This helps kids see the big picture of the Bible.
- Emotional Range: Remind the kids how the book started in Chapter 1 (bitterness and hunger) compared to Chapter 4 (joy and plenty). God is the author of hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did the other relative take off his sandal and give it to Boaz?
- Taking off a sandal and handing it to someone was the custom people used in that time to make a deal official in front of witnesses. It showed everyone at the gate that the man was giving up his right to redeem Naomi's land and family.
- Who was Obed, and why does he matter in the story?
- Obed was the baby boy born to Boaz and Ruth. He grew up to become the grandfather of King David, which means Ruth, a woman from Moab, became part of the family line of Israel's great king.
- How did Naomi's story change from the beginning of the book to the end?
- Naomi started the book grieving, having lost her husband and both sons, and asked to be called Mara, which means bitter. By the end, she was a grandmother holding baby Obed, and her friends praised God for not leaving her without a guardian redeemer.