Thesis
Set against the dark backdrop of the book of Judges, where everyone 'did whatever seemed right in their own eyes,' the book of Ruth tells a beautiful redemptive love story in which Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz each choose the harder, less obvious path — and end up woven into the very lineage of Jesus. Their story foreshadows the gospel: Jesus is the ultimate family Redeemer, willing and able to pay the full price for our sin, and just as Ruth had to ask Boaz to redeem her, we must ask Jesus to be our Redeemer. The greatest blessings in life are often the ones we cannot see from where we are standing.
Key points
- 1
The pattern of Judges — everyone doing what seems right in their own eyes — summarizes a self-directed life that always ends in death, not blessing.
- 2
Ruth's choice to stay with Naomi and follow her God, rather than return to safety in Moab, was the harder road but the blessed one.
- 3
God's providence — 'as it just happened' — guided Ruth to the field of Boaz, a family redeemer, revealing that God quietly moves His plan forward even in the darkest times.
- 4
A family redeemer had to be able (a free relative with the resources to pay the price) and willing (ready to pay the cost and marry the widow) — and the one to be redeemed had to ask.
- 5
The unnamed redeemer who declined because it would 'endanger his own estate' missed being in Jesus' genealogy — a sobering picture of the blessings forfeited when we choose only what benefits us most.
- 6
Ruth and Boaz's greatest blessing was unknown to them: their family line ran through David all the way to Jesus, the ultimate family Redeemer born in the same town of Bethlehem.
- 7
Just as Ruth had to formally ask Boaz to be her redeemer, we must confess our need and ask Jesus — willing and able, having paid the full price — to be our Redeemer.
Outline
Introduction: Israel Service & the Big Idea
Pastor Bill recounts gleaning in Israel and how nearly missing the service project taught him that what seems best in our eyes can cause us to miss what is blessed in God's eyes. He introduces the big idea drawn from the book of Ruth.
Context: The Book of Judges
The cyclical pattern of Judges is summarized — Israel repeatedly doing what seemed right in their own eyes — leading to the concluding verse of Judges 21:25. Ruth takes place in the darkest stretch of this period.
Ruth Chapter 1 — Choosing the Harder Road
Naomi, widowed and bitter, urges her daughters-in-law to return home. Orpah leaves, but Ruth clings to Naomi, committing to her people and her God. Ruth's choice is not the obvious or easy one, but it is the blessed one.
Ruth Chapter 2 — 'As It Just Happened'
Ruth goes to glean and 'as it just happened' finds herself in the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. Naomi recognizes him as a potential family redeemer and explains what that role means.
Ruth Chapter 3 — The Proposal and the Redeemer's Role
Following Naomi's guidance, Ruth asks Boaz to spread his covering over her — a formal request for him to act as family redeemer. Boaz agrees but notes there is one nearer relative who must first be given the opportunity.
Ruth Chapter 4 — The Sandal Transaction and the Blessing Missed
The closer relative declines to redeem because it would cost him too much, doing what seemed right in his own eyes. Boaz redeems Ruth and marries her, and their son Obed becomes the grandfather of King David.
The Bigger Story — Ruth, Boaz, and Jesus
Pastor Bill traces the family line from Bethlehem through Ruth and Boaz, David, and ultimately to Jesus — born in that same town. Boaz foreshadows Jesus as the ultimate family Redeemer: free from sin, willing, and able to pay the full price.
Application — Stop the Car
Using the illustration of his three-year-old grandson believing he can stop a car, Pastor Bill calls the congregation to stop trusting in their own strength and to surrender to what is blessed in God's eyes rather than what seems best in their own.
Gospel Call and Communion
Pastor Bill draws the parallel between Ruth asking Boaz and the congregation asking Jesus to be their Redeemer. He leads a salvation prayer, then guides the church through communion as a remembrance of the price Jesus paid.
Memorable moments
Don't look for what's best in your eyes. Look for what's blessed in God's eyes
When us as people are just doing what seems right in our eyes, God is moving the plan forward to make us right in his eyes
He said, people come here and take. You guys at Rock Point are the first Christians that came here and gave. He said, thank you for loving Israel
If he said yes, his name would be listed in Jesus' genealogy. What are you going to miss by doing just what seems right
The story of Ruth and Boaz is a foreshadowing of Jesus. And their biggest blessing was they're in the family line of Jesus because they both chose to do what will be blessed, not just what was best
just like Ruth had to ask, you have to ask for Jesus to be your redeemer. And how you ask is you have to admit you need him
Application
Pastor Bill calls everyone to examine honestly whether they are living by what seems right in their own eyes or by what is blessed in God's eyes. The trap, he warns, is subtle — most of us are not shaking our fists at God; we simply trust our own judgment a little more than His, choosing the path that costs us least. The story of Ruth invites us to take the harder, less obvious road of surrender. For those who know Jesus, this means returning from bitterness or self-directed wandering and confessing whatever you have been withholding from God. For those who have never made the step, it means doing what Ruth did — asking Jesus, the willing and able Redeemer, to cover you. You cannot stop the car of sin on your own, but He already has. Confess your need, profess His lordship, and walk daily looking for what is blessed in His eyes rather than what seems best in yours.
