From Survival to Legacy:  The Giant Killer Spirit of Ruth and Naomi

Lesson Summary: Ruth Chapters 3 and 4

Background Scriptures

Ruth – Chapters 1 and 2
Job 42:10–12
Isaiah 61:1–3
Luke 4:18
Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:13
1 Peter 5:10

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Key Scriptures

Ruth 3:1

Ruth 3:18

Ruth 4:14–15

Job 42:12

Ephesians 1:7

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Key Terms

• Redeem — To buy back, recover, rescue, or restore what was lost.

• Kinsman-Redeemer — A near relative who had the right and responsibility to redeem property, preserve family inheritance, and raise up the name of the dead.

• Provision — God supplying what is needed, sometimes gradually and sometimes through people He positions in our lives.

• Restoration — God rebuilding, healing, renewing, and bringing life back to what seemed broken or lost.

• Legacy — What continues beyond one person’s lifetime through faith, influence, family, ministry, and obedience.

• Giant Killer — A person who overcomes spiritual, emotional, relational, or life battles through faith, obedience, courage, humility, and trust in God.

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Central Verse

Ruth 4:14–15 “And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman… And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age…”

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Background

The book of Ruth begins during the time of the judges, a spiritually difficult period when many people were doing what was right in their own eyes. A famine came to Bethlehem, and Elimelech moved his wife Naomi and their two sons to Moab. While they were there, Naomi’s husband died. Later, her two sons also died, leaving Naomi with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. Naomi heard that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread, so she decided to return to Bethlehem. Orpah eventually returned to her people, but Ruth clung to Naomi and made a powerful commitment: “thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Ruth left behind Moab and chose the God of Israel.

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When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, she was wounded by grief. She told the women not to call her Naomi, but Mara, because she felt the Almighty had dealt bitterly with her. Yet Naomi’s story was not over. God was already moving through Ruth’s loyalty, Ruth’s willingness to work, and Boaz’s favor.

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By Ruth chapters 3 and 4, the story begins to shift from survival to redemption. Ruth has been gleaning in the field of Boaz, a near kinsman of Naomi’s family. Naomi recognizes that Boaz may be part of God’s answer. She begins to instruct Ruth, not only for food, but for rest, covering, and future security.

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How God Provides for Ruth and Naomi in Ruth Chapters 3 and 4

By the time we reach Ruth chapters 3 and 4, Ruth and Naomi have already survived grief, famine, displacement, uncertainty, and poverty. Naomi returned to Bethlehem feeling empty, but God was already working behind the scenes. Ruth had gone into the field to glean, and the Bible says she “haply” came into the part of the field belonging unto Boaz. What looked like coincidence was really providence.

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In chapters 3 and 4, God’s provision becomes clearer. He does not just provide food for Ruth and Naomi; He provides protection, covering, redemption, restoration, and legacy. Naomi, who had once felt too broken to hope, begins to recognize that Boaz may be part of God’s answer. She tells Ruth: “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?”— Ruth 3:1

 

This is important because Naomi is no longer only grieving what she lost. She is now helping Ruth step toward what God has prepared. Ruth obeys Naomi’s instruction and goes to Boaz with humility, wisdom, and courage. She does not force the outcome, manipulate the situation, or abandon godly order. She positions herself properly and allows Boaz to respond honorably.

 

Boaz then becomes a visible instrument of God’s provision. He protects Ruth’s reputation, honors the law, respects the process of redemption, and makes sure everything is handled correctly at the gate. In Ruth 4, Boaz redeems the land that belonged to Elimelech and also takes Ruth as his wife.

 

The provision of God is seen in several ways:

• God provides food when Ruth gleans in the field.

• God provides favor when Boaz notices Ruth and shows her kindness.

• God provides wisdom through Naomi’s counsel.

• God provides covering through Boaz’s willingness to redeem.

• God provides restoration when Naomi receives a child into her arms.

• God provides legacy through the birth of Obed, the grandfather of David.

 

This teaches us that God’s provision is not always immediate, but it is intentional. He may begin with a handful of grain and end with a generational blessing. Ruth and Naomi thought they were simply trying to survive, but God was writing them into the lineage of kings and ultimately into the redemptive story of Jesus Christ.

The Giant Killer Characteristics of Naomi and Ruth

The book of Ruth does not show giant killing through swords, spears, or physical battles. Instead, it shows us that some giants are fought through faithfulness, humility, endurance, obedience, wisdom, and love.

 

Ruth and Naomi had to face giants such as grief, bitterness, poverty, displacement, uncertainty, widowhood, fear, and the temptation to give up. Their story reminds us that a giant killer is not only someone who wins public battles, but also someone who remains faithful in private pain.

Naomi’s Giant Killer Qualities

 

Naomi is sometimes remembered for saying, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara,” because her grief made her feel bitter. But Naomi should not be dismissed as weak. She had endured deep loss. She buried her husband and both of her sons. She returned to Bethlehem with no visible security. Yet even in sorrow, Naomi still carried wisdom.

 

Naomi’s giant killer qualities include:

• She had the courage to return.
  Naomi did not stay stuck in Moab when she heard that the Lord had visited His people in giving them bread. Returning to Bethlehem was not easy, but it was necessary. Sometimes the first sign of strength is not that we feel whole, but that we are willing to move in the right direction again.

• She was honest about her pain.
  Naomi did not pretend everything was fine. She spoke from the place of her grief. While her perspective was incomplete, her honesty shows that giant killers are not people who never hurt. They are people who bring their hurt into the story and keep moving.

• She still had wisdom to give.
  By Ruth chapter 3, Naomi begins advising Ruth. Even though Naomi had suffered loss, she still had insight. Her pain did not cancel her purpose. She could still guide, train, and position Ruth for destiny.

• She recognized favor when it appeared.
  When Ruth came home from Boaz’s field, Naomi realized that God was working. She said:

• “Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.”
  — Ruth 2:20

• That is a turning point. Naomi begins to see that God had not abandoned them.

• She helped Ruth step into her future.
  Naomi did not allow Ruth to remain only a gleaner in the field. She helped Ruth understand covenant, redemption, timing, and proper approach. Naomi became a spiritual mother, mentor, and guide.

 

Ruth’s Giant Killer Qualities

Ruth’s strength is seen in her loyalty, courage, humility, and faith. She was not born into Israel, but she chose Naomi’s people and Naomi’s God. Her confession in Ruth 1 is one of the strongest declarations of commitment in Scripture: “Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”— Ruth 1:16

 

Ruth’s giant killer qualities include:

• She was loyal when leaving would have been easier.
  Ruth could have returned to Moab like Orpah did, but she clung to Naomi. Her loyalty was not convenient; it was costly.

• She embraced a new identity.
  Ruth left behind the familiar and stepped into covenant. She chose the God of Israel, the people of Israel, and the future God had for her.

• She was willing to work.
  Ruth did not sit back and wait for someone to rescue her. She went to the field and gleaned. She put effort behind her faith.

• She walked in humility.
  Ruth did not act entitled. She asked permission to glean. She received correction and instruction. She honored Naomi and respected Boaz.

• She had courage to follow wise instruction.
  Going to the threshing floor required courage, discretion, and trust. Ruth obeyed Naomi’s guidance and approached Boaz in a way that reflected humility and honor.

• She became part of a legacy larger than herself.
  Ruth did not know that her obedience would place her in the lineage of David and Christ. That is the power of quiet faithfulness. Sometimes what we call small obedience becomes part of a much greater story.

 

The Redemptive Story of Christ in the Book of Ruth

The book of Ruth is more than a love story between Ruth and Boaz. It is a redemptive story. It points forward to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Boaz is called a kinsman-redeemer. In Israel’s law, a near relative could redeem land, preserve family inheritance, and raise up the name of the dead. Boaz had the right, the resources, and the willingness to redeem. This makes him a powerful picture of Christ.

Boaz as a Picture of Christ

• Boaz notices the outsider.
  Ruth was a Moabitess. She was not naturally positioned for honor in Bethlehem, yet Boaz saw her, protected her, and showed her kindness. Christ also sees those who feel outside, forgotten, unworthy, or overlooked.

• Boaz provides grace before Ruth can repay him.
  Boaz allows Ruth to glean, commands the young men not to touch her, invites her to eat, and tells his workers to let handfuls fall on purpose for her. This is grace. Ruth receives favor she did not earn.

• Boaz covers Ruth.
  When Ruth says, “spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman,” she is asking for covering, protection, and redemption. Christ covers us with grace, righteousness, and covenant love.

• Boaz redeems through legal right and personal willingness.
  Boaz does not simply feel sorry for Ruth. He has to redeem according to the law. Christ also redeems us lawfully and fully. He paid the price for sin and satisfied what we could not satisfy ourselves.

• Boaz restores what was lost.
  Through Boaz, Naomi’s family line is restored. Ruth receives a new future. The land is redeemed. A son is born. In Christ, what sin broke, grace restores.

• Boaz brings Ruth into the family line of promise.
  Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of David, and through David’s line comes Jesus Christ. This shows the mercy of God. Ruth’s past as a Moabite did not disqualify her from God’s redemptive plan.

 

The book of Ruth shows us that redemption is not accidental. God was working through famine, loss, loyalty, gleaning, counsel, obedience, and covenant to bring forth something greater than Ruth and Naomi could imagine.

Ruth 4:17 says: “And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

 

That verse is the bridge from personal restoration to kingdom legacy. Naomi thought her story ended in emptiness, but God made her part of a royal line. Ruth thought she was simply following Naomi, but God placed her in the lineage of Christ. This is the gospel shadow in Ruth: the Redeemer comes near, pays the price, covers the vulnerable, restores inheritance, and brings outsiders into covenant family.

 

Producing Other Giant Killers

The story of Ruth and Naomi gives us the perfect bridge into the final lesson in the Giant Killer series: how giant killers produce other giant killers which will precede our leadership and membership series.

Naomi may not have looked like a giant killer at first glance. She was grieving, wounded, and disappointed. Yet Naomi still had something in her that Ruth needed. She had knowledge of the God of Israel. She had covenant understanding. She had wisdom about Bethlehem, Boaz, redemption, timing, and order.

Ruth’s story was shaped by Naomi’s influence.

 

Naomi’s faith may have been bruised, but it was not erased. Her life still pointed Ruth toward the true God. Her journey still created a path for Ruth to follow. Her instruction helped Ruth move from gleaning in the field to resting under the covering of redemption. That is what spiritual leaders, mothers, mentors, and mature believers do. They do not just fight giants for themselves; they help train someone else to stand, believe, discern, obey, and overcome. Naomi produced a giant killer not by preaching a sermon from a platform, but by walking through life with Ruth. Ruth watched Naomi grieve. Ruth watched Naomi return. Ruth listened to Naomi’s counsel. Ruth followed Naomi’s instructions. Ruth became stronger because Naomi poured into her.

 

This prepares us for the final lesson:  Giant killers should produce other giant killers.

David killed Goliath, but later we see other warriors rising up to fight giants. Naomi survived loss, but Ruth rose up in loyalty, faith, and obedience. The lesson is clear: spiritual strength should not end with us. Our faith, our wisdom, our testimony, our correction, our endurance, and our example should help somebody else become stronger. The strength God develops in us is not meant to stop with us. Somebody else should become stronger because we lived, endured, taught, prayed, corrected, encouraged, and led by example.

 

Key Takeaways for This Wrap-Up

1. Naomi and Ruth fought invisible giants such as grief, uncertainty, poverty, fear, and loss.

2. Ruth shows us that loyalty, humility, work, obedience, and faith are giant killer qualities.

3. Naomi shows us that even wounded people can still carry wisdom, guidance, and purpose.

4. Boaz points us to Christ as Redeemer, covering, protector, restorer, and covenant keeper.

5. The story of Ruth is not only about personal blessing; it is about legacy, redemption, and God’s larger plan.

6. Naomi helped produce Ruth, and Ruth’s obedience became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.

 

Possible Reflection Questions

1. What giants did Ruth and Naomi have to overcome that were not physical giants?

2. How does Naomi’s journey show that God can still use people who have experienced grief and disappointment?

3. What qualities in Ruth made her ready to receive instruction and walk into a new future?

4. How does Boaz help us understand the redemptive work of Christ?

5. Who has helped shape you into a stronger believer?

6. Who are you helping to become stronger in faith, character, and obedience?

 

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for showing us through Ruth and Naomi that You are the God who provides, restores, redeems, and rebuilds. Thank You for reminding us that grief is not the end of the story, emptiness is not the final word, and loss does not cancel legacy. Help us to carry the giant killer qualities of faithfulness, humility, courage, obedience, and love. Teach us to recognize Your provision even when it begins in small ways. Thank You for Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who covers us, restores us, and brings us into covenant relationship with You. As we grow stronger, help us to strengthen others. Let our lives produce faith, courage, wisdom, and endurance in those who come behind us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.