Redemption In Bethlehem: Hope That Ends Our Waiting

In the Field Audio Bible: 03:23
Breathe in this moment. Feel the first light of dawn kissing your face. Cool, soft, full of promise. The darkness has lifted, the waiting is nearly over. You are standing with Ruth at the edge of Bethlehem as the sun breaks over the eastern hills, painting the limestone walls of the town in shades of gold and amber. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of dew on barley fields and the faint smoke of morning fires being kindled in clay ovens. Somewhere nearby, a rooster crows. A donkey brays in response. The town is waking, and with it a new chapter is about to unfold. Ruth stands beside you, wrapped in her cloak, her eyes fixed on the town gate ahead. You can feel the tension in her stillness, the way her breath comes shallow and measured, the way her fingers grip the edge of her shawl. She has done all she could do. She has acted in faith, in courage, in love. Now the outcome rests in the hands of Boaz, and in the hands of the God who has been writing her story all along. Do you think he's already there? Ruth whispers, her voice barely audible above the morning sounds. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 06:27
You glance toward the gate, the wide stone archway where the elders gather, where business is conducted, where justice is administered, where covenants are made and sealed. It's the heart of the town, the place where private matters become public declarations, where the future is decided. He promised, you say gently, reaching for her hand. And Boaz is a man of his word. He will not rest until this is settled. Ruth nods, but you see the flicker of fear in her eyes. Fear that the other kinsman redeemer will claim his right. Fear that her bold act of faith on the threshing floor will come to nothing. Fear that she will remain a widow, a foreigner, a woman without a future. But there's something else in her eyes, too. Hope. Fragile, trembling, but undeniable. Hope that the God who brought her from Moab to Bethlehem, who led her to Boaz's field, who provided for her and Naomi through every step of this journey, that this same God will not abandon her now. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 07:54
She turns to you, her voice soft but steady. When I left Moab with Naomi, I had nothing. No husband, no children, no home. I didn't know if I would survive the journey, let alone find a place to belong. But you came anyway, you say because Naomi needed me. Because something in my heart told me that the God of Israel was calling me, even though I didn't fully understand it then. She pauses, her eyes glistening. And now, now I stand here, waiting to see if I will be redeemed, if I will have a future, if I will belong. You squeeze her hand. You already belong, Ruth. You have shown more faithfulness than many who were born into this covenant. You have loved Naomi when she had nothing to offer. You have worked in the fields with dignity and grace. You have trusted God when you couldn't see the path ahead. A tear slips down her cheek. I just want Naomi to have joy again. She has lost so much. If this works, if Boaz can redeem us, then maybe, just maybe, she'll stop calling herself Mara. Maybe she'll remember what it feels like to be full instead of empty. Come, you say, offering your arm. Let's walk together. Whatever happens at that gate, you won't face it alone. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 09:50
The two of you move through the narrow streets of Bethlehem, your sandal soft against the packed earth. The town is coming alive around you. Women emerge from doorways with water jars balanced on their shoulders, heading toward the well. Their voices carry on the morning air. Greetings, laughter, the everyday rhythm of life. Children dart past, laughing and chasing each other, their bare feet kicking up small clouds of dust. A baker slides fresh loaves from his oven. The smell of warm bread mingling with the scent of herbs drying on rooftops. Rosemary, thyme, mint. As you walk, you notice the way people look at Ruth. Some with curiosity, the Moabite woman who gleaned in Boaz's fields, some with kindness. They have seen her work, her character, her devotion to Naomi. Some with lingering suspicion that clings to foreigners, the unspoken question. Can she really be one of us? 

In the Field Audio Bible: 11:07
But Ruth holds her head high, her steps steady. She is no longer the desperate widow who arrived in Bethlehem months ago, clinging to Naomi's arm, her eyes hollow with grief. She has worked in the fields. She has earned respect. She has shown herself to be a woman of worth, a woman of valor. I keep thinking about Naomi, Ruth says softly as you pass a group of women drawing water. When we first came here, she told everyone to call her Mara, bitter. Because she said the Lord had dealt bitterly with her. She had lost everything. Her husband, her sons, her hope. She felt like God had turned his back on her. You nod, remembering Naomi's grief, her weariness, the way she seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. But now, Ruth continues, her voice catching slightly, now there is a chance for redemption. Not just for me, but for her. For the family line.   For the name of  Mahlon to be remembered. For Elimelech's inheritance to be restored. You have been the Lord's instrument in this, Ruth, you say gently. Your faithfulness, your love, your courage. You could have stayed in Moab. You could have returned to your mother's house when Naomi urged you to, but you didn't. She shakes her head, a small smile playing at her lips. It was not my courage. It was his kindness. Every step of the way, he has been leading me. I just had to trust and follow even when I couldn't see where the path was going. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 13:05
You walk in comfortable silence for a moment. The sounds of the waking town surrounding you. Then Ruth speaks again, her voice barely a whisper. What if the other kinsman says yes? What if he claims his right to redeem the land? And me? You stop walking and turn to face her, placing both hands on her shoulders, then you will trust that God has a different plan. But Ruth, I saw the way Boaz looked at you last night. I saw the way he spoke your name, the way he blessed you, the way he promised to act on your behalf. That is not the look of a man who will let you slip away. A blush rises to her cheeks. He called me a woman of valor. Because that's what you are. He covered me with his cloak. He gave me six measures of barley to take to Naomi. He promised he would settle this matter today. Her voice trembles with emotion. No one has ever. I never thought I would be seen like that again. Valued, cherished. After Malon died, I thought that part of my life was over. God is writing a new chapter, Ruth. Can you feel it? You say? She nods, tears spilling freely now. I'm afraid to hope. What if it doesn't happen? What if . . . Hope anyway, you say firmly. Hope is an act of faith. And you, Ruth, are a woman of extraordinary faith. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 15:07
You reach the town gate, and your breath catches. A crowd has already gathered, larger than you expected. Word has spread quickly through Bethlehem. The townspeople know that something significant is about to happen. Elders sit on the stone benches built into the walls of the gate. Men with gray beards and weathered faces, men who have witnessed countless transactions, disputes, and covenants. Men who hold the authority to make decisions binding and legal. And there, standing in the center of the gate, is Boaz. He is dressed in his finest robe. Deep blue wool with embroidered edges, the kind of garment that speaks of wealth and status. His bearing is dignified and commanding. But there's something else in his posture, too. Determination? Purpose. A man on a mission. His eyes scan the crowd, and when they land on Ruth, everything else seems to fall away. The warmth in his gaze is unmistakable. Reassurance, promise, devotion. He gives her the smallest nod, as if to say, I am here. I will not fail you. I will fight for you. Ruth's hand flies to her heart, and you hear her sharp intake of breath. He's really doing this, she whispers. He's really going to try not try, you correct gently. He's going to succeed. Look at him, Ruth. That is a man who knows what he wants. And what he wants is you. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 17:15
But then you notice another man standing near Boaz. The other kinsman redeemer, the one who has the first right to redeem Naomi's land. And by extension, to take Ruth as his wife. He is younger than Boaz, perhaps in his thirties, well dressed in a rust colored robe. His expression is calculating, his eyes moving from Boaz to the elders to the crowd. You can see him weighing the cost, the benefit, the risk. Ruth's hand tightens on your arm, her nails digging in slightly. That's him, she breathes, the other redeemer, the one Boaz mentioned last night. You feel her fear, sharp and immediate, radiating through her body. What if he says yes? What if he claims his right? What if all of this Boaz's kindness, Ruth's faith, the hope of a future? What if it all slips away in the next few moments? Trust, you whisper, pulling her close, just a little longer. Trust the God who brought you this far. He didn't lead you through the wilderness of grief, across the miles from Moab, into Boaz's field, and to the threshing floor last night, just to abandon you now. Ruth nods, but you can feel her trembling. Around you, the crowd murmurs and shifts. Women whisper behind their hands. Men stroke their beards thoughtfully. Everyone senses that this is no ordinary transaction. This is about family, legacy, love, and redemption. Boaz raises his hand, and the crowd falls silent. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 19:19
Now, let's take a moment to quiet our hearts and listen to the word itself. Let these words sink deep into your spirit, bringing comfort, conviction, and encouragement. Whether you're sitting in a quiet place or out in the world, allow scripture to meet you right where you are. I hope you have your favorite cup of tea or coffee. Sit back, relax, and let's step into the sacred text of The Book of Ruth 4. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 20:07
The Book of Ruth 4 (NRSV): 

 1 No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next of kin of whom Boaz had spoken came passing by. So Boaz said, Come over, sit down here. And he went over and sat down. 

 2 Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the town and said, "Sit down here," so they sat down. 

 3 He then said to the next of kin, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. 

 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you." So he said, "I will redeem it." 

 5 Then Boaz said, "The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance." 

 6 At this, the next-of-kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it." 

 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging to confirm a transaction: the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 

 8 So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, "Acquire it for yourself," he took off his sandal. 

 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belong to Elimelech, and all that belong to Chilean and Malon. 

10 I have also acquired Ruth the Maobite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses." 

11 Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; 

12 and, through the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah." 

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. 

14 Then the woman said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 

15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him." 

16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom and became his nurse. 

17 The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David. 

18 Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, 

19 Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, 

20 Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, 

21 Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, 

22 Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 24:44
The sandal has been exchanged, the covenant has been made, the elders have spoken their blessing, and now, standing in the center of the town gate, Boaz turns to face Ruth. You watch as he walks toward her, his steps deliberate and sure, his eyes never leaving her face. The crowd parts to let him through, and you can feel the collective breath being held. This moment suspended between what was and what will be. When he reaches Ruth, he takes both her hands and his. His voice is low, meant only for her, but you are close enough to hear every word. Ruth, he says, and the way he speaks her name, with such tenderness, such reverence, makes your own heart swell. You are mine, and I am yours. Before God and before these witnesses, I claim you as my wife. I will honor you. I will provide for you. I will love you all the days of my life. Ruth's tears fall freely now, but they are tears of joy, of relief, of overwhelming gratitude. I never thought, she begins, her voice breaking. I never thought I would know this kind of love again, this kind of hope. Boaz lifts her hands to his lips and kisses them gently. God brought you to my field for a reason, Ruth. He brought you to Bethlehem. He brought you to me, and I will spend the rest of my life being worthy of that gift. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 26:42
The crowd erupts in cheers and applause, and women have that high, joyful sound that marks celebrations and weddings. Children clap and dance. Men pound Boaz on the back, congratulating him, and through it all, you see Naomi pushing her way through the crowd, her face radiant with joy. Ruth! Ruth! Naomi calls out, her arms outstretched. Ruth turns and runs to her, and the two women embrace, holding each other tightly, weeping and laughing at the same time. You move closer, wanting to witness this moment of restoration. Naomi, Ruth whispers, pulling back to look at her mother-in-law's face. You told me to trust. You told me to follow Boaz's instructions. And look, look what God has done. Naomi cups Ruth's face in her weathered hands, her own tears streaming down. My daughter, my precious daughter. When I returned to Bethlehem, I told everyone to call me Mara. Bitter. Because I thought God had abandoned me. I thought my story was over. But you, you never gave up on me. You never stopped believing that God could redeem even the most broken things. He has redeemed both of us, Ruth says softly. Yes, Naomi agrees, her voice full of wonder. He has filled what was empty. He has restored what was lost. And now you will be a bride, you will have a home, you will have love. You place a hand on Ruth's shoulder, and she turns to you, her face glowing with happiness. Can you believe it? she asks, her voice breathless with joy. After everything, after all the loss, all the grief, all the uncertainty, can you believe that this is how my story ends? Not ends, you correct gently. This is how a new story begins. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 29:04
Time moves forward as it always does. The wedding takes place, a celebration filled with music and dancing, with wine and laughter, with blessings spoken over the bride and groom. You watch as Ruth, dressed in her wedding garments, her face veiled, but her joy unmistakable, is led to Boaz's home. You watch as the community gathers to witness the beginning of this new family, this new chapter. And then, in the fullness of time, another miracle unfolds. You are standing in the courtyard of Boaz's home on a bright morning, months later. The air is warm, carrying the scent of almond blossoms and fresh bread. And in your arms, in Ruth's arms, is A baby boy. His name is Obed. Servant. Worshiper. He is small and perfect with dark hair and tiny fingers that grip Ruth's thumb as she cradles him close. Ruth's face is transformed, no longer the face of a grieving widow, but the face of a mother, radiant with love and wonder. Look at him, Ruth whispers to you, her voice filled with awe. He's so beautiful, so perfect. He is a gift, you say softly. A gift from the Lord. I thought I would never have this, Ruth admits, tears slipping down her cheeks. After Mahlon died, I thought I would never have a child of my own. I thought that dream had died with him. But God had other plans, you remind her. He always does, doesn't he? Ruth smiles through her tears. Even when we can't see them, even when the path is dark and uncertain, he is always working, always weaving our stories into something beautiful. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 31:15
Boaz enters the courtyard, and his face lights up when he sees Ruth with their son. He crosses to her side and wraps his arm around her shoulders, gazing down at Obed with unmistakable pride and tenderness. Our son, he says quietly. Our miracle. He looks like you, Ruth teases gently. He has your courage, Boaz counters, your faithfulness, your heart. Just then, Naomi appears in the doorway, and when she sees the baby, her entire face transforms. Gone is the bitterness, the grief, the sense of being forgotten by God. And its place is pure, unbridled joy. May I? Naomi asks, her voice trembling. Ruth carefully places Obed in Naomi's arms, and you watch as the older woman cradles the baby close, rocking him gently, tears streaming down her face. Blessed be the Lord, Naomi whispers, her voice thick with emotion. Blessed be the Lord who has not left me without a redeemer. This child, this precious child, he is the answer to prayers I didn't even know how to pray. The women of Bethlehem gather around, the same women who witnessed Naomi's return, who saw her grief and her emptiness. Now they surround her with joy and celebration. Praise be to the Lord, they exclaim. May this child become famous throughout Israel. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. One of the older women steps forward, her voice carrying authority and blessing. For your daughter-in-law who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth. Better than seven sons. The highest compliment that could be given to a woman in that culture. And it's true. Ruth the foreigner, the Moabite, the widow who had nothing. She has proven herself to be worth more than the greatest blessing Israel could imagine. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 33:49
Naomi looks up at Ruth, her eyes shining. They're right, you know. You have been better to me than seven sons. You stayed when you could have left. You worked when you could have despaired. You loved when you could have grown bitter. And now you have given me a grandson. You have given me a future. Ruth kneels beside Naomi, resting her head on the older woman's shoulder. You gave me a home when I had none. You gave me faith when mine was weak. You gave me a family. This child, he belongs to both of us. You watch this scene, this beautiful, sacred moment of redemption, and you feel the presence of God hovering over it like a blessing. This is what restoration looks like. This is what faithfulness produces. This is what happens when ordinary people trust an extraordinary God. But the story doesn't end here. Oh no, this is just the beginning. You see, little Obed, this baby boy born to Ruth and Boaz, cradled in Naomi's arms, he will grow up to have a son named Jesse. And Jesse will have a son named David. David, the shepherd boy who will become king. David, the man after God's own heart. David, from whose line the Messiah will come. Ruth the Moabite widow has become part of the lineage of kings. She has been written into the story of redemption, not just her own redemption, but the redemption of all humanity. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 35:45
Think about that for a moment. A foreign woman, a widow, someone with no status, no security, no future. And yet God chose her. God saw her. God wrote her into the greatest story ever told. Do you understand what this means? You ask Ruth softly as she stands beside you, watching Naomi and Obed. Tell me, she says. It means that no one is too far gone for God to redeem. No one is too broken for God to restore. No one is too foreign, too forgotten, too lost for God to write into his story. Ruth nods slowly, understanding dawning in her eyes. When I left Moab, I thought I was just following Naomi. I thought I was just trying to survive. I didn't know that God was leading me into a love story, into a legacy, into a purpose bigger than I could ever imagine. That's how God works, you say? He takes our small acts of faithfulness, our decision to stay when we could leave, to work when we could give up, to hope when we could despair, and he weaves them into something eternal. So what do I do now? Ruth asks. How do I live worthy of this gift? You smile and take her hand. You keep doing what you have always done. You love faithfully, you trust completely, you walk forward one step at a time, even when you can't see the full path. And you remember that the same God who brought you from Moab to Bethlehem, from gleaning in the fields to becoming a bride, from widow to mother, that same God is still writing your story. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 37:51
So what about you, dear listener? What about your story? Maybe you feel like Naomi, empty, bitter, wondering if God has forgotten you. Maybe you've lost so much that you can't imagine ever being full again. If that is you, hear this. God has not forgotten you. Your story is not over. The same God who restored Naomi is still in the business of turning mourning into dancing, ashes into beauty. Maybe you feel like Ruth, a foreigner, an outsider, someone who doesn't quite belong. Maybe you are wondering if there is a place for you in God's family, in God's story. If that's you, hear this. You belong. God sees you, God values you, and he is inviting you to step into his field, to glean in his grace, to find refuge under his wings. Maybe you feel like you are in the middle of your own threshing floor moment, taking a risk, stepping out in faith, not knowing how things will turn out. If that's you, hear this. Trust and obey. Do the next right thing. Take the next faithful step and watch how God moves on your behalf. Or maybe you're in a season of waiting, like Ruth waiting at the gate, wondering if redemption will come. If that's you, hear this. The waiting is not wasted. God is working even when you can't see it. He is orchestrating details, moving hearts, preparing the way. Hold on, hope is coming. The story of Ruth teaches us that God specializes in redemption. He takes the broken pieces of our lives, the loss, the grief, the uncertainty, and he weaves them into something beautiful. He takes the outsider and makes them family. He takes the empty and makes them full. He takes the ending and turns it into a beginning. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 40:14
And here's the most beautiful part. Ruth's story points us to an even greater Redeemer. Just as Boaz stood in the gate and said, I will redeem her, I will make her mine. There is another Redeemer who stands at the gate of heaven and says the same thing about you. Jesus, the descendant of Ruth and Boaz, the son of David, the King of Kings. He looked at you in your brokenness, in your lostness, in your need, and he said, I will redeem them. I will pay the price. I will make them mine. That is the heart of the gospel. That is the love story at the center of all love stories. That is the redemption that Ruth's redemption was always pointing toward. So, as we close the book of Ruth, remember this. Your faithfulness matters. Your small acts of obedience, your quiet decisions to trust, your willingness to stay when you could leave, they matter. God sees them, God honors them. God uses them. Your story is not over. No matter how dark the night, no matter how long the waiting, no matter how deep the loss, God is still writing. He is a master storyteller. The best chapters may be still ahead. You are seen, you are valued, you are loved. Whether you are Ruth or Naomi, whether you're gleaning in the fields or waiting at the gate, whether you are celebrating or grieving, God sees you, and He is working all things together for your good and his glory. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 42:07
And finally, you are redeemed, not because of your worthiness, but because of his love. Not because you have earned it, but because he has freely given it. You are covered by his cloak. You are called by his name. You are his. This is the story of Ruth, but it's also your story. The story of redemption, the story of restoration, the story of a God who never stops pursuing, never stops loving, never stops writing beauty from ashes. May you walk forward in faith, knowing that the same God who brought Ruth from Moab to Bethlehem, from widow to bride, from emptiness to fullness, that same God is walking with you, and He will never let go. 

In the Field Audio Bible: 43:03
Thank you for joining me today as we journeyed through The Book of Ruth 4. I pray that you carry these reflections with you into your day, into your week, and that you find strength in knowing God is with you in every trial, every temptation, and every step of obedience. If this time in God's word has encouraged you, take a moment to share it with someone who might need it. And be sure to join me next time as we continue walking through the scriptures, learning, growing, and staying faithful in the field of life. Until next time, may you find peace in the quiet, trust in God's call, and rest in His unchanging love. 

This is In the Field Audio Bible, where we Listen to the Bible One Chapter at a Time.