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• Statement of Faith

RUTH

The Book of Ruth and the Book of Esther are illustrations of the PROVIDENCE of God at work in the lives of His people. The word "providence" means that God not only created the world, but He also sustains and rules the world. There are no accidents in the life of the believer.

The story of Ruth is not only a beautiful love story, it is also a demonstration of the way God arranges circumstances so that His plan might be carried out. It is also a reminder that God can use even sin to work out His purposes.

Ruth was from the heathen tribe of Moab. She married into an Israelite famiiy and after her husband died, made the decision to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi. When told to go back to her own people, Ruth replied with these well-known words, "Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following after thee, for where thou goest, I will go, where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, thy God, my God." By this action, Ruth demonstrated her faith in the one true God.

The story of Ruth is based on an ancient law of Moses which said that it was the duty of a man's brother to take on his widow as his wife and raise up seed to his brother, who would bear his brother's name and inherit his lands. (Deut. 25:5-10) This was called the LEVIRATE LAW. This next of kin was given a special name, in Hebrew "goel" which is translated in the Book of Ruth as "near Kinsman". Ruth's near kinsman was a man by the name of Boaz.

The act of Boaz taking Ruth as his wife is a picture of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, redeeming us from sin.

It is significant that both Boaz and Ruth are mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1:5. Ruth is a beautiful illustration of the repentant sinner who has turned from a life of sin to receive her beloved, kinsman-redeemer, Jesus Christ.

ESTHER

The Book of Esther is a story about a Queen, a beautiful young girl named Star or Esther. The Jews at this time, 482 B.C., were prisoners in Persia, and this young Jewish girl, who was the Queen of Persia, was called by God to deliver her people.

We are not told who the writer is of this Book of Esther, but we do know that the Holy Spirit Himself inspired each word, because even though we do not find the Names of God, or Jesus or the Holy Spirit, we see in this true, historical story — the Providential working of God.

The Book of Esther also contains principles of great value. One that we shall see very plainly and emphatically is the Principle of Obedience. "Obedience is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams". The Scriptures tell us, and in this Book of Esther, we are going to see a whole nation of people blessed by the Obedience of one young girl. It is significant to note that God uses women as well as men to further His plans— His Providence. We see how God watched over the Jews that had returned out of captivity to their own land. And also those who had been taken to the land of Persia and chose to stay there rather than return to Jerusalem. Susa was one of the three capital cities of Persia. Susa (or Shushan) was the name of tha city and of the King's palace in the city.

It is reassuring to us as we study this Book of Esther to realize that while men fumble and fall, God knows what He is doing. God is sovereign. He is not taken by surprise by any turn of events, but is using even the sins and mistakes of men, to work out his purposes, and His purposes include people.

And so, our study in the Book of Esther will introduce us to some interesting People! Esther, Queen Vashti, King Xerxes, Haman, Mordecai; – all will play a part in God's plan for the nation of Israel — plans that are still being worked out even today.

BEGIN YOUR LESSONS.

Lesson 01 Lesson 02 Lesson 03 Lesson 04

Lesson 05 Lesson 06 Lesson 07 Lesson 08

Lesson 09 Lesson 10 Lesson 11 Lesson 12

Lesson 13 Lesson 14

Additional Audio Files available:

Lesson 01 Lesson 03 Lesson 04

Lesson 05 Lesson 06 Lesson 07

Lesson 08 Lesson 09 Lesson 10

Lesson 11 Lesson 12 Lesson 13

Lesson 14

Please note that these lessons and materials were originally produced for Radio ABC. We hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear the Word of God in your own home as it was originally broadcast to our brothers and sisters in Malawi, Africa.