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Reflections Podcast
Reflections Podcast
Reflections • Episode 12
How God Treats His Enemies
12m • March 17, 2021

Where is God in the midst of impossible situations? In today’s episode, we’re reflecting on Ruth, a woman who came from a nation that violently opposed God’s people. Despite this, Ruth became an example of God’s loyal love even in the midst of impossibly difficult circumstances. We’ll also reflect on God’s impartial and merciful character and the hope he offers to all who trust in him.

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Where is God in the midst of impossible situations? In today’s episode, we’re reflecting on Ruth, a woman who came from a nation that violently opposed God’s people. Despite this, Ruth became an example of God’s loyal love even in the midst of impossibly difficult circumstances. We’ll also reflect on God’s impartial and merciful character and the hope he offers to all who trust in him.

Bible Reading Ruth 2:11-12

Reflection Questions

  1. What feels impossibly difficult in your life or community right now?

  2. God is present in and through hard times. There is hope. Take a moment now to remember that God cares for you and your community.

  3. Ask God to transform your impossible circumstances into brilliant new possibilities.

Want to Go Deeper?
Check out this week’s Bible study to watch a video and explore more detailed questions for personal study and group discussion.

Show Credits

  • Host: Cheree Hayes
  • Message: Dr. Carissa Quinn
  • Production and Bible reading: Dan Gummel
  • Theme music: Grant William Harold
  • Background music: "Dear Gravity" by Riven (ft. We Dream of Eden)

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2 Chronicles 36:22-23  –  13m
Looking Back to Look Forward
13m
Malachi 3:16-4:6  –  13m
Treasured by God
13m
Daniel 7:9-14  –  13m
There’s Hope in the Nightmare
13m
Esther 4:1-17  –  16m
Who Does God Choose to Work Through?
16m
Ezra 4:1-3, Isaiah 56:3-8  –  15m
Is God Inclusive?
15m
Ezekiel 36:22-36  –  14m
Promise for New Hearts
14m
Lamentations 3:19-33  –  14m
Learning How to Grieve from Lamentations
14m
Jeremiah 4:16-28, 1 Thessalonians 5  –  15m
The Deep Anguish of God
15m
Song of Songs 8:6-7  –  15m
Wisdom from Sensual Love Poetry?
15m
Ecclesiastes 4:4-12  –  15m
One Handful of Rest
15m
Isaiah 42:1-16  –  14m
Power of Metaphor
14m
Proverbs 1:1-7  –  13m
How to Live Wisely
13m
Job 38:1-18, Job 42:1-6  –  15m
How God Replies to Job’s Suffering
15m
Jonah 4:1-11, Exodus 34:5-9, 1 Kings 19:3-5  –  14m
God’s Mercy on Our Enemy
14m
Hosea 14:1-9  –  14m
What God Wants From Us
14m
Isaiah 61  –  12m
What Good News Looks Like
12m
1 John 1  –  12m
Message of the Prophets
12m
2 Kings 25  –  14m
What God Does About Suffering
14m
1 Kings 6  –  14m
Redeeming Disappointment
14m
2 Samuel 7  –  14m
Faithful Through Failure
14m
1 Samuel 2  –  13m
When You Feel Powerless
13m
Ruth 2  –  12m
How God Treats His Enemies
12m
Judges‬ 2  –  12m
When We Walk Out on God
12m
14m
Deuteronomy 30  –  11m
Understanding Ancient Law
11m
Deuteronomy 4  –  12m
God's Wisdom on Display
12m
Numbers 13  –  11m
Trusting God in the Wilderness
11m
Leviticus 25  –  13m
Gift of Rest
13m
Hebrews 10  –  12m
Meaning of Sacrifice
12m
Exodus 19  –  12m
Rescued for a Purpose
12m
Exodus 3  –  15m
When We Cry Out
15m
Genesis 32  –  13m
Wrestling God
13m
Genesis 1-3  –  15m
Why God Gave Choice
15m

Reflect

Once you've listened to the podcast, take time to reflect on these questions.

  1. What feels impossibly difficult in your life or community right now?
  2. God is present in and through hard times. There is hope. Take a moment now to remember that God cares for you and your community.
  3. Ask God to transform your impossible circumstances into brilliant new possibilities.

Go Deeper

If you would like to dive deeper, use these Scriptures and questions for personal study or small group discussion.

The book of Ruth shows us what loyal love looks like. It’s about trusting God and faithfully committing ourselves to support those around us who are in need. In Ruth’s story, we also learn about God’s impartial mercy. No matter a person’s background, they are valued and included in the family of God simply by trusting and following him. Lastly, the book of Ruth reminds us of the relentless hope of God in the lives of his people. When things are overwhelmingly difficult, God is still there, writing a story that leads us to the life of Jesus.

Feel free to reflect on all the questions or just a few right now. You can also reflect all throughout the week by focusing on one question per day.

Message Question
How did Carissa’s message challenge or encourage you today?

Read: Ruth 2:11-12, Matthew 23:37

  1. How was Ruth loyal and loving to her community and to Yahweh? What does Boaz ask Yahweh to do for Ruth? How would Yahweh’s response be an expression of his loyal love for Ruth?
  2. How have you experienced loyalty and love from someone in your community? What is one practical way you can honor their support and encourage them today?
  3. Consider the metaphor Boaz uses to describe Ruth’s loyal trust in Yahweh. Young birds gather under their mother’s wings for warmth, belonging, and safety. How is this like trusting God?
  4. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he saw the danger that was coming toward his people and grieved that they had rejected God’s attempts to protect them. Read Matthew 23:37 to see how Jesus also used the analogy of a mother’s wings. How does this passage illustrate what it looks like to trust or mistrust God?
  5. Consider the impossible situations Ruth and Naomi faced in the story. They lost family, country, home, status, safety, and financial provision. How do you relate to this? What support do you need in your own life?
  6. How can other people in your community relate to Ruth and Naomi’s losses and suffering? What do they need physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and economically? How can you offer loyal love and mercy to them this week?
  7. Turn your reflections into a prayer. God sees and knows everything that feels impossibly difficult in your life or community right now. There is hope. Take a moment now to remember that God cares and ask him to transform your circumstances into brilliant new possibilities.
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