Episode 51: Hearing God as Carriers of the Presence of God

Episode 51: Hearing God as Carriers of the Presence of God

Aug 4, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

I wonder how we would have reacted if we were Mary or Joseph and an angel appeared to us and told us we would have a baby supernaturally. Imagine the emotions. Mary and Joseph trusted God that He was orchestrating the miraculous in their lives while not restricting God to what their knowledge and experience said of God. They were both willing participants in God’s story, open to the mystery and adventure, displaying the courage required to partner with God. Do you believe God can do the impossible in your life? Join us in this latest episode of the ‘Hearing God’ podcast as we look at how Mary and Joseph heard from God during Mary’s conception, pregnancy, and birth with Jesus.

Episode Notes:

Background to Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus

  • Mathew’s Gospel is the account of Joseph hearing from God in Matthew 1:18-25 and then the birth and fleeing to Egypt as a refugee in chapter 2.
  • Luke’s Gospel is Mary’s account in Luke 1:26-56 and the birth of Jesus in Luke chapter 2.
  • Mark and John leave out this part of the story of Jesus’ conception, birth, and early years.
  • Mary was pledged or promised to be Joseph’s wife.
  • Interestingly, the time between the promise and the fulfilment of the promise often has some hiccups—a huge hiccup with Mary and Joseph.
  • Great question – what is our response when our expectations are shattered after a promise is made, or we believe God will do something in our life, but it hasn’t yet manifested and looks worse?

First Principle: We can hear God through dreams and visions.

  • We did a 3-part series on hearing God through dreams in episodes 22-24.
  • Luke 1:26-38, the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her not to be afraid, but she would conceive and give birth to a son and call him Jesus.
  • Mary asks – how will this be? (verse 34) – great question.
  • God’s timing plus ‘just in time’ wisdom and guidance
  • Mary shares this significant change of events with Joseph, who decides to quietly divorce Mary to save her further embarrassment and not to expose her to public disgrace. Very thoughtful and considerate of Joseph.
  • The punishment by Jewish law would be death for Mary (Leviticus 20:10). Instead, Joseph went to sleep (gave himself some time and breathing space – not acting rashly). An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, don’t be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” Joseph understood his life purpose– marrying Mary, naming the child, protecting the child, and raising the child in obedience to God.
  • We know the angel was from God because the Bible says so – but it was a massive leap of faith for Joseph.
  • God spoke to Joseph several more crucial times. In Matthew 2:13,19,22 – three times, Joseph was warned in dreams to go quickly (i.e. the first time it was to flee in the middle of the night – imagine Mary being wakened, told to grab everything we’re leaving immediately to a foreign country where we don’t know anyone, have no place to live, no money, no work, and we’re going immediately) so their baby son would not be killed. Just before this, in Matthew 2:12, the Magi were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod and tell him where the baby boy was.
  • Mary obviously trusted Joseph that he was hearing from God in those dreams.
  • Joseph and Mary had completed the arduous trek to Bethlehem and the ordeal of childbirth in a stable. On the eighth day after Jesus’ birth, they had Him circumcised as the law required. Forty days after His birth, Mary offered her purification sacrifice in the Temple. Then, it seems as though they settled down in Bethlehem, possibly planning to make it their new home. Some time passed before the Magi arrived from Persia to worship the newborn king, and they found him in a house, not in the manger, as most nativity scenes suggest ( 2:11).
  • The trip to Egypt was about two hundred miles by foot or donkey, over mountains, wilderness, and desert, with a baby. There is no indication in Scripture that Mary ever questioned Joseph’s decision.
  • Mary again trusted Joseph sometime later when Joseph was told in a dream that they could return to Israel but not Bethlehem.
  • Joseph heard from God through dreams and received revelation, comfort, and specific instructions. Each time, Joseph quietly obeys. He doesn’t get angry or sulk.

Second Principle:  We can hear God by feeling.

  • Episode 29 – Hearing God through our feelings.
  • Luke 1:39-44 Mary travelled to stay with Elizabeth for about three months. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the baby within Elizabeth leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She knew Mary would bear a child, and the baby would be the Lord.
  • Elizabeth’s baby responded to Mary’s baby’s presence.
  • You can feel God’s Presence.
  • Some people feel from God and ‘manifest’ by shaking, running around, extreme wailing, etc. That’s not us.

Third Principle: We can hear God by pondering and reflecting.

  • Luke 2:19 (& later in verse 51 when they were living in Nazareth after the birth of Jesus) – Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.
  • God grew in her womb. His promise grows in us as we listen, discern, and feel the strength of God’s energy.
  • Take time to ponder, reflect, and meditate on God and His promises.
  • You can carry a promise.
  • It was a defining moment for Mary and Joseph.
  • The challenge for us today is whether we have the faith to believe that God can do the impossible in our lives.

Summary:

  1. We can hear God through dreams and visions.
  2. We can hear God by feeling.
  3. We can hear God by pondering and reflecting.

Prophetic Activation:

Sit in a comfortable chair, close your eyes and ponder/meditate on God. Ask God to join you in your thoughts and ponder God’s attributes and who He would love to be for you. Then, wait for His reply.

Time Stamps:

[2:06] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:05] – Background to the story of Mary and Joseph.

[5:40] – First Principle: We can hear God through dreams and visions.

[13:35] – Second Principle: We can hear God by feeling.

[17:37] – Third Principle: We can hear God by pondering and reflecting.

[23:18] – Recap the principles.

[23:40] – Prophetic activation.

[24:47] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[26:38] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Matthew 1:18-25
  • Matthew 2
  • Luke 1:26-56
  • Luke 2:1-22
  • Leviticus 20:10

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.
Episode 50: Hearing God with Peter Yaxley

Episode 50: Hearing God with Peter Yaxley

Jul 28, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

How do you know whether to rent or buy a house? This was the dilemma facing Peter Yaxley (our guest on this episode of the Hearing God Podcast.) So, together with his wife Kathryn, they asked God and clearly heard an answer through separate Bible verses. Peter and Kathryn are good friends of Gary & Jane. They operate a ministry called Kingdom Presence Ministries that equips people to hear God and grow in their journey of hearing God. (You can find Jane’s interview with Kathryn in Episode 45.) Listen to Jane and Peter’s conversation as they chat about Peter’s journey of becoming a Christian and starting to hear God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Peter:

  • He grew up in Tasmania and met Jane in his 20s.
  • Married to Kathryn and lives in Poatina, Tasmania.
  • Involved in running equipping workshops and reflective healing retreats.
  • National and international ministry – Kingdom Presence Ministries.

Topics discussed with Peter:

  • A brief history of Peter becoming a Christian and his early Christian walk.
  • In hindsight, Peter recognized God speaking to him.
  • Peter shares how he best hears from God.
  • A memorable time for Peter hearing from God about whether they should buy or rent.
  • A short piece of advice for our listeners in relation to hearing God for themselves.

Prophetic activation:

Look around wherever you are (e.g. the room, out the window, outside, etc) and see what God highlights to you. Ask God what He wants to say to you through this object/what has been highlighted. Feel free to ask God more questions about this.

Time Stamps:

[0:47] – Jane introduces Peter Yaxley.

[4:41] – Jane & Peter share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[7:21] – Peter shares how he became a Christian.

[9:05] – How to become a Christian.

[11:27] – The first time Peter recognized God speaking to him.

[12:40] – Peter shares how he best receives from God.

[14:04] – Peter shares a memorable time receiving from God.

[17:16] – Advice Peter would give anyone wanting to hear God.

[18:49] – Prophetic activation.

[20:28] – Jane & Peter both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[23:00] – Peter prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Acts 28:30
  • Nehemiah 5:16
  • 1 Corinthians 14:3
  • 1 Corinthians 2:16
  • Numbers 22:21-39
  • Matthew 6:28-33

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.
Episode 49: If a donkey can hear God, what about me?

Episode 49: If a donkey can hear God, what about me?

Jul 21, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

How often do we miss what God is trying to say because we are not looking or listening? At what point are we willing to disobey God? What is our breaking point? Join us in this latest episode of ‘Hearing God’ as we unpack the truths in this story and how Balaam and his talking donkey met and experienced God. This story is a great reminder to first seek God for ourselves and not go running to others to hear from God for us.

Episode Notes:

Background to Balaam and the talking donkey:

  • We read about Balaam in Numbers 22-24
  • Near the end of the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years after fleeing Egypt, The Israelites were camped on the plains, east of the Jordan River across from Jericho.
  • Balak was the King of Moab & had seen what had happened to other nations that stood up to the Israelites. He sent for a prophet, albeit a false prophet, or better still – an unholy prophet, to bless the Moabites and curse the Israelites so the Moabites would win the war. Balaam had a reputation that whoever he blessed won, and whoever he cursed lost.
  • Balak heard and felt threatened by the proximity, the strength and the reputation of the Israelites.
  • Balak was going to pay Balaam well.
  • Balaam told the messengers, stay the night, and I will tell you the answer in the morning.
  • God spoke to Balaam and asked who these men were. Balaam told him. God said, do NOT go with them. You must not curse the Israelites because they are blessed.
  • The next morning, Balaam said go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you. Even at this stage, Balaam didn’t own it himself but blamed God for not letting him go. Subtle difference, but it opened the door slightly.
  • Messengers went back to Balak and told him. Balak sent higher officials and higher financial incentives.
  • Balaam said, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.” But spend the night here so I can find out what else the Lord will tell me. Don’t play with fire – you will get burnt!
  • God said you can go with them, but wait for them to come to you in the morning.
  • First thing, Balaam got up, saddled his donkey and went out to find them.
  • God was angry at him. In Numbers 22:22, we see Balaam riding on his donkey and having two servants with him. The angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him.
  • Verse 23 – when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.
  • Verse 24 – Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. Balaam beat the donkey a second time.
  • Verse 26. Then, the angel of the Lord moved ahead and stood in a narrow place with no room to turn. When the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. Balaam was angry and beat it again.
  • Verse 28 The Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to make you beat me these three times?”
  • Balaam responded, “You have made a fool of me. If only I had a sword, I would kill you right now.”
  • The donkey said, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden? Have I ever done this to you before?
  • NO said Balaam. (Notice how he was so intent on sinning that he didn’t notice the strange phenomenon of a talking donkey??)
  • Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. Balaam bowed low and fell face down.
  • The angel said – why did you beat the donkey? I came here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one. The donkey saw me and obeyed. If the donkey hadn’t turned away and tried to stop, I would have killed you, but I will now spare your life.
  • Balaam realised he had sinned. He said he would go home.
  • The angel said, no, go with the men, but only say what I tell you to say.
  • When he reaches Balak, he tells him he can only say what God tells him to say.
  • Balak takes him to a mountain overlooking the vast number of Israelites and says curse them. Balaam’s first message – build me 7 altars, sacrifice 7 bulls and 7 rams but he couldn’t curse them.
  • Balak horrified.
  • Balak says, come to another place where you can see the Israelites. He built another 7 altars with a bull and ram on each altar. Chapter 23 vs 19 & 20 “God is not a human, that he should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and then not fulfil? I have received a command to bless – he has blessed them and I cannot change it.
  • Balak is very persistent and says, let’s go to one more place to see the Israelites.
  • Verse 24 “Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he didn’t resort to divination as at other times. He blessed Israel willingly.”
  • Balak was angry and sent Balaam home without rewarding him, breaking his promise.
  • Not the end for Balaam – crafty – couldn’t directly curse the Israelites, so told Balak to entice them with idols and prostitutes.
  • Numbers 31:16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lordin the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord‘s people
  • 3 New Testament references all refer to Balaam as a false prophet
  • Revelations 2:14 Speaking against the church at Pergamum: ‘Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.’
  • In 2 Peter 2:15-16, Peter’s talking about false prophets and says: ‘They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam , son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.’
  • Jude 1:1 ‘they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error.’

First Principle: God can speak through unexpected sources.

  • God can use anything, even a donkey.
  • God is all-powerful and will use whoever and whatever He desires to glorify Himself and achieve His purposes.
  • God goes to extraordinary lengths to get our attention.
  • Balaam was meant to be a seer (someone who can see in the spiritual world), but he didn’t see the angel.

Second Principle: Be alert both to watch for God and against the path of sin.

  • Balaam completely missed the phenomenon of a talking donkey!! It wasn’t until God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel that Balaam realised what was happening.
  • How often do we miss what God is trying to say because we are not looking or listening?
  • Balaam was a prophet for profit. He was willing to do and say whatever to get rich. He desired prestige, status and riches.
  • At what point are we willing to disobey God? When the price changes as it did with Balaam?

Third Principle: Sin always carries consequences.

  • Never play with sin.
  • If God says no, don’t keep asking!! Don’t play with evil. Balaam should have sent them away immediately the second time. He already knew God’s thoughts on the matter.
  • Balaam heard, “If you want to go, then go”. Was that God?
  • Balaam didn’t wait for the entourage to come in the morning. He leapt out of bed, got ready, and went out to meet them. So he didn’t follow God’s instructions.
  • Balaam compromised. He opened the ‘back door’ to betrayal and corruption.
  • When we partner with things not of God, we open the back door in our life to consequences not of God.
  • James 4:7 – resist the devil. Don’t get into bed with the devil.
  • Be careful of false prophets. They target people in deception who can’t hear God for themselves and don’t have a true checkpoint.
  • A great reminder to seek God for yourself and not run to others to hear from God for you.

Summary:

  1. God can speak through unexpected sources.
  2. Be alert both to watch for God and against the path of sin.
  3. Sin always carries consequences.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “God, is there an area of my life where I am ‘playing with fire’, where I’ve opened the door a little bit?”
  • “If there is God, please show me what it is and what I need to do?”

Time Stamps:

[0:40] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[3:26] – Background to the story of Balaam.

[11:03] – First Principle: God can speak through unexpected sources.

[12:58] – Second Principle: Be alert both to watch for God and against the path of sin.

[15:24] – At what point are we willing to disobey God?

[16:49] – Third Principle: Sin always carries consequences.

[18:29] – Recap the principles.

[19:00] – Prophetic activation.

[19:56] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[22:09] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Numbers 22-24
  • Numbers 31:16
  • Revelations 2:14
  • 2 Peter 2:15-16
  • Jude 1:1
  • James 4:7

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.
Episode 48: Hearing God when feeling unseen, uncared for, abused, or overlooked.

Episode 48: Hearing God when feeling unseen, uncared for, abused, or overlooked.

Jul 14, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Hagar’s story includes exclusion, oppression, jealousy, desperation, powerlessness, hopelessness, uncertainty, cruelty, humiliation, impatience, broken promises and flawed people. It is messy and chaotic. It is life. God met Hagar in the middle of her pain and abandonment. God meets us amid our sorrow, pain, brokenness, and desert experience. Join us in this latest episode of ‘Hearing God’ as we unpack all these truths and how Hagar met and experienced God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Hagar:

  • Genesis 16 & 21:8-21
  • Hagar means alien, and she was an alien/foreigner in Sarah and Abraham’s household. She was an Egyptian slave.
  • God had promised Abraham he would be the father of a great nation, but as years went by, nothing was happening. It looked like God wasn’t coming through on His promise.
  • Genesis 16:1 Sarah, Abrahm’s wife, had borne him no children. Sarah was impatient and desperate. She had been pulled out of her comfort zone, traipsed all over the countryside with Abraham, followed her husband where he went, and obeyed him. Sarah said to Abram – take my slave Hagar and sleep with her. Hagar conceived.
  • Genesis 16:4 – Once Hagar was pregnant, she despised Sarah and looked with contempt at her mistress. Hagar wasn’t the innocent girl in this. She’s not spotless.
  • Verse 5 – Sarah is jealous, scared, and losing faith in God and His promise, so Sarah takes matters into her own hands and blames Abraham. Fear can cause us to react in ways we wouldn’t normally – jealousy, anger, etc.
  • Verse 6 – Abraham wipes his hands of it and doesn’t take responsibility. Spineless. Abraham says, “Sarah, you sort it out. It’s your problem.” So Sarah abuses/mistreats her. Interestingly, Sarah & Abraham never call her Hagar but ‘that Egyptian slave’. She was nameless to them.
  • Hagar flees and runs away to die.
  • Verse 7 – an angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert. Talks with her to find out what she is doing.
  • Verse 9 – The angel of the Lord tells her to return to her mistress and submit to her. God will bless her with descendants too numerous to count, but the baby will be a son and live in hostility toward all his brothers. It is interesting to note yet again that in Deuteronomy 23:15-16, the legal code God gave the Israelites regarding runaway slaves was that they shouldn’t be returned to their masters.
  • Verse 13 – first person to name God – El Roi – You are the God who sees me. I don’t know if I would have said that after being told my son would live in hostility toward all his brothers. But it was based on her experience.
  • Hagar’s son Ishmael (means God hears)
  • The next we read of Hagar is in Chapter 21, after Sarah gives birth to Isaac.
  • At the celebration of Isaac’s birth, on the day he was weaned, Sarah noticed Hagar mocking her. Sarah saw the threat that Ishmael was to her child Isaac. When does protection turn to jealousy? She told Abraham to send Hagar away.
  • Abraham was greatly distressed as Ishmael was his son. God said not to be distressed; both sons will have offspring as a nation.
  • Verse 14 – Abraham gave Hagar food and water and sent her and Ishmael away.
  • They wandered until the water was gone. Hagar put Ishmael under a tree, and she went off as she couldn’t watch him die.
  • Verse 17 – God heard her crying, said open your eyes. I’ve supplied a well of water for you both. They then lived in the desert.
  • This second time she was sent away, it was a permanent exile. Both times, an angel of the Lord meets her and saves her.
  • The irony of Hagar’s story is that it flips the power dynamics of the Israelites.
    • The Israelites were a threat to Pharoah once they increased in number. Hagar was a threat to her mistress once she gave birth to a son.
    • The Israelites suffered abuse at the hands of their Egyptian masters. Hagar, the Egyptian, suffered abuse at the hands of Sarah.
    • The Israelites escaped from bondage under the Egyptians. Hagar ran away from her cruel mistress.

First Principle: God sees you.

  • You are not overlooked.
  • Two-way conversation. Calls God – El Roi, the God who sees.

Second Principle: God wants to speak to us personally.

  • Like Hannah and Mary, God spoke to them personally and not through their husbands, saying they would have offspring and their child would be extraordinary and have a unique destiny.
  • The angel of the Lord spoke audibly twice.
  • Every person is important to God.

Third Principle: God meets us where we are.

  • God met Hagar in the middle of her pain and abandonment.
  • God meets us amid our sorrow and pain in our desert. Like God met Moses with the burning bush in the desert, God met Hagar.
  • Don’t try to short-circuit God or take matters into your own hands. Like we know better than God – not a good outcome!!
  • God will sustain, love, and rescue us.
  • Sometimes, we are so caught up in our circumstances that we miss God and His best for us.
  • Don’t try to fulfil God’s will in your way. Wait on God.
  • God wants to reveal solutions to us that we can’t see.

Summary:

  1. God sees you.
  2. God wants to speak to us personally.
  3. God meets us where we are.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “God, where do I need You to come through in my life at the moment?”
  • “God, where am I feeling desperate?”
  • “God, where do I need to feel seen, heard, or known?”

Time Stamps:

[1:30] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[5:13] – Background to the story of Hagar.

[11:49] – First Principle: God sees you.

[18:36] – Second Principle: God wants to speak to us personally.

[21:02] – Third Principle: God meets us where we are.

[27:31] – Recap the principles.

[28:07] – Prophetic activation.

[29:10] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[31:05] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Genesis 16
  • Genesis 21:8-21
  • Deuteronomy 23:15-16

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.
Episode 47: Hearing God when we don’t see evidence of God at work in our life.

Episode 47: Hearing God when we don’t see evidence of God at work in our life.

Jul 7, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

I don’t want to be known as someone who couldn’t see God’s goodness. Do you? The story of Ruth in the Bible and how she encountered God is a reminder to focus on God’s goodness. The story of Ruth is also full of ‘coincidences’ – times when God chooses to remain anonymous. Join us in this latest episode of ‘Hearing God’ as we unpack all these truths and how Ruth heard and experienced God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Ruth.

  • Chapter 1: Famine in Judah. Elimelek, Naomi & two sons left Bethlehem and went to live in Moab. Elimelek died. The sons married Moabites – Orpah & Ruth. Deuteronomy 7:3 – don’t marry a Moabite. In Deuteronomy 23:3, “No Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, not even in the tenth generation.” It’s weird that the family would choose to go to Moab – it tells something of their attitude and relationship with God. Judges 21:25 (the last verse before Ruth) – Israelites didn’t ask God; they just did what they each thought was right.
  • Both sons then died.
  • Naomi heard that God had come to the aid of His people in Bethlehem by providing food for them.
  • Naomi sets out to return to Bethlehem. Both daughters-in-law go with her. Naomi is extremely bitter about her circumstances and strongly encourages them to return to their mothers. Naomi may also have been a tad embarrassed about having a Moabite Daughter-in-law.
  • Orpah returned home.
  • Ruth has a strong conviction to go with Naomi.
  • Famous verse 1:16 “Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people. Your God, my God”
  • Verse 20 Naomi says, don’t call me Naomi but Mara because the Almighty has made my life bitter.” She blamed God and accused Him of bringing misfortune upon her. You can’t play with fire, do the wrong thing, and then blame God for the consequences!!
  • A perilous journey fraught with danger.
  • Chapter 2 – barley harvest beginning in the town of bread. Ruth took the initiative and went to glean the leftover grain after the workers had harvested the grain and around the outside of fields for widows/orphans. Leviticus 19:9-10 and Deuteronomy 24:19.
  • “Coincidence’ was Boaz’s field – guardian redeemer, Deuteronomy 25:5-10 widow must marry the nearest relative unless they take off their sandal and say no.
  • 2:8 – Boaz turns up at the exact time she is there and tells her to stay in his fields where she will be safe, otherwise may be violated. Boaz tells his workers to give her food and water and leave more barley for her to pick up.
  • Ruth has an extremely successful day 13 kgs/30 pounds – enough for 7 days for 2 people.
  • Chapter 3, Naomi decides Ruth needs to make a move to let Boaz know she is ready to marry again. Boaz was winnowing barley on the threshing floor, sleeping the night there for an early start. Ruth washed, put on perfume and her best clothes, and lay at his feet and uncovered them. Boaz woke up – spread the corner of your garment over me – ie marry me. Very symbolic.
  • Chapter 4 – Boaz says there’s another man closer in relation than me – 1st dibs at redeeming her. Guardian redeemer. Went to city gate. That man just happened to be there at that particular time (another ‘coincidence’). The man said, I would buy Elimelek’s field, but I don’t want to marry Ruth or Naomi. Took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz, so Boaz could marry Ruth.
  • Boaz and Ruth marry – the Lord opens her womb, and she conceives and has a son. Obed. Family line down to Jesus.

First Principle: Just because we can’t see God doesn’t mean He’s not working / present.

  • Even though there’s no mention of God in the book of Ruth, Ruth acknowledges the presence of God in 1:16-17 “But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
  • Tragedies don’t mean that God’s given up on you.
  • Ruth kept believing in God despite her circumstances. An encouragement to look to God not at our circumstances.
  • 2 Bible verses: Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
  • Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
  • God opens Ruth’s womb – Matthew 1 – genealogy of Jesus. Ruth had been married to Naomi’s son for 10 years but no children. Married Boaz and had a son Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David, the line of Jesus. I love how the Bible puts it in Ruth 4:13 “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.” Only mention of God in Ruth.
  • Story of redemption and God’s provision in so many ways. Ruth was empty, now full. Widow now married. Broken and no future to being in the genealogy of Jesus.
  • Naomi was bitter that God hadn’t helped her, but her family deliberately disobeyed God. Naomi couldn’t see God’s goodness. She was basically self-absorbed due to her painful circumstances, and that meant she was blind to how God was working. I don’t want to be known as someone who couldn’t see God’s goodness.
  • Our lens filter is often that which captivates our heart.
  • God chooses you in His story. You may feel that you don’t fit in, but God specialises in the broken, the hurting, the displaced, those who don’t fit in. God is always working behind the scenes.

Second Principle: God shows up in the everyday, often insignificant things, not just the miraculous.

  • We can have an active relationship with God regardless of whether we see Him.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
  • Hope is the practice of believing God’s loyal love is true for my situation. “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
  • In Ruth 3:18, Naomi encourages Ruth to sit still and wait. In a season of waiting, it is tempting to try and move things along.
  • Psalm 27:13-14 “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

Third Principle: Ruth hears from God through coincidences.

  • Chapter 2:3 “As it happened…” she ended up in Boaz’s field, that field, that day, that particular time. God-incident. Another coincidence at the city gate with the guardian redeemer just happening to come along.
  • Love this statement: A coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
  • In the story of Ruth, we see God bringing people in and out of her life, directing her life, shaping the course of her life. The same with our lives. Perhaps you’ve never stopped to consider the major role God has had in your life through certain events.
  • Four women are named in Jesus’ genealogy – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Foreigners, tainted pasts, broken women. Testimony of God’s grace, love and acceptance for everyone.

Summary:

  1. Just because we can’t see God doesn’t mean He’s not working / present.
  2. God shows up in the everyday, often insignificant things, not just the miraculous.
  3. Ruth hears from God through coincidences.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “God, is there an area in my life I feel a victim in or I’m bitter or I’m looking at it through the lens of disappointment?”
  • “What are Your thoughts on that God?”
  • “God, what response would You love me to take in relation to this?”

Time Stamps:

[1:07] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[6:28] – Background to the story of Adam and Eve.

[13:30] – First Principle: Just because we can’t see God doesn’t mean He’s not working / present.

[20:06] – Second Principle: God shows up in the everyday, often insignificant things, not just the miraculous.

[22:08] – Third Principle: Ruth hears from God through coincidences.

[24:09] – Recap the principles.

[24:42] – Prophetic activation.

[25:47] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[28:07] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Ruth Chapters 1-4
  • Deuteronomy 7:3
  • Deuteronomy 23:3
  • Judges 21:25
  • Leviticus 19:9-10
  • Deuteronomy 24:19
  • Deuteronomy 25:5-10
  • Isaiah 55:8-9
  • Jeremiah 29:11
  • Matthew 1
  • 2 Corinthians 5:7
  • Hebrews 11:1
  • Psalm 27:13-14

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.