Ruth 1-2; Acts 3

The story of Naomi and Ruth is an example of the amazing work of God's providence. Its main purpose is to tell about the ancestors of David (which will be discussed at the end of the book), but it contains many interesting lessons.

- God allows a famine in Judah, causing Elimelech, Naomi's husband, and their sons to go to the land of Moab to seek sustenance.
- There, both of their sons marry, and there they also die. It is here that Naomi's deep faith is revealed. Returning home, she cares for her daughters-in-law, continually referring to the Lord Jehovah (Ruth 1:8-9; 13, 21). Apparently, the name of God was well known to the daughters-in-law through her.
- In deciding to return to Bethlehem with Naomi, Ruth also speaks of the Lord several times - "your God will be my God" ..." may the Lord do so to me" (Ruth 1:16-17). It is evident that she knows the Lord and desires to serve Him.
- In Bethlehem, Ruth displays remarkable humility, diligence, and virtue (Ruth 2).
- God leads her to the field of Boaz, who will play a significant role in this story.

All the events described here may seem random. Still, each of them is calculated and organized by God's providence, which amazingly, without making people into robots, directs all circumstances and human decisions toward achieving His marvelous purposes.

Acts 3 tells of the first miracle performed by the apostles and presents the sermon of the Apostle Peter in connection with this miracle.

God chose the apostles for a special role - they became the foundation on which the entire Church is built (Ephesians 2:20). The foundation is unique and irreplaceable. They were to lay the foundations of the Christian faith, becoming the authors of the New Testament. In connection with this, the apostles had a unique power to perform miracles from God. This confirmed their authority as apostles. All believers after them have the right to ask God for the healing of others. However, the apostles had the power to initiate and perform such healing. Apostle Peter does not engage in special services and prayers; he tells the lame man to "rise and walk," he immediately gets up and begins to walk (Acts 3:5-8). This healing was real and complete - the healed man walked with the disciples for a long time (Acts 3:11).

The sermon of Apostle Peter in connection with this event proclaims the resurrection of Christ (Acts 3:15), affirms that Jesus is the Messiah from the Scriptures (Acts 3:20-25), rebukes the Jews for rejecting the Messiah and delivering Him to death (Acts 3:13-15), and calls them to repentance (Acts 3:19).