God Is the Creator – Genesis chapters 1 & 2 (NIV)

The book of Genesis starts with the creation of the world and humankind.  Chapter one verses one through five: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.  

Day 2: God added the sky and water.

Day 3: God created dry land and vegetation (trees and fruit-bearing trees).

Day 4: God added the sun and the stars representing day and night.

Day 5: God created the animals (of all kinds) of the skies and seas across the earth.

Day 6: God created animals (of all kinds) of the lands across the earth.  He also created mankind.

Day 7: God rested.

Chapter two tells more detail on how man and woman were created in God’s likeness. 

God is the Promise Keeper – Genesis chapters 12 and 17; Joshua

The Book of Genesis tells the story of Abram (later known as Abraham), a faithful servant of God.

God called Abram in Genesis chapter twelve to leave his father’s land.  He promises Abram of many descendants.   In Genesis chapter twelve verses two and three: 

2 

“I will make you into a great nation,

    and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

    and you will be a blessing.

3 

I will bless those who bless you,

    and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

    will be blessed through you.”

After he left his father’s homeland by God’s instruction, he, his wife Sarai (later known as Sarah), and nephew Lot went toward Canaan.

Chapter twelve verses six and seven: 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

After Abram and his nephew Lot went their separate ways, Abram and his wife and his animals camped near the land where God promised him his descendants would live (Genesis 17).

The Book of Joshua tells the story of the Israelites (the descendants of Abraham) finally entering Canaan after forty years in the wilderness.  Joshua took over as leader after Moses’ death.  Joshua chapter one verses nine: 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

In Joshua chapters three and four, the Israelites crossed the Jordan into the promised land.  They camped in the city of Gilgal. 

God is the Redeemer – Job 

The Book of Job tells the story of how God allowed Satan to take everything away from Job.  Job was a faithful servant of God who had everything – wealth and family.  All in one day, Job lost his wealth and his children.  Job lost his health as well.  

His friends thought that Job had sinned.  In Job chapters thirty and thirty-one, Job feels sorry for himself.  He felt that God caused him to lose everything after he lived the holy life.  In Job chapters thirty-eight through forty-one, God reminded him who He is for the world and the people in it by asking him questions only He the Creator would know the answer.

In Job chapter forty-two, Job repented to God after God talked to him.  Then, God told Job’s friends that he was angry with them since they hadn’t spoken the truth about God like Job did.  

Job chapter forty-two verses eight through nine: 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

After the prayer, God gave Job twice as much as he had before.  Job became twice as wealthy and had ten children.

God is the Provider – Ruth 

The Book of Ruth tells the story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth.  In Ruth chapter one, Ruth insists on going to Bethlehem with Naomi, where Naomi was originally from.  Ruth claimed the people as her people and Naomi’s God as her God.  

In chapter two, Ruth goes to a field to pick up leftover grain so they can eat.  She found favor in Boaz, a relative of her husband’s.  

Ruth chapter two verses eight and nine: 8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”

Boaz heard about how Ruth took care of Noami after the death of her husband, left her homeland (Moab), and came to live with people she never lived with before (Ruth 2:11).  He even made arrangements with his men to leave extra stalks for her to pick up as well.

Later, in chapter three, Naomi is concerned about someone taking care of Ruth.  The family had property that needed to be sold to a male relative.

Ruth chapter three verses one through four: One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home] for you, where you will be well-provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

Boaz woke up in the middle of the night and saw Ruth at his foot.  He told Ruth there was another guardian-redeemer more closely related than him.  Boaz met with the other relative the next day to talk about the property that Naomi’s sons had owned after their father died.  Both sons had died and Ruth was married to one of the sons.

The Quest Bible (https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/quest-bible/0238/07/16?interface=print) 

breaks down what a guardian-redeemer is: A guardian-redeemer was a close, influential relative to whom members of the extended family could turn for help, usually when the family line or possessions were in danger of being lost. He was responsible for buying back family land sold during a crisis (see Lev 25:25), buying back enslaved relatives (see Lev 25:47–49), providing an heir for a dead brother (see Dt 25:5–10), avenging the killing of a relative (see Nu 35:19–21) and caring for relatives in difficult circumstances (see Jer 32:6–25).

The redeemer didn’t want the property after hearing he had to marry Ruth as well (Ruth 4:6).  The man was concerned about his estate.  Boaz married Ruth and they had a son.  Their son Obed is in the lineage of King David, who is in the lineage of Jesus (Ruth 4:18-20).