Unexpected Grace: HESED

Unexpected Grace: Hesed | Gareth Nicholson | 14 December 2025

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This Christmas series, Unexpected Grace, reminds us that when God’s extraordinary grace collides with broken people, unexpected things happen. As we trace the family tree of Jesus in Matthew 1, we discover flawed people, messy stories, and surprising grace.

If God can use people like that in the story of Jesus, how much more can He use you and me?

Matthew opens the New Testament with these words:

“An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

Instead of beginning with miracles or angels, Matthew begins with names—a lineage full of scandal, outsiders, and redemption. Today, we focus on Boaz and Ruth, and the grace of God that weaves broken lives into His redemptive story.

The Meaning of Hesed: God’s Unexpected Grace

At the heart of Ruth’s story is the Hebrew word ḥesed.

Ḥesed describes:

• God’s steadfast love

• Covenant faithfulness

• Mercy, kindness, loyalty, and grace

• Love that is undeserved, unearned, and unexpected

There’s no single English word for it—ḥesed is all of these together. And we see it lived out through people, not just spoken about.

Where the Book of Ruth Fits in the Story

Ruth sits between Judges and 1 Samuel:

• Judges: chaos, anarchy, no king, “everyone did what was right in their own eyes”

• Samuel: The Rise of King David

Ruth acts as a bridge—showing how God brings redemption and leadership out of disorder.

Fun insight: In the Hebrew Bible, Ruth follows Proverbs 31, connecting wisdom and virtue with Ruth’s character. She embodies faithful, courageous, and wisdom-filled obedience.

A Story Born Out of Crisis

A Poor Decision

A man leaves Bethlehem (“house of bread”) in Judah (“land of praise”) during a famine and moves his family to Moab—a land historically associated with incest, immorality, and hostility toward Israel.

This decision is driven by fear, not faith.It ends in tragedy:

• The man dies

• His two sons die

• Naomi and her daughters-in-law are widowed and destitute

  
  

Ruth’s Courageous Choice

Naomi returns to Judah after hearing God has been faithful again to His people.

Both daughters-in-law begin the journey with her—but only Ruth stays.

“Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

Ruth chooses:

• A foreign land

• A new God

• A future she cannot control

She refuses a victim mindset and chooses faith over fear.

Gleaning on the Edge of the Field

Ruth arrives in Bethlehem:

• A widow

• A foreigner

• Poor and vulnerable

She goes to glean—picking up leftovers during harvest, a provision God had built into Israel’s law for the poor and foreigner (Leviticus 23).

But gleaning is dangerous for a woman, especially a foreigner.

Boaz: A Picture of God’s Heart

Ruth “just happens” to glean in Boaz’s field—a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband.

Boaz:

• Notices Ruth

• Protects her

• Invites her from the edge into the center

• Provides food, dignity, and safety

• Speaks blessing over her

“May you receive a full reward from the Lord… under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

This is ḥesed in action.

Four Ways Unexpected Grace Works in Our Lives

1. Decisions: Fear or Faith?

Contrast the decisions:

• Elimelech leaves the promised land in fear

• Naomi returns in humility

• Ruth chooses faith

• Orpah turns back

Faith-based decision-making asks:

• Have I waited?

• Do I have a word from God?

• Have I sought wise counsel?

Unexpected grace flows when we turn toward God, not away from Him.

2. Generosity: Who’s on the Edge of Your Field?

Generosity is:

• Giving away what you’d rather keep

• A mindset, not an amount

• Central to how God’s kingdom advances

Boaz didn’t just leave scraps—he invited Ruth in.

Questions to ask:

• Who is living on the fringes of my life?

• Who can I invite to my table this season?

• Where can I offer protection, provision, and dignity?

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3. Blessing: The Power of Your Words

Boaz didn’t remind Ruth of her past—he spoke hope into her future.

Your mouth carries life and death.

• You can build up or tear down

• Encourage or discourage

• Heal or wound

Simple challenge: Put the phone down. Stop scrolling. Send encouragement. Speak life. Bless intentionally.

4. Redemption: This Is the Gospel

Ruth arrives with:

• No status

• No money

• No future

Boaz redeems her.

But the deeper truth?

You are like Ruth. And Jesus is like Boaz.

We arrive at Jesus broken and empty—and He says:

“You’re welcome. You belong.”

This is the Christmas story. This is the redemption story

Conclusion: There’s a Place for You in the Story

If God can use:

• Ruth the outsider

• Rahab the prostitute

• Broken people in Jesus’ lineage

Then He can use you.

As you move toward a new year:

• Choose faith over fear

• Be generous with what you have

• Speak blessings freely

• Step into redemption

God is still writing His story—and there’s a place for you in it.