The days of Ruth was still the time period when the Judges ruled. What do we know about this time period of the Judges? Read Judges 2:8-22.
The cycle goes like this: disobedience, defeat, and distress, desperately crying out, deliverance, and peace back to disobedience. This is the sin cycle in the book of Judges. In Ruth 1:1, there is a famine in Bethlehem. According to Ruth 1:2-3, what does this family face in Moab? What do you fin in Ruth 1:4?
Marriage to a Moabite was not allowed in the Mosaic Law. The Lord prohibited marriage to any of the seven nations found in Canaan: Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Perizites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Moab was not one of these nations. Naomi’s husband died, leaving her and their two sons. These sons married Moabite women – Ruth and Orpah. How is Moabite different from the Israelites? Read Genesis 19:36-37, Numbers 31:16, Numbers 25: 1-18, 31:13-16, and Revelations 2:14. Moab caused Israel to stumble into immorality and idolatry. This drew the Israelites away from God. In Ruth 1:5, what happened next? When did this occur? The sons died, leaving Naomi and her sons’ wives widowed. This is a tough time for women when widowed.
Read Ruth 1:19-22. How does she describe the last twelve years of her life? How does she see the Lord’s hand at work? In Ruth 1:6, God had visited His people in giving them bread. Naomi heard this and decided to go back to Bethlehem. When her daughters-in-law heard she was leaving, they were going to follow her. How did Naomi respond to this according to verses 8-9 of Ruth? However, Ruth refused to leave her mother in law. Ruth must have had a great relationship with her mother in law to want to stay with her. In verses 16-18, what do we learn about Ruth’s decision? What was her commitment? How did she view the Lord in this decision? She reveals her heart!
Now a new chapter in their lives for both women. Read Ruth 2:1-9. How did Ruth respond to the circumstances in which she and Naomi found themselves? What do we find out about Boaz? How did Boaz treat Ruth? Ruth had a servant attitude. She was humble. She was grateful. What was the testimony Boaz heard about Ruth in verses 11-12. What was the testimony of Ruth’s relationship with the Lord?
Ruth had come to Israel to seek refuge, protection, and security in the Lord. Where are you seeking refuge? The only true refuge we can find is in the Lord.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being a provider and refuge for each of us. I pray that we will have a servant heart like Ruth.
In Jesus Name
Amen
