Ruth
1:16–19
Ruth’s family and everything she knew was in Moab. She knew no one in Naomi’s country, Judah. And yet Ruth chose to go with Naomi. She knew that Naomi needed someone to help her and look after her.
Ruth also wanted to serve the Lord. She had learned about him in her new family. Inny read about this in verse 16.
Think about your family. Is family important?
What are you willing to do for your family?
What was even more important to Ruth than her Moabite family?
2:1–2
Naomi and Ruth were poor because their husbands had died. But Ruth was willing to work. She went out to the fields to gather food for Naomi and herself. She worked all day long in the hot sun, and it was hard work.
Ruth reminds Inny of something important. Ruth was willing to work hard so that Naomi and she could eat. Inny wants you to think about this. It’s important that everyone works. That way they can provide for themselves and help other people. That is the way God wants us to live.
The names of the people in this story have special meanings.
- Ruth means “good friend” or “beauty.”
- Naomi means “pleasant.” But Naomi also called herself Mara, which means “bitter.”
- Boaz means “strong.”
2:3–7
The Israelites had several laws to help the poor. One law said that farmers shouldn’t harvest to the edges of the field. They had to leave the grain around the edges. Then poor people and outsiders could pick up the grain and have food to eat. That was also true for women whose husbands had died and children who had no parents.
(You can read about this law in Leviticus 19:9–10.)
4:14
Boaz became Naomi and Ruth’s protector. In Israel, he was called their “redeemer.” He promised to take them into his household and care for them. We also have a Protector and Redeemer. We read about him in the New Testament. He came into this world and took on himself our sins. He redeemed us with his own blood. He takes us into his household and makes us his children. Who is he? He is Jesus. In Luke 2:11 you can read that the angels called him our Saviour.
4:13–15
In the beginning of the story, Ruth’s life was full of sadness. But it wasn’t like that forever. Her story had a happy ending.
Do you ever feel sad about something in your life? Do you ever mess up?
Choose a color from Hearty’s color chart on page 19 that shows this feeling.
What does it feel like when things turn out well? Choose a color that shows this feeling.
Think about Ruth’s life and tell the Lord what you feel about her story. Tell him what you feel about your own life.
