Kids' Club: Ruth 1:1-5

Introduction:

Content and Explanation: Ruth 1:1–5 “1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

Friends, notice the time marker that we’re given here.

“in the days when the judges governed.”

Friends, these things actually happened in real time!

And the things that they faced along with the things that they did are real things that any of us could face and do!

Who knows what this might be referring to?

This is during the time when God raised up soldier leaders.

These were individuals like Samson, Gideon, Deborah and Barak, Jepthah, and Ehud.

Time and again, a national enemy would threaten God’s people.

In His kindness and love for His people, God would call on someone that God would use to rescue the people and defeat His enemies.

Friends, do you know why the Israelites had so many threats and enemies that would attack them?

It was because of their sin!

Friends, this period of the judges was marked by sin after sin of the Israelites.

Friends, while the events that we’re reading about are not necessarily about sin, the opening line reminds us about the presence of sin then just as we have it now.

Friends, sin was a problem then just as it’s a problem now.

Remember, friends, sin is anything that we think, say, or do that makes God sad, displeases Him, breaks His Word/Law.

And, friends, the Bible reminds us that we’re all sinners, like the characters that we’re going to be introduced to here soon.

Notice, friends, what is taking place during this time when the judges are ruling.

A famine.

Do you know what a famine is?

A famine is a time wherein there is little if any food.

It’s difficult for us to imagine there being a famine since we can go to grocery stores and find shelves of food!

Probably, for many of us, you can go home and open a pantry or a cabinet or the refrigerator and find lots of food.

During this time, and even around the world today, many had to grow their own food.

If there was no rain, then there was no water for the crops like wheat to get the food and nutrients they needed to survive.

Therefore, there was no food.

Friends, Who is in charge of the weather and all things that relate to growing food from the ground?

The Lord.

Friends, even when one faces difficulty, like a famine, the Lord is in charge.

Difficulties do not diminish the Lord’s control of our circumstances.

In all things, whether difficulty or otherwise, we must trust the Lord as He’s working our His purposes, even through what we perceive as difficult.

Because of this famine, or lack of food, look at what we see next.

A family left for another country.

They went to Moab.

They didn’t plan for a vacation there.

They planned to live there.

Why do you think that they planned to live there?

In order to get the food that their family needed to survive.

Friends, this demonstrates just how desperate their situation was.

When you move from one place to another, it’s a really big deal.

There’s the packing.

And there’s the issue of finding a place to live.

Friends, they would not have done something like this unless they knew that they couldn’t live where they were any longer since there was no food.

Friends, in all your plans, even in something as big as moving to another place, we’ve go to seek the Lord.

We don’t know whether or not this family prayed and sought the Lord about this decision.

The fact that the Spirit does not record it for us points out all the more importance of seeking the Lord in our decisions.

Our perception of the importance of the decision doesn’t mean that we should seek the Lord in some things and not others.

We’ve got to seek the Lord always!

Friends, we’ve seen a family leave their home to make a new home in a new country - but we haven’t met them yet (let’s read v. 2).

2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.

Now we know the names of each member of this family!

Friends, this is a family of four!

Some of you know what it’s like to be a family of four.

Friends, this could be your family.

Your mom and dad, thinking of what’s best for your family, had to determine where to live that would be best for your family.

Usually, when thinking about moving it can be exciting in the prospect of meeting new people.

We can only imagine how they must have felt in leaving their home to make a new one.

Friends, that mixture of sadness and excitement is met with a new event in the life of this family.

3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.

Friends, what happened to Elimelech?

He died.

This family faced the sadness and excitement of moving.

Now, their dad and Naomi’s husband had died.

Friends, notice how this verse refers to Naomi.

Elimelech is referenced as Naomi’s husband.

And then the loss for the family is mentioned by referencing Naomi’s loss.

Friends, this doesn’t mean that Mahlon and Chilion weren’t sad.

But the Holy Spirit is focusing us on Naomi’s sadness here.

But, friends, this sadness is met by another event that would change the life of this family.

4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.

Friends, Mahlon and Chilion get married!

The sadness of Elimelech passing is now met with the happiness that comes with getting married!

This family of four came to Moab to survive and find food.

Though Elimelech has passed, they have now added 2 new members to their family, making them a family of 5.

However, their happiness is met with more tragedy after 10 years.

5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.”

Friends, Mahlon and Chilion joined their father in death.

The term “bereft” means loss.

Friends, whose loss is being referenced here?

“the woman”

Who is “the woman?”

Naomi.

Friends, Naomi is the specific focus of what was lost here.

Friends, the Spirit has done this not because Ruth and Orpah aren’t sad.

He’s done this so that readers would feel extreme sadness for this woman who lost her husband first and now both of her boys.

In fact, friends, if at this point you feel like crying, it’s ok.

This is a really sad start to this story.

Friends, Naomi has lost the family that she left with to make a new start in a new country.

Well, friends, what we’ve seen so far is the extreme loss that this woman has suffered.

Friends, how do we respond to this circumstance and any time where we know that someone has experienced loss?

Application: Because Jesus has saved you, be compassionate towards those who have experienced loss.

Friends, have you ever known someone who has lost someone that they loved?

How do you respond to someone that you know who has lost someone that they loved?

Our memory verse reminds us what we should do when we know someone who has lost someone that they loved.

Romans 12:15 “15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

Friends, this verse doesn’t mean that you actually have to cry with someone.

Instead, it means that you are sad with them.

This could be where you tell someone that you are sorry for their loss.

It might even mean checking on them every once in a while to see how they’re doing.

Friends, why does God’s Word have to remind us to be sad with those who are sad over a loved one they have lost?

Friends, we have to be reminded to be sad with others because it’s something that doesn’t come natural to us.

You see, friends, naturally, we just think of ourselves.

Our wants.

Our comforts.

Friends, we call this selfishness and it’s referred to in the Bible in a number of ways.

Exodus 20:17 “17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.””

Friends, the only way that we’re going to be able to fight against our selfishness and think of others, especially when they’ve lost a loved one, is if the Holy Spirit is changing your heart so that you think more of others.

The only way that you’ll receive the Holy Spirit is if the Lord Jesus has given Him to you.

The Lord Jesus will give you the Holy Spirit when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior from your sins.

Scripture Memory - Romans 12:15 “15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (2X)

Friends, when you know that someone has lost a loved one, let them know that you’re sad for them and ask them how they’re doing.

Repetition - Romans 12:15 “15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (2X)

Discussion Questions:

What group of people would the Lord call as soldier leaders to defeat the enemies of Israel? - the judges

What is it called when no food is able to grow? - a famine

What family of four left their home to live in Moab? - Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, and Chilion

What happened to Mahlon and Chilion after their father died? - they got married

Who lost her family while living in Moab? - Naomi