The Story Chapter 9: The Faith of a Foreign Woman

Prayer Requests

Recap

What happened last week?

Israel was trapped in a horrible cycle of disobedience, abandonment, repentance, and redemption through the Judges. What were some of the names of the judges?

God continually saved His people after allowing them to be conquered. What does this tell us about God?

God is faithful to His people. He will not lead a sinful people through sin, but when they turn back to Him and repent He will restore them to Himself.

Intro Video

Key Events

Famine in the land of Israel drive Elimelech to move with his wife Naomi and his sons Mahlon and Chilion to the country of Moab

Mahlon and Chilion marry 2 Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah

Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion die, leaving Naomi and Ruth and Orpah with no one to provide for them

By this time, the Lord has provided food for His people in Israel, so Naomi decides to go home. She tells Ruth and Orpah they should stay in Moab and try to remarry, for she cannot provide for them in Israel. Orpah departs but Ruth promises to stay with Naomi, saying “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried.

So Ruth and Naomi travel to Bethlehem

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

What major Biblical figures come from Bethlehem? David and Jesus

When they return, Naomi tells the people of her hometown “Do not call me Naomi” (kindness), “call me Mara” (bitterness)

Discussion

Naomi sends Ruth out to glean

The law forbade harvesters from gathering to the edges of their field, or going back to retrieve anything that was left behind. In this way the poor had a chance to feed themselves

Ruth immediately catches Boaz’s eye, and he tells her that she should glean exclusively in his fields, and he will give his men instructions to help and protect her

Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is a family redeemer, and that she should ask him to marry her

Ruth does as Naomi says, and Boaz wishes to accept, but there is another first in line to be her redeemer

Boaz goes to the elders, and announces that Naomi is selling her husbands land, and asks the nearest relative if he would buy it

The man says he will, but Boaz then mentions that he must also marry Ruth

The man then says he cannot, for it would damage his inheritance, probably implying that since the fields will likely belong to his offspring with Ruth and not any he may already have, he simply cannot afford to buy the land AND support Ruth

Boaz offers to marry Ruth

This is blessed by the elders, who bless their marriage and new family.

Ruth and Boaz have a son, named Obed. Obed would grow up to become the father of Jesse, who would be the Father of David

Discussion

What is unique about the way that Boaz marries Ruth?

He first offers to protect and help her while expecting nothing in return

When given the opportunity to marry her, he first takes the matter to the elders in accordance with the law and custom of Israel

Young ladies, think about if you, when deciding if you like a boy or not, consider how he cares for others while expecting nothing in return? Do we consider if he insists on doing things the proper way, the way that your parents and God would approve of?

Young men, are you like Boaz? Do you care for those who need assistance without expecting anything in return? Or is your kindness like a currency you exchange with others for like kindness, for dates, for help with your math homework? When you consider a young woman you may want to date, is your first thought to how God and her parents would want you to approach her?

Where is Jesus?

Boaz cares for Ruth and Naomi, one who left Israel when things were hard and another who was not born an Israelite, because they came to him in their time of need.

Obed, son of Boaz and Ruth, grandfather of David, was also an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

Announcements

Pi Day 3/14

Teen Night 3/28 @ The McKinney’s

Camp is coming!