The book of Ruth kicks off with a bit of a bummer. It’s a time when judges ruled Israel, and things weren’t great. There was a famine in the land, meaning food was scarce. Imagine empty fields, hungry families, and people worrying about where their next meal would come from.
In the town of Bethlehem, known as the “house of bread,” there was a man named Elimelech. He had a wife, Naomi, and two sons. Faced with the famine, Elimelech made a bold decision – to leave his home and move to the land of Moab.
Moab was a neighbouring country, but it wasn’t exactly a friendly place for Israelites. The Moabites worshipped different gods and had a history of conflict with God’s people. Yet, desperate times call for desperate measures. Elimelech hoped to find a better life for his family in this foreign land.
Thinking Deeper
- Why do you think Elimelech chose Moab? Was it a wise decision? What other options might he have considered?
- What challenges do you think the family faced in leaving their home and culture behind?
- How might the famine have tested their faith in God?
Life in Moab & a Growing Family
The family settled in Moab, and time passed. Elimelech’s sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. This was a big deal – marrying outside of their faith and culture was unusual and even frowned upon by some.
But tragedy struck again. Elimelech died, leaving Naomi alone with her two sons. It wasn’t long before her sons also died, leaving three widows in a foreign land.
Thinking Deeper
- What does the family’s experience in Moab teach us about the consequences of choices?
- How do you think Naomi felt after losing her husband and sons?
- Why might it have been difficult for Orpah and Ruth to be married into an Israelite family?
A Glimmer of Hope & a Tough Decision
Despite the hardships, there was a glimmer of hope. Naomi heard that the famine had ended back in Bethlehem. She decided to return home, but she faced a tough choice. Should she encourage her daughters-in-law to come with her, or should she urge them to stay in their own land and try to rebuild their lives there?
Thinking Deeper
- What factors do you think Naomi considered when making her decision?
- If you were Orpah or Ruth, what would you have done?
- How does this story show the difficult situations people sometimes face?
This first part of Ruth’s story is all about tough choices, loss, and the unexpected twists and turns of life. It sets the stage for a tale of loyalty, faith, and redemption.
Extra Notes
“That we cannot expect to prosper when we go out of the way of our duty. He that will save his life by any indirect course shall lose it.” Matthew Henry comments that in leaving Israel to go to Moab, “if he could not live in hope that there would come years of plenty again in due time, or could not with patience wait for those years, it was his fault, and he did by it dishonour God.”
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