Ruth Continues

Women of Courage:  The Study of Ruth – Jan. 19

Question #3- Describe Naomi’s life during the time she decided to return to Israel from Moab

 She felt that God was against her, her husband and sons had died and there is no mention of other relatives.  She most likely did not have a choice in the decision to go to Moab, but she was a woman of strength, courage, and faith, definitely a life of turmoil and testing.  Through all her trials and tribulations she kept her focus on God.  She most likely was left without funds or means to survive.   She understood how God could judge their decisions.  She had to assume the responsibility of the family.  She may have understood the failure of her family to trust God through the famine.

James 1:2

² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

This is the practical application of how Naomi looked at her trials.

What he has told you in the light, don’t forget when it is dark.

Ruth 1:5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

Naomi was caught in the state of sadness about the loss of her family, it brought about an action of change.  She focused on returning to her home, but she could not take a pagan back to her home land without repercussions.  Naomi must have heard the stories of Rahab and knew that God could change the heart.

She was totally accepted in her return to Israel and God blessed her.

Question #4 – Compare the responses of Orpah and Ruth encouraged them to return to their families rather than follow her to Israel

Naomi may have thought about the fact that her daughter-in-laws were Moabites and she may have been concerned about how they would be received.  Both girls had family and they could return to their families.   She forced them to look at their choices, their lives and their God.

Ruth 1:15

¹⁵ And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

She knew that Orpah would return to her families beliefs, but Ruth made a vow to Naomi.

 

^{Ruth 1:16} But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever 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.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.”

She stated this poem in Hebrew poetry style, which implies that she had fully changed her beliefs. One chose God and the other turned away.

It is often easy to stick with what is known to us, but God often draws his own to step out into the unknown.  God leads and guides us into the paths that he has prepared for us.

Question#5 In what ways did Boaz show special kindness to Ruth as she gleaned?

God set it up as a provision for the poor of the land.