Sunday School Lesson 1: The Faith of Ruth, Ruth 1:6-18, 22, December 3, 2023.
Key Text: Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God (Ruth 1:16).
The story of Ruth occurred in the days when the judges ruled Israel v 1. God used a famine in the land of Judah to teach His providence in blessing His children and revealing His special and unique purpose for the family. One major theological theme can be seen in God’s redemptive plan for Israel through Ruth, the Moabite and the plan extended beyond the Jews to Gentiles. Ruth describes God’s sovereign and providential care which prove to be monumentally crucial to accomplishing God’s will.
Forsaking their inheritance within the land of Israel, Naomi (pleasant) and her husband Elimelech (“my God is King”), along with their sons Mahlon and Chilion, left their home in Bethlehem and migrated to Moab. Even though there is no explanation given to the cause of the famine, forsaking their inheritance may account for their tragic consequences which followed, including physical weaknesses. Shortly thereafter, Elimehech died. The two sons married gentile Moabite women, Ruth (friendship) and Orpah (siff-necked), both of whom also soon became widowed. Naomi was left alone with her two daughters-in-law.
In desperation, Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to “Go, return each to her mother’s house” (v 9) in Moab rather than return with her to the land of Judah. Initially they insisted on returning with her to Judah, but Naomi’s reminder that there were not “any more sons…that they may be your husbands” (v 11) evidently caused Orpah to decide to go back to Moab. Naomi also concluded that it would be better for them to return to their own families and their own deities since she sensed that the “hand of the Lord” was against her v 13. While Orpah elected to remain behind with her own people, Ruth pleaded to Naomi to be allowed to accompany her to Judah (Ruth 1:16-17). Ruth clearly proclaimed her desire to become a follower of the Lord and of the people of Israel. Her decision would lead to untold blessings in the future and the gift of scripture quoted by christian couples in wedding ceremonies, appropriate for such a time. Upon their 60 mile return trip to Bethlehem, they were welcomed by the people who questioned: Is this Naomi, to which she responded: Call me not Naomi, call me Mara (bitter) v 20. Naomi was asking that they not call her a name which was no longer true of her personal experiences. In reality, Naomi would have a full harvest prospect and Ruth would stand out as a foretaste of future Gentile conversions. AMEN!
Leave a Reply