Love for Our Love for Our Neighbors: Story of Neighbors: Story of

RuthRuth

A Great FamineA Great Famine There came this There came this

great famine in the great famine in the land of Judah. land of Judah.

A man named, A man named, Elimelech took his Elimelech took his wife and his two sons wife and his two sons and moved to Moab and moved to Moab to get away from the to get away from the famine in Judah.famine in Judah.

His wife’s name was His wife’s name was Naomi and his sons’ Naomi and his sons’ names were Mahlon names were Mahlon and Chilion.and Chilion.

A new life begins…A new life begins… It was here where It was here where

Elimelech dies.Elimelech dies. Elimelech’s two sons Elimelech’s two sons

marry Moabite marry Moabite women. Mahlon women. Mahlon married Ruth and married Ruth and Chilion married Chilion married Orpah. They all lived Orpah. They all lived there for about 10 there for about 10 years.years.

Then, both of Naomi’s Then, both of Naomi’s sons died and she was sons died and she was left with their widows left with their widows to care for.to care for.

Questions?Questions?

Where did the family live before Where did the family live before the famine?the famine?

What was the name of the What was the name of the country they went to?country they went to?

What was the man’s name? His What was the man’s name? His wife’s name?wife’s name?

Who were his sons? And what Who were his sons? And what were they’re wives named?were they’re wives named?

The WidowsThe Widows Naomi was very sad!! Naomi was very sad!!

Think about losing a Think about losing a husband and two husband and two children? And not having children? And not having any grandchildren?any grandchildren?

She decided that she She decided that she would return back to would return back to Judah after hearing about Judah after hearing about the good harvest the the good harvest the country was blessed with.country was blessed with.

But what to do with her But what to do with her daughter-in-laws?daughter-in-laws?

She told them to go back She told them to go back to their homes and re-to their homes and re-claim their lives.claim their lives.

However, neither However, neither Ruth nor Orpah Ruth nor Orpah wanted to leave their wanted to leave their mother-in-law mother-in-law because they both because they both loved her very much. loved her very much. They wanted to go They wanted to go back with Naomi.back with Naomi.

But Naomi pleaded But Naomi pleaded with them to go with them to go back. Only Orpah back. Only Orpah agreed to finally go agreed to finally go back home.back home.

Read Ruth chapter 1Read Ruth chapter 1..

Ruth refused to go back Ruth refused to go back and has decided to stay and has decided to stay with Naomi and to take with Naomi and to take care of her since she care of her since she was an elderly ladywas an elderly lady

Ruth also was interested Ruth also was interested to know Naomi’s God to know Naomi’s God and her peopleand her people

So Ruth said to Naomi: So Ruth said to Naomi: “your people are my “your people are my people and your God is people and your God is my God.”my God.”

““Your God is my God”Your God is my God” Those words are very Those words are very

powerful coming from powerful coming from a Moabite woman. a Moabite woman. Remember, Moabites Remember, Moabites are pagans.are pagans.

What is a pagan?What is a pagan? Naomi was so Naomi was so

surprised and surprised and grateful for the deep grateful for the deep love that Ruth had for love that Ruth had for her and they both her and they both went to Judah went to Judah together.together.

ConclusionConclusion Ruth was a pagan woman as we mentioned Ruth was a pagan woman as we mentioned

earlier. Naomi and her family were Jewish.earlier. Naomi and her family were Jewish. However, Ruth entered Naomi’s family and However, Ruth entered Naomi’s family and

through Naomi was brought to the Lord. through Naomi was brought to the Lord. She never read any books about God before She never read any books about God before knowing Naomi and her family.knowing Naomi and her family.

Nonetheless, God has blessed her greatly Nonetheless, God has blessed her greatly because she gave herself up for her mother-because she gave herself up for her mother-in-law and was very sincere about it.in-law and was very sincere about it.

How can you be more How can you be more like Ruth?like Ruth?

Ruth is the perfect example of how we should Ruth is the perfect example of how we should act toward our family; with unceasing love.act toward our family; with unceasing love.

How do you think God wants you to act with How do you think God wants you to act with your family?your family?

How can you make your mom and dad happy?How can you make your mom and dad happy? There is an important rule that we should There is an important rule that we should

always follow when dealing with one another always follow when dealing with one another in our familes…do you know the word?in our familes…do you know the word?

CompromiseCompromise..

Memory VerseMemory Verse

“ “ Your people Your people shall be my shall be my people, and your people, and your God my God.”God my God.”

Ruth Ruth 1:161:16