Introduction
How much are you willing to lose for your faith? How much are you willing to lose for the people who are dearest to you? Over a century ago, several missionaries went to the African nation of Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The people there decided to test how much the missionaries really believed what they were saying. One day a very young daughter of one of the missionaries grew sick. Nothing they could do helped. After a few days she died. The next week, another of the missionaries fell sick with the same symptoms. Again, he died. This continued until all of the missionaries and their families had died. What had happened? The villagers had poisoned the missionaries one by one to see if they would leave. When the missionaries stayed despite the very real threat of death to share the gospel, the villagers were impressed by the faithfulness shown. They turned from their tribal religion, and believed in the God for whom these missionaries had lived and died. In the next scene of the book of Ruth, we will see God’s faithfulness. We will also see a lady who was faithful to God and her mother-in-law. Her faithfulness cost her everything – her religion, her family, her country – yet it was richly rewarded. Study Ruth 1:6-18 to learn about true faithfulness.
Observation
Pray
Before reading and studying this passage pray and ask God to help you understand it.
Read Focus Verses
The next section of the story of Ruth that we are studying is Ruth 1:6-8. Read these verses carefully, noting what happens.
Read in Context
Now go back and read the verses before today’s passage to get a little context on what’s going on. Read Ruth 1:1-5.
She
Who is the she in verse 6?
Remember
Why was Naomi in Moab?
Going Home
Why did Naomi decide to return home to Israel when she did?
As You Treated me
How does Naomi say that her daughters-in-law treated her in verse 8?
Your Own Words
In your own words, summarize why Naomi told her daughters-in-law that they should return to Moab.
Returning
Who returned to her people?
Cleaving
Who stayed with Naomi?
New Identity
Which aspects of Ruth’s identity does she say have changed in verses 16-17?
Determination
Why did Naomi stop trying to persuade Ruth to go back?
Interpretation
Impression
Based on your impression from this parting scene, how do you think Naomi treated her daughters-in-law?
The Journey
The journey back to Bethlehem from Moab would have been 30-50 miles, depending on their route. This area is very rugged and steep. You can see the two areas clearly on this map.
Click To Visit WebsiteNaomi’s Explanation
Naomi tells Orpah and Ruth that they should return because she will have no more sons for them to marry. We will study this further later in the book of Ruth, but for now see why Naomi would have said this based on Deuteronomy 25:5-6.
Why
In your own words, why did Naomi not having more sons impact whether she thought Orpah and Ruth should return with her to Israel?
Connection
It might seem that they still could have found other husbands in the land of Israel, but if you remember from studying Ruth 1:1-5, the Israelites were not to marry people outside of the people of Israel.
Against Me
Who does Naomi blame for her problems in verse 13?
Another Source
Based on what you saw in the previous part of this story, who do you think was really to blame for Naomi’s problems?
God’s Involvement
Does that mean God was not involved in the bad things that happened? Read what God says about that to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4:25-28.
God’s Mercy
But then notice what God says in the next few verses. Deuteronomy 4:29-31.
The Lord’s Hand
So when Naomi says that the Lord’s hand was against her, she was partly right because He had judged the sin of her family. What part of today’s passage in Ruth when compared with Deuteronomy 4:29-31 tells us that Naomi was only seeing part of the story, and that God was also still faithfully showing her mercy?
A Picture of Faith
Ruth here professes that she is a believer in the God of Israel. He is her God. She completely trusts in Him. See how Boaz summarizes this later in Ruth 2:12.
Described
How does Boaz describe Ruth’s position as a believer in Yahweh, the God of Israel?
A Complete Change
Notice how much about Ruth changed because she was a believer in the true God. She became a Jew by religion and practice though she was not one by birth. Read Galatians 4:3-7 and notice how believers today experience a similar change.
A New Identity
What word does God use in Galatians 4:5 to describe the change of identity when a person believes God and trusts in Him today?
Ruth’s Faithfulness
What are some of the things you can think of that would cost Ruth on account of her faithfulness to Naomi and to God ?
Faithfulness
Ruth was faithful to Naomi and chose to accompany her even though it might have cost Ruth everything. To whom else was Ruth faithful by returning with Naomi?
Reward
We’ll get to it later, but read Ruth 4:13 for a sneak peak of the rewards of Ruth’s faithfulness.
Bedtime Story
Let’s say you were telling the story of Ruth to a child. Tonight’s installment of the story is from these verses you’re studying today. How would you tell this story to them?
Application
Adopted
What gods or habits is God prompting you to forsake in order to follow Him?
Faithful
In what ways can you take action today to be faithful to God whatever it costs you?
Wrapup
Closing
We hope this study has helped you understand more of the depth of true faithfulness.
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