Love for Our Neighbors: Story of Ruth

A Great Famine There came this great famine in the land of Judah. A man named, Elimelech took his wife and his two sons and moved to Moab to get away from the famine in Judah. His wife’s name was Naomi and his sons’ names were Mahlon and Chilion.

A new life begins… It was here where Elimelech dies. Elimelech’s two sons marry Moabite women. Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah. They all lived there for about 10 years. Then, both of Naomi’s sons died and she was left with their widows to care for.

Questions? Where did the family live before the famine? What was the name of the country they went to? What was the man’s name? His wife’s name? Who were his sons? And what were they’re wives named?

The Widows Naomi was very sad!! Think about losing a husband and two children? And not having any grandchildren? She decided that she would return back to Judah after hearing about the good harvest the country was blessed with. But what to do with her daughter-in-laws? She told them to go back to their homes and re-claim their lives.

However, neither Ruth nor Orpah wanted to leave their mother-in-law because they both loved her very much. They wanted to go back with Naomi. But Naomi pleaded with them to go back. Only Orpah agreed to finally go back home. Read Ruth chapter 1.

Ruth refused to go back and has decided to stay with Naomi and to take care of her since she was an elderly lady Ruth also was interested to know Naomi’s God and her people So Ruth said to Naomi: “your people are my people and your God is my God.”

“Your God is my God” Those words are very powerful coming from a Moabite woman. Remember, Moabites are pagans. What is a pagan? Naomi was so surprised and grateful for the deep love that Ruth had for her and they both went to Judah together.

Conclusion Ruth was a pagan woman as we mentioned earlier. Naomi and her family were Jewish. However, Ruth entered Naomi’s family and through Naomi was brought to the Lord. She never read any books about God before knowing Naomi and her family. Nonetheless, God has blessed her greatly because she gave herself up for her mother-in-law and was very sincere about it.

How can you be more like Ruth? Ruth is the perfect example of how we should act toward our family; with unceasing love. How do you think God wants you to act with your family? How can you make your mom and dad happy? There is an important rule that we should always follow when dealing with one another in our familes…do you know the word? Compromise.

Memory Verse “ Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16