Review

Refer to the Lesson 72 Flip Chart. Last time we learned about a man named Samson, who was set apart by God to help rescue the Israelites from the Philistines. God gave Samson great strength. But he sinned by letting a woman named Delilah become more important to him than God.

Delilah had someone shave Samson’s hair off, and God took Samson’s strength away. Samson was put in prison. Later, Samson was brought before a large crowd of Philistines, and he prayed for strength one more time. God gave him strength to push down the pillars that held up the building they were in, killing thousands of Philistines!

Refer to the Exodus to Malachi Timeline. Today we’re going to look at a book of the Bible called Ruth. The family we’re going to read about lived during the same time as the judges. NOTE: According to the timeline, the lessons may seem out of order. We chose to cover Gideon and Samson first since they are both in the book of Judges. Ruth and Samuel were contemporaries but are found in different books.

We’ll start today’s lesson with a few words you’ll need to know.

• • Show Family Pictures as you explain.
  When a woman marries a man, what does she call her husband’s mother? Mother-in-law.

  Show Family Picture #1. A mother-in-law is the mother of someone’s husband or wife.

• And what does the husband’s mother call the wife of her son? Daughter-in-law.

  Show Family Picture #2. The wife is now a daughter because she has married into the family.

• Last question: what is the word used for a woman whose husband has died? Widow.

  Show Family Picture #3. A widow is a woman whose husband has died.

  So, today we’re going to talk about a widow and a daughter-in-law.

Ruth Stays with Naomi

This true account begins when there was a famine in Israel. That means there was not enough food for everyone. One man, named Elimelech, took his wife, Naomi, and two sons and moved to the country of Moab where they found food and a place to live.

Refer to the Family Picture #3. But then Elimelech died, leaving Naomi to live as a widow.

Refer to Family Picture #1. Later, Naomi’s sons got married.

Refer to Family Picture #2. Then some years later, both of Naomi’s sons died. Now Naomi was left alone with her two daughters-in-law named Orpah and Ruth.

Refer to Family Picture #3. This was a sad and scary time for these three women. They were all widows now. It would be hard to live without their husbands. In those days women couldn’t go out and get a job to earn money for food like they can now.

One day, Naomi decided to move back to her hometown. She told Ruth and Orpah to go back to their families where they would be cared for.

Orpah decided to go live with her own mother, but Ruth loved Naomi so much that she did not want to leave her alone.

Refer to the Books of the Bible Poster. Let’s find out what Ruth did. We’ll look in the book of Ruth in the Bible. Have the student bring up the Bible and open it to the sticky note. Read Ruth 1:16.

• Where did Ruth say she would go? Wherever Naomi went.

  Ruth promised to always stay with Naomi. Ruth also loved the one true God—the same God Naomi worshipped.

  Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Together they traveled back to Bethlehem where Naomi was from. But these two women were poor and hungry and had no money.

• How many of you believe God was in control and had a plan to help them? Show of hands.

  Refer to the Flip Chart. Ruth decided to go and pick up grain that was left after the workers finished in the fields. As God planned it, Ruth ended up working in the field owned by a man named Boaz. He saw Ruth and told his servants to leave more grain for her so she would have plenty. Then Boaz spoke to Ruth and told her, “Stay here in my fields to collect food where you will be safe.”

  Ruth was surprised and asked, “Why are you being so kind to me?”

  “Well,” Boaz replied, “because I have heard about all you’ve done to help Naomi.”

  Hey! Things are looking up, aren’t they? Do you see how God sovereignly brought Boaz and Ruth together?

• Who remembers what sovereign means? God is in complete control of everything.

Boaz Redeems Ruth and Naomi

It turned out that Boaz was a relative of Naomi's husband. Back in those days when a man died, like Naomi’s husband, the closest relative, a cousin or an uncle, was supposed to make sure the widow was taken care of. This relative was called a redeemer. Say that with me: redeemer.

A redeemer is someone who buys something back or saves someone in big trouble. Naomi and Ruth were in trouble because they had no husbands to protect them or provide for them! They needed help, but they couldn’t pay anyone to help them.

Since Boaz was a relative, he decided to help them. First, Boaz redeemed the land that had belonged to Naomi’s husband. She couldn’t take care of it herself, so he bought it to help provide for Naomi.

But what about Ruth? Let’s find out what happened to her. Read Ruth 4:13–14.

• Refer to the Flip Chart. What did Ruth become? Boaz’s wife.
• • Reread the verses as needed so students can hear the answers straight from God’s Word.
  Right. Ruth and Boaz got married, and God blessed them by giving them a child. Was it a boy or a girl? A boy.
• The women of Bethlehem praised the Lord and said Naomi was not left without a what? A redeemer.
• Who was Naomi and Ruth’s redeemer? Boaz.

  Naomi was no longer afraid and alone. She had her daughter-in-law, Ruth, her relative Boaz—and she would be the baby’s grandmother!

Jesus Redeems Sinners

So, we learned that Boaz was a redeemer. He bought Naomi’s land and provided for her and Ruth. This was the custom in those days. The closest relative, like a cousin or an uncle, would rescue, or redeem, his family members from trouble even though they had nothing to offer him to pay him back for his help.

Refer to the Flip Chart. Did you know that Boaz is like a picture of Jesus? Jesus is a redeemer, too! He redeems sinners! We are all sinners and deserve to be punished. We have nothing to offer Jesus. But Jesus bought us back from sin when he died on the cross. He took the punishment for sin that we deserve and promises eternal life in heaven to all who trust in him. Isn’t that wonderful news? Jesus is our Redeemer!

Review

Refer to the Lesson 72 Flip Chart. Last time we learned about a man named Samson, who was set apart by God to help rescue the Israelites from the Philistines. God gave Samson great strength. He was able to do many mighty things. But he sinned by letting a woman named Delilah become more important to him than God.

When Samson told Delilah the secret of his strength, she had someone shave Samson’s hair off. Then God took Samson’s strength away. Samson was captured, blinded, and put in prison.

Later when Samson was brought before a large crowd of Philistines, he prayed for strength one more time. God answered his prayer, and Samson pushed down the pillars that held up the building they were in, killing thousands of Philistines!

Refer to the Exodus to Malachi Timeline. Today we’re going to look at a book of the Bible called Ruth. The family we’re going to read about lived during the same time as the judges. NOTE: According to the timeline, the lessons may seem out of order. We chose to cover Gideon and Samson first since they are both in the book of Judges. Ruth and Samuel were contemporaries but are found in different books.

We’ll start today’s lesson with a few words you’ll need to know.

• • Show Family Pictures as you explain.
  When a woman marries a man, what does she call her husband’s mother? Mother-in-law.

  Show Family Picture #1. A mother-in-law is the mother of someone’s husband or wife.

• And what does the husband’s mother call the wife of her son? Daughter-in-law.

  Show Family Picture #2. The wife is now a daughter because she has married into the family.

• Last question: what is the word used for a woman whose husband has died? Widow.

  Show Family Picture #3. A widow is a woman whose husband has died.

  So, you’ve probably guessed that we’re going to talk about a widow and a daughter-in-law today.

Ruth Stays with Naomi

This true account begins when there was a famine in Israel. Remember, a famine is when there’s not enough food for everyone. A man named Elimelech moved his family to the country of Moab where there was more food. Elimelech lived in Moab with his wife, Naomi, and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Life seemed to go pretty well for them in Moab—they had food and a place to live.

Refer to the Family Picture #3. But things started going bad when Elimelech died, leaving Naomi to live as a widow.

Refer to Family Picture #1. Later, Naomi’s sons got married. Chilion married Orpah, and Mahlon married Ruth.

Refer to Family Picture #2. Then some years later, both of Naomi’s sons died. Now Naomi was left alone with her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth.

Refer to Family Picture #3. This was a sad and scary time for these three women. They were all widows now. It would be very difficult to survive without their husbands. In those days women couldn’t go out and get a job to earn money for food and clothes like they can now.

• How many of you have moms that go out to a job every day? Show of hands.

  It’s much easier now for women to get jobs, but it was very hard for Naomi and Ruth and Orpah.

  One day, Naomi heard that the famine in Israel was over. So she decided to move back to her hometown of Bethlehem. She told Ruth and Orpah to go back to their families where they would be cared for. Orpah decided to go back to her own mother, but Ruth loved Naomi so much that she did not want to leave her alone.

Refer to the Books of the Bible Poster. We’re going to find out what Ruth did. We’ll look in the book of Ruth in the Bible. Have the student bring up the Bible and open it to the sticky note. Read the verses.

• Where did Ruth say she would go? Wherever Naomi went.

  Ruth promised to go with Naomi. Ruth also loved the one true God—the same God Naomi worshipped.

• • Reread the verses as needed so students can hear the answers straight from God’s Word.
  How long did Ruth say she would stay with her mother-in-law? Until they died.

  Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Together they traveled back to Bethlehem. But these two women were in big trouble! They were poor and hungry and had no money. Ruth decided to go and pick up grain that was left after the workers finished in the fields. Back then, that was how poor people could get food; the field workers were supposed to leave some grain so that poor people could collect it.

• How many of you believe God was in control and had a plan to help them? Show of hands.

  Refer to the Flip Chart. Just as God planned it, Ruth ended up working in the field owned by a man named Boaz. He noticed Ruth picking up grain and told his servants to leave more grain for her so she would have plenty. Then Boaz spoke to Ruth and told her, “Don’t go to anyone else’s fields. Stay here in my fields to collect food so my workers can protect you and share their water with you.”

  Ruth was surprised and asked, “Why would someone like you show me such kindness, especially since I’m from a different country?”

  “Well,” Boaz replied, “because I have heard about all that you’ve done to help Naomi.” Then he prayed a blessing on Ruth, asking the Lord to protect her and reward her.

  Hey! Things are looking up, aren’t they? Do you see how God sovereignly brought Boaz and Ruth together?

• Who remembers what sovereign means? God is in complete control of everything.

Boaz Redeems Ruth and Naomi

It turned out that Boaz was a relative of Naomi's husband. Back in those days when a man died, the closest relative was supposed to make sure the widow was cared for. This relative was called a redeemer. Say that with me: redeemer.

A redeemer is someone who buys something back or saves someone from distress. Naomi and Ruth were in distress, which means big trouble. They were widows, so they had no husbands to protect them or provide for them! They needed help. But they had no way of paying anyone to help them.

Since Boaz was a close relative, he knew he could do something to help them. First, Boaz redeemed the land that had belonged to Naomi’s husband. She couldn’t take care of it herself, so he bought it to help provide for Naomi.

But what about Ruth? Let’s find out what happened to her. Listen carefully as I read Ruth 4:13–14. Read the verses.

• Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. What did Ruth become? Boaz’s wife.
• Right. Ruth and Boaz got married, and God soon blessed them by giving them a child. Was it a boy or a girl? A boy.
• The women of Bethlehem praised the Lord and said Naomi was not left without a what? A redeemer.
• Who was Naomi and Ruth’s redeemer? Boaz.

  Naomi was no longer afraid and alone. She had her daughter-in-law, Ruth, her relative Boaz—and she would be the baby’s grandmother!

Jesus Redeems Sinners

We learned that Boaz was a redeemer. He bought Naomi’s land and provided for her and Ruth. This was the custom in those days. The closest relative would rescue, or redeem, his family members from distress and trouble even though they had nothing to offer him to pay him back for his help.

Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Did you know that Boaz is like a picture of Jesus? Jesus is a redeemer, too! He redeems sinners! We are all sinners and deserve to be punished. We have nothing to offer Jesus. But Jesus bought us back from sin. He paid the price when he died on the cross. He took the punishment for sin that we deserve and promises eternal life in heaven to all who trust in him. Isn’t that wonderful news? Jesus is our Redeemer!