Ruth: A Woman of Commitment

By David Woods

Accountability: How has God blessed your life recently?

Open: How many places have you lived?

Today, we are studying a Moabite woman named Ruth who moved from her home to a foreign country - with her mother-in-law.

Who were the Moabites? In Genesis 19, we read of the birth of a baby named Moab who became the ancestor to the Moabite nation.

Moab was the grandson of Lot, who was the nephew of Abraham. Moab was born by immoral relations. The nation that formed under his name was an ungodly people. Their god was an idol named Chemosh.

When the Israelites were nearing Canaan on their journey from Egypt, God told them not to disturb the Moabites. God had given their land to them. (Deu 2:9)

However, when Balak, king of the Moabites, saw this vast nation camping next door, he became very nervous. He tried to hire a noted prophet, Balaam, to curse the Israelites. But God would only let Balaam bless the Israelites. (Num. 22-25)

Reading between the lines, we learn that Balaam did give Balak some advice about how to defeat the Israelites. The young people from Moab began to seduce the Israelites. God judged the Israelites quite severely.

In Deuteronomy 23:3-4, God commanded that since the Moabites had not welcomed the Israelites but had instead tried to have them cursed, no Moabite, to the tenth generation was to enter the sanctuary - the Tabernacle.

Judges 3:13-14 tells us that at one point Moab oppressed the Israelites during the period of the Judges. Finally, Israel overcame them.

Ruth lived during the period of the judges, however, it is not clear whether that incursion had happened before or after our story.

God had told the Israelites to remain a separate people. They were not to intermarry with the Canaanites. But in the book of Judges we read, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25)

This is context of Ruth 1:1-7 which tells us about an Israelite family who moved to Moab.

Read Ruth 1:1-7

Discussion: Why did this family move to Moab?

Discussion: Should they have moved to Moab? Why or why not?

Discussion: Why did this family stay in Moab so long?

Discussion: Why do you think Naomi decided to return to Israel?

Read Ruth 1:8-18

Discussion: Why did Naomi tell her daughters-in-law to stay?

After both daughters-in-law initially protested, saying they would go with Naomi, Orpah went back to her parents' home. Ruth, however, "clave" to Naomi. She made an astounding, decisive commitment: "Whither thou goest, I will go."

Discussion: What advantages and disadvantages do you think Ruth foresaw as she made this commitment. (Teacher: List advantages versus disadvantages on whiteboard, etc.)

Discussion: What makes a person willing to follow - to commit - to someone else?

Discussion: What do you think Ruth saw in Naomi that she admired so much?

Discussion: What does this story teach us about the Christian's role in the decision of a person to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour?

Read Ruth 1:19

Discussion: From what we know about Israel and Moab's past, what could have been some people's reaction to seeing Ruth with Naomi?

Read Ruth 2:8-9, 22

Discussion: What does this verse imply may have the reception Ruth had in fields other than Boaz's?

Read Ruth 2:10-11

Discussion: Despite the possible negative reaction some may have had toward Ruth, what reputation does she seem to gain very quickly?

Discussion: Why do you think she gained this reputation so quickly?

Read Ruth 2:23

Discussion: In your imagination, do you find Ruth's life especially fun or glamorous? Why?

Discussion: What does it take to stay faithful to one's commitment during the boring and hard seasons of life?

Read Ruth 3:1-5

Discussion: Why does making and keeping a commitment in life require us to give up some of our rights?

Read Ruth 4:13-17

Discussion: What do these verses teach us about the future of those who make a total commitment of themselves to God?

Discussion: List the blessings God poured out on Ruth. (Teacher: List blessings on a whiteboard, etc.)

What we have discussed leads me to the conclusion that:

Big Idea: God honors those who honor Him in life's vital choices.

Aren't you glad for that? Aren't you glad to know that your commitment to God is not futile? Aren't you glad that God rewards those who are faithful to Him despite the circumstances of life?

Discussion: From what we have discussed about making and keeping commitments to God, what lesson(s) about commitment do you feel most apply to your life right now?

Discussion: How can you put this into practice in your life?