Lesson One
When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!
Remember that God is faithful and remains with us, even when
we suffer.
bReading assignment: Read the first chapter of Ruth.
We find Ruth, Naomi, and Orpah at the end of their ropes. They are all widows, which at this time in history meant no source of income, and no protection. There was no social security, food banks, welfare, etc.
nWhy does Naomi think she is in her present predicament (1:13)?
? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that God was personally responsible for your suffering?
nWe know from reading James 1:17 that every good and perfect gift is from above, but is God ever responsible for suffering? Read the following scriptures and discover some various reasons that people suffered.
Judges 2:10-15 Why did the Israelites suffer?
Hebrews 12:5-11 Why do Christians sometimes suffer?
These are examples of times when God has initiated suffering. There are also some examples in the Bible when people have been allowed to suffer for a while so that God's plan could be accomplished. We will see in a later lesson that this is indeed the reason that Naomi is being allowed to suffer.
nIn the following examples, write down the name of the person who suffered and what plan of God's was accomplished as a result.
Luke 1:5-17, 57
John 9:1-3
John 19:17-30
? Can you think of a time when you suffered for a while and yet much later discovered that wonderful things had happened in great measure due to the suffering you had endured?
However, there are also times when there is no plan, no reason, no one to blame. Sometimes people suffer just because we live in an imperfect world. Ever since the fall of man, when sin entered the picture, the world has been an imperfect place to live with hardship, suffering, and illness (Genesis 3:17-19). Read Luke 13:1-5, and note that Jesus does not assign blame to the natural disaster of the tower collapse.
Satan is involved in suffering, for he constantly tempts mankind to sin. If our suffering is the natural consequence of some sin in our life--e.g., losing our home due to a gambling problem--then we need to confess our sin, repent of it, and face those consequences to hopefully learn something from the suffering. However, when we suffer and don't really know the reason (as with illness), what do we do then?
So far you're thinking--this is really a depressing lesson, right? Well, God has Good News for you!
nFind out what God promises Christians during times of trouble.
Romans 8:18
Romans 8:26
Romans 8:28
More Promises from God!
Isaiah 49:13
Matthew 5:4
Hebrews 13:5
Revelation 21:3-4
nSo what are we supposed to do when trials and tribulations come into our lives?
Romans 12:12
Philippians 4:6
Hebrews 11:24-28
I Peter 4:12-19
nBack to our story: Even in great affliction, Ruth and Naomi remain faithful to God, and He remains faithful to them. What hints in Ruth chapter 1 would confirm this?
Naomi encourages Ruth and Orpah to return to their mothers' homes, but Ruth will not be persuaded to stay in Moab. Her loyalty and unswerving devotion are to Naomi and Jehovah God. Now the two remaining women are traveling alone towards an uncertain future.
nWhy did Naomi encourage the women to return to their homes (1:11-13)?
Naomi was talking about the custom of widows marrying their brothers-in-law or the next of kin, referred to as the levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). More on this later!
nWhere do Ruth and Naomi travel to and why (1:2, 1:22)?
nWhat is the significance of this place (Micah 5:2)?
Naomi returns to Bethlehem after a 10-year absence. Her return causes quite a stir, indicating that Naomi's family was well known.
Also becoming evident is Ruth's devotion to something and Someone greater than her earthly family in Moab: "At a time when the Israelites were forsaking the Lord and following the gods of the Canaanites and Moabites, Ruth is shown forsaking those gods to follow the Lord" (NIV Compact Bible Commentary).
In the middle of chapter one (vv. 16-17), we find one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. Write these verses in the space below, and reflect on your devotion to follow God on your life's journey.
Ruth 1:16, 17
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