THE STUDY OF RUTH Lesson 1 – Chapter 1 FGA Genesis Home Cell Group 15th May, 2009

Date and Author : Unknown, probably Samuel Background : “In the days when the judges governed” (1:1). Because of the famine in Israel, Elimelech took his wife and sons to Moab. Situation : Israel at one of its lowest points in history; Chaos, division, cruelty, apostasy, civil war, and national disgrace. “everyone did as he saw fit” Date and Author : Unknown, probably Samuel

Main Characters Elimelech – from Bethlehem; husband of Naomi. Mahlon and Chilion – Sons of Elimelech and Naomi Orpah and Ruth – Moabite women married to Mahlon and Chilion Boaz – Kinsman of Naomi

X X X RUTH’S IN-LAWS & HUSBANDS Elimelech Naomi ORPAH RUTH BOAZ Married X ORPAH X Married RUTH Married BOAZ

FAMINE Elimelech & Naomi After Naomi’s husband & 2 sons died, Ruth and Naomi returned to..

MOABITES Genesis 19:30-38 : the ancestor of the Moabites was Lot by an incestuous liaison with his oldest daughter. Lot : nephew of Abraham.

Genesis 19:30-38 Lot and His Daughters 30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father."   33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.  34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." 35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.  36 So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab ; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.

MOABITES Genesis 19:30-38 : the ancestor of the Moabites was Lot by an incestuous liaison with his oldest daughter. Lot : nephew of Abraham. Worship idols. Chemosh – god of Moab – Judges 11:24 Carry out human sacrifices – 2Kings 3:27

Summary- Chapter 1 1 Famine in the land. Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons go to Moab 2 Live in Moab 3-5 Naomi loses her husband and both sons 1:6 Heard that the Lord provided in Bethlehem 7-13 Noami making her return 14-18 Ruth remained with Noami 19-21 Naomi – pleasant; Mara – bitter “The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” 22 Back in Bethlehem. Beginning of barley harvest

QUESTIONS Describe Naomi’s condition after ten years in Moab. In the light of this information and the whole chapter, how did Naomi’s tragedy affect her? How would you have felt if you have were Naomi? If you were Ruth? Naomi said that God was against her. Was she right to think and feel this way? Why or why not?

QUESTIONS contd 4. Reread Ruth’s words to Naomi in 1:16-17 in light of the attitude that Naomi had at the time because of the tragedies she had endured. What insights do you gain about Ruth? 16But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

CHARTING OUR COURSE 1. How should suffering affect a person’s attitude towards God? 2. Have you ever felt empty and affected by God as Naomi did? How did you respond? What did God do in your situation?

GOD BLESS