Scripture reference: Ruth 1:1-6 (ESV)

Naomi Widowed

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food.

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• Themes in the book

I. God’s Sovereign hand in the time of rebellion & darkness 

II. God sees the needy, destitute and the foreigner 

III. God uses faithful, loving and loyal people to demonstrate his character & ways 

IV. Faithfulness is rewarded in God’s time & God’s way 

V. Foreshadow of the Sacrificial Redeeming Love of Jesus Christ

• Reflection Questions

1. Are you making decisions according to the word of God or according to what you think or feel as you go through a crisis? How? 

2. How do you respond when there is a lack of provision where God has previously provided? 

3. When multiple difficult or tragic things come, how are you looking for the light of the hope of the Lord? 

4. Do you remind yourself that you are a member of the family of God when tragedy hits?

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