The Story of Ruth

Reflect

God had a special plan for Ruth. In the first chapter of Ruth, she had to make a difficult choice. Should she stay in her homeland of Moab, like Orpah, or travel with her mother-in-law Naomi to the far-off land of Israel? Naomi knew the journey would be hard and long. She did not expect her daughters-in-law to come with her. But Ruth simply could not let Naomi go alone. She told Naomi, “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi and stay with God. Through Ruth’s service and words, she showed Naomi that God still loved her. The rest of the Book of Ruth tells how God used Ruth’s obedience to provide for her and Naomi. Ruth meets a godly man named Boaz, who lets her gather more than enough grain to survive. Eventually, they marry and have a baby boy named Obed. This baby is a blessing for Ruth and Boaz and a joy for Naomi.

Ruth 4:16-17 says, “Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son!’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Obed was the grandfather of the great King David of Israel. Many generations later, in Matthew 1:5, the gospel writer lists Ruth as one of the ancestors of Jesus.

Please read the entire Book of Ruth (It’s only four chapters long). Want to dig deeper and learn more about God’s special plan for you? Check out Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Psalm 32:8.

Challenge

Think about what you are good at.

• List what you are passionate about or are interested in doing.
• Make a list of how you have served God or will serve God.

Share your answers with someone who knows you well. Maybe a parent, a friend, or a coach can check your lists. Ask them what they think about your gifts, your interests, and how you can serve God.