Today’s focus will be on the prologue (plus one verse) of the Ruth narrative. As you work through today’s assignment, think back to the title/heading you gave these verses on Monday. After you’ve taken the time to look more closely at these verses, would you change the title you gave them on Monday or did you choose an appropriate title then? A great deal happens in these first few verses yet we aren’t given many details about these events.
ASSIGNMENT:
Read Ruth 1:1-5 and identify (and list in your notebook) the many difficulties Elimelech’s family encountered.
One of the worst fates a woman of this era could face would be to be widowed and without children/grandchildren to care for her physical needs. Having descendants to carry on the family name and bloodline was also of the utmost importance in this culture.
However, Naomi is about to see an indication that God is at work …
Read Ruth 1:6. What is the good news here?
**Note: Verse 6 in the NASB reads: …for she had heard…that the Lord had visited His people in giving them food. The cross reference is Gen. 50:24. “Visited” refers to the helpful actions of a superior to those under him. In Ruth, Naomi understands that the Lord Himself has provided food for His people.
(Whether God caused the famine, the death of the men in the family, & the infertility of Ruth & Orpah or not, He was responsible for the rescue!)
