Passage
Ruth 1:1-22 (ESV)
God’s Wrath and Justice
Revelation 6:1-17
Key Verse: 6:17
Naomi and Ruth
Date: Jan. 9, 2018
Daily Bread
Introduction to Ruth
Key Verse: 1:16
1. Tragedy strikes an immigrant family (1-7)
The book of Ruth opens with a tragic story. In the days of the judges, Israel was spiritually and morally bankrupt. Bethlehem, the house of bread, was empty because of a famine. Elimelech took his wife Naomi and his two sons and moved to Moab. Then Elimelech died. The two boys grew up and married Moabite girls. Then, Mahlon and Kilion died, leaving no children--only three sorrowful widows.
2. Orpah and Ruth (8-22)
Naomi's husband and sons were dead. Her life was empty. She heard that the famine in Israel had abated, so she decided to go home to Bethlehem. She advised her two daughters-in-law to go back to their own families to solve their marriage problems. Orpah accepted Naomi's advice, kissed her good-bye and left. But Ruth made a decision to give up her own marriage and her future and go with her mother-in-law back to Israel. She would be faithful to Naomi, to Naomi's people and to Naomi's God.
Prayer: Lord, give me courage to be faithful to you no matter what the sacrifice.
One Word: A decision of faith
