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Have you ever moved to a new place, where you didn't know anyone? Who noticed you and accepted you? Who helped you? Who became your friends?
Ruth moved to a new land. Her husband had died, so she clung to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Then God brought a new person to take care of Ruth.
Now, use your imagination, as we journey back through time to look at the Life Connection Story "Ruth."
(Story adapted from the Book of Ruth)
My name is Ruth. I am excited to share with you how God worked in my life.
I am from the land of Moab, but I remember a time when the land of Israel did not have enough food. A woman named Naomi, her husband, and their two sons lived in Bethlehem, Israel. They moved to Moab to find food. After a while, Naomi's husband died. I married one of her sons, and we stayed in Moab for ten years. Then my husband and his brother also died. Naomi decided to leave Moab and go back to Bethlehem. She had heard that God had provided food to Israel. I wanted to go with Naomi, but she told me to go home. She said that she couldn't help me find a new husband. We cried, and I clung to Naomi. I did not want her to go without me. Finally, she let me go with her to Israel.
Naomi had a wealthy relative named Boaz. He lived in Israel. One day, I went into the fields to gather grain that the workers had left behind. I went into Boaz's field. He noticed me and asked who I was. He told me to stay in his field, gather grain, and get water when I was thirsty. I bowed before Boaz. I asked him why I had found favor in his eyes and why he noticed me. I was a foreigner! Boaz said that he knew I had left my father, mother, and country, so he would provide for me. He had seen me at my worst. I was all dirty from working in the field, yet he accepted me. He even invited me to come and eat with him. Boaz is like the Promised One. The Promised One invites all people to come to Him. He accepts them, no matter how dirty they appear. Isn't God great?
I gathered grain in Boaz's field until the harvest was finished. Naomi thought that Boaz might want to take care of me or even marry me. So she told me to clean myself up and go to Boaz.
I waited until Boaz fell asleep beside a pile of grain. Then I quietly lay down at his feet. About midnight, Boaz woke up. Startled, he asked who I was. I told him my name and asked him to take care of me. According to Jewish customs, if a husband died, the closest male relative took care of his wife. Boaz blessed me and said that he would take care of me-and even marry me-if Naomi's closest relative refused to take care of me.
Boaz found the relative. He told him that Naomi wanted to sell a piece of land that had belonged to her husband. If the relative bought the land, then he had to marry me. The relative said he couldn't do this. He told Boaz to buy the land and took off his sandal. Long ago in Israel, when people traded or bought back something, one person took off his sandal and gave it to the other person. This was their "proof of purchase." Boaz told the leaders and all the people that he had bought everything that belonged to Naomi's husband. He also said that he would marry me. The leaders and all the people blessed us, saying, "May you prosper . . . and be famous in Bethlehem."
Boaz bought the land back for me. Then Boaz and I married. God enabled me to become pregnant, and I gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi, "May he be famous in Israel! And may he give you new life."
I'm so glad that Boaz wanted me. He made me part of his family. He took care of me. He gave me a new life.
Let's thank God for all He has done and for His great love for us. Pray these words of praise to Him:
God, Thank You for noticing me and providing for me. You give me everything I need. You take care of me. I want to know You as my Life Giver.
Use the Book of Ruth and the Life Connection Story. They will help you complete your Life Connection Response.
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