Fall 2005 Unit Two
Scripture Reference: The Book of Ruth
Scripture Synopsis:
Long, Long ago, there was a famine in the land of Judah. Naomi, her husband, Elimilech, and their two sons left their home in Bethlehem and went to the country of Moab in hope of a better life. After they lived there a while, Elimilech died. Naomi and her sons lived there for ten more years, and each of her sons married Moabite women. One of the wives was named Ruth, the other, Orpah. Some time later, Naomi’s two sons died as well, leaving her alone with their wives. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem to live. She told her two daughters-in-law good-bye and they said, “ We will go with you.”
“No,” said Naomi, “Your place is not with me, an old woman. Stay here in Moab where you belong.”
Orpah decided to stay, but Ruth went with Naomi. “Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God,” she said.
When Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem, the women of the town recognized Naomi. “Naomi!” they cried out cheerfully. (Naomi means “Happy”) “Call me Mara,” she said, “because Mara means bitter and God has made me very sad.”
Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem at the height of the barley harvest. Since they did not have any means of income, Ruth went in to the fields to glean barley – to pick up the remnants of the harvest that had been left behind for the poor. The farm she visited happened to belong to a cousin of Naomi’s, whose name was Boaz. Boaz saw Ruth gathering Barley and asked who she was. Ruth’s care and concern for Naomi impressed him, and he invited her to come and eat with him and his workers.
That evening, Ruth told Naomi about her day in the field. Naomi told Ruth to keep going to Boaz’s field to glean. “He is a relative and he will watch over you,” she said.
Ruth went to glean barley in the fields belonging to Boaz every day until the harvest ended. At the end of the harvest, Naomi told Ruth that Boaz would be working at the threshing floor all night long, and she gave Ruth this advice: “Go to the threshing floor and hide. Wait for Boaz to fall asleep. When he does, go and lie down beside him and cover his feet. When he wakes up, ask him to take care of you.”
So Ruth did what Naomi suggested. She lay down next to Boaz and he woke with a start. “Who’s there?” he asked.
“It is I, Ruth,” she replied. “I have come to ask for your protection.”
“There is another relative who is closer to you. If he does not wish to look after you and Naomi, then I will marry you and take care of you both.” (In those days, it was custom that when a man died, his next closest relative would marry his widow or another woman in his family, and take care of his family.)
Boaz went to the market place to find the other relative. When he saw the man, he called him over. He told the man about Naomi and Ruth. The man agreed to let Boaz marry Ruth and take care of Naomi. He offered Boaz his sandal as a sign that he agreed to the plan.
So Boaz and Ruth were married. They had a son named Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of King David, who was an ancestor of Jesus.
Objectives: The students will learn the story of Ruth.
The students will learn about what it means to be a refugee – to leave one’s home and go to a new country.
The students will learn about helping others who are in need.
Workshops: In Creation Corner, the students will make trees with birds and bird nests in them, based on Ruth 2:11-12.
In Biblical Bytes, students will explore websites about modern-day refugees.
In The Welcome Table, students will make Beef Barley Soup for our interfaith homeless guests.
In Good News Games, the students will play a simulation game about refugees.
In The Prophet’s Playhouse, the students will watch a movie about Ruth.