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Ruth was written during the time of the Judges. Early in this story we are introduced to a
broken-hearted mother in Israel who had lost almost everything of value in this life. It is at this
place of devastation where the story begins. The Word of God brings to us a real story like this
to teach us how to understand life¶s perplexities. We are very human with hearts that can be
broken and the woman we are about to consider was just so and in her great distress and
despair, God met her and blessed her.

God¶s work in the hearts of those who trust in Him is a marvelous and precious thing. God, a
long time ago, had a message of great importance to a young convert. The message was this«. I
will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." Why is there suffering for
those who trust in Christ? In Romans 8:17 we read ³if indeed we suffer with ð
 that we may
also be glorified together.´ Although it is hard for us to understand, suffering according to the
will of God is a stepping stone to glorification. In Philippians 1:29 we read this ³For to you it
has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His
sake«.´ Suffering according to the will of God is granted as a privilege worthy of the Lord we
serve. God has granted suffering to us to draw us closer and closer to the Lord we love. In 1
Peter 4:19 we read, ³Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their
souls ð
in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.´ In this verse we learn how to respond to
suffering according to the will of God. The instruction here touches the heart does it not? What
a blessing to experience suffering that may be beyond our ability to stop, or amend. The
suffering may be deep and overwhelming and may feel like death, but what does the one who
trusts in Christ do? The saints commend their very soul to God, who alone knows what we need
and who alone is worthy of all our trust. The purpose in this is to increase our faith and
dependence upon God.

Often, we will find at the outset of suffering that we may feel some bitterness or may resent the
trial. This should serve to remind us, how needful this suffering is for the improvement of our
soul. In this story before us, when the fiery trial fell upon Naomi, she said, ³call me not Naomi´
(Naomi means pleasant or delightful), call me Mara (meaning bitter), for the Almighty has dealt
very bitterly with me. Little did Naomi know how much God would bless her. All her
overwhelming sorrows would end by the God of grace and compassion and the blessings would
eclipse all the sorrows and replace them with such joy. No One teaches us joy better than the
Lord Himself. Remember the Man of Sorrows, who was acquainted with grief has carried your
sorrows« and ³for the joy before Him endured the cross´ for you and for me«.. David says,
³weeping may endure for a night, But joy 
 in the morning«..´ for the believer there will be
a morning and the promise of fullness of joy in the presence of the One who is the lover of your
soul.

 

      

 

1.Ê What motivated Elimelech and Naomi to move to Moab and what did they hope to gain
by the move? Ruth 1:1

2.Ê The land of Israel was described by God as a land the ³flowed with milk and honey.´
What might have been the cause for the famine? See Leviticus 26:19-20
*.Ê When Elimelech and Naomi left Israel what were the spiritual consequences? See
Numbers **:51-54, Ruth 1:4, Nehemiah 1*:2*-27, Ruth 1:15

4.Ê How long did Naomi sojourn in Moab before she decided to go home to Bethlehem and
what does this indicate to us about decisions in our lives? Ruth 1:4

5.Ê Why did Naomi want to change her name to Mara? Ruth 1:20-21

6.Ê In Ruth 1:6 we read that Naomi ³had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD
had visited his people in giving them bread.´ Just think how the LORD worked in a
marvelous way to make sure Naomi heard of His blessings. There must have been a long
chain of communication that brought this message of hope to Naomi¶s ears. In verses 7-
15 we read of Naomi¶s advice to her daughter-in-laws? Was Naomi¶s advice good and
why do you think this?

7.Ê Why did Ruth decline to follow Naomi¶s advice? Verses 16-17

8.Ê What clues do we have that Naomi had testified to Ruth and Orpah about the true God of
Israel? Verse 16-17

9.Ê God was going to bless Naomi, but she could not see it because of her suffering. What
was her testimony of God during her affliction? Verses 20-21

10.ÊDespite Naomi¶s bitter words against Him, God was moving to bring Naomi to
repentance and Ruth to salvation. What was the first step of repentance in Naomi¶s life?
(repentance means to turn back) See verse 7

11.Ê Jesus spoke of repentance in Matthew 9:1*. What does this verse and Ruth chapter one
teach us about the nature of repentance?

12.ÊWhat does sin lead to? Ruth 1:*,5 and Romans 6:2*

1*.Ê How does bitterness in the life of a believer affect our testimony? Hebrews 12:15, Ruth
1:11-1*, 20-21

14.ÊWhat does repentance lead us to? Acts 5:*0-*1, Acts 20:21

15.Ê What do we learn about God in leading us to repentance? Romans 2:4