A. In Search of Food. (Draw: Edges of an old map. Label: "Dead Sea, Jordan, Canaan & Moab")

1. 1.Elimelech, whose name means "my God is my King", lived in Bethlehem at the time of this famine. He and his family, desperate for food, decided to move across the Jordan River into enemy territory - the land of Moab. (Draw: arrow from left to right)
2. We know the move was "desperate" because the Moabites were hostile to Israel and previously forced Israel into slavery. Their pagan religion included human sacrifice.
3. We also know God had a plan and a purpose in all of this.

B. Elimelech and Family. (Draw: the family portrait. Write: "Elimelech & family")

1. 1.At the time of the move, Elimelech’s two boys were probably teenagers. Although Elimelech and his family were Israelites, his sons violate a Mosiac law.
2. His sons meet two of the local Moabite ladies, Orpah and Ruth, and decide to marry them. (Draw: Rings, write: "Orpah" & "Ruth")

C. Disaster Strikes (Draw: Ground & tombstone with "E")

1. Unfortunately, after about 10 years, Elimelech contracts a terrible disease and dies.
2. Whether from the same disease we do not know, but soon after Elimelech is buried, both of his sons die. (Draw: 2 tombstones with "S’s")
3. Now Elimelech’s grief stricken widow, Naomi, with the responsibility of two daughters-in-law, is left in a strange land, surrounded by people who worship evil gods.
4. When it appears she has no hope, word comes that God has "visited His people and given them bread"(which probably means the drought is over and the harvest is coming).(1:16) Naomi makes plans to return home where she still has relatives and property. She tells Orpah and Ruth to go back to their homes in Moab and establish a new life.

D. Day of Decision

1. Both daughters-in-law are heart-broken. They obviously love Naomi very much. Orpah decides to stay in Moab.
2. (Draw: balloon over Ruth’s name. Write: "...you go, I go... your God, my God!") Ruth clings to Naomi, pleading for her to not send her away. Her words have become well known:"For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, And your God, my God." (1:16). Naomi’s faith has become Ruth’s faith.
3. Together, they head for Bethlehem. (Draw: arrow back to Bethlehem)

E. Back Home. (Draw: Naomi in box)

1. 1.Hard times have caused Naomi’s face to change. People ask, "Is that you, Naomi?"
2. Naomi says - "Don’t call me Naomi (pleasant); call me Mara (bitter). I left Bethlehem full, I have returned empty."(1:20,21)
3. She and Ruth have returned home with no husbands and no food. But Ruth loves Naomi and tries to take care of her.

F. The harvest field. (Draw: Barley field)

1. God has sent the rain; the harvest is ready and the reapers are hard at work.
2. The Mosaic law required all reapers to leave grain for the "poor and the strangers." (Duet. 24: 19-21)
3. As a stranger with no money, Ruth felt she qualified, and asks permission from her mother-in-law to join the harvesters.

G. Ruth. (Draw: Ruth in the harvest field)

1. Ruth is a beautiful woman; inside and out. She is later described as "virtuous". She is a woman of character and, thanks to the influence of Elimelech, she is a believer in God.
2. Ruth is totally dedicated and submitted to Naomi. In the words of the local ladies, she is "better than 7 sons."(4:15)
3. However, she is a lone woman in a strange land. She is helpless and vulnerable. She "happens", on that day, to harvest in a field owned by Boaz.

H. Boaz. (Draw: Boaz in the harvest field)

1. Boaz is a wealthy land owner, with many employees.
2. He is a good boss. When he arrives in the field, he openly blesses his workers and they bless him. There is obvious mutual respect and affection.
3. Boaz is a man of solid, mature character. He does things God’s way, the right way.
4. He is also a man. He sees Ruth and asks, "Who is that?"
5. An employee tells him about Ruth and how kind she has been to Naomi. Boaz is impressed and instructs his workers to leave extra grain for Ruth to pick up ...and to leave her alone.
6. Boaz is "in touch" with God. He recognizes God’s hand in sending Ruth to his particular field. (Read 2:12)

I. Ruth Returns Home.

1. When Ruth returns home, she shows Naomi the big bundle of grain, which the owner of the field had arranged for her.
2. "And who might the owner be?" Naomi inquires. Ruth responds, "His name is Boaz. He is a very nice man."
3. Ding! Lights go on for Naomi. He is not only wealthy, generous and nice, he is their next of kin.
4. (The Mosaic law provided for the next of kin to marry a man’s widow so that his name continue and his property be kept in the family. Naomi’s husband had property which she wanted to redeem and Boaz could be her answer.)

J. A relationship grows. (Draw: heart outline)

1. The harvesting continues for the next 3 months.
2. At his request, Ruth stays close to Boaz and his workers. Their relationship grows.
3. Naomi sees what is happening and decides that the best approach is to let Boaz know of their willingness to fulfill the "next of kin" law.
4. Since the next of kin was not obligated to accept the responsibility, Naomi decided to make the "approach" as attractive as possible.

K. Harvest has ended. (Draw: Ground & barn with animals)

1. Naomi knows that tonight Boaz, with other men, will be processing their grain at the "threshing floor."(Illustrated for our purposes as a barn.) After their work is complete, the men will eat, drink and go to bed.
2. Naomi instructs Ruth to take a bath, put on perfume and her best clothes. She is to go to the barn, wait until everyone is asleep, then lie down at the end of Boaz’s blanket. Putting her trust in the God and Naomi, Ruth obeys. (Once again, Ruth has placed herself in great vulnerability.)

L. That night. (Draw: moon & balloon. Write: "Who’s there? Ruth?")

1. About midnight, a startled Boaz realizes someone is lying at the foot of his bed. In the dim light he barely recognizes Ruth. (Maybe he recognizes the perfume.)
2. Ruth responds, (Draw: balloon,"Yes, you are my redeemer. Cover me.") Ruth’s statement is not a proposition; it is a proposal, within the Mosaic law, for marriage. (See Deut. 25)

M. Boaz's Response.

1. Boaz is a man of God. He also loves Ruth very much and wants to protect, not take advantage of her. He compliments her for her virtue and selecting him over the "younger men."
2. "I will perform my duty," he says, "however, you are mistaken. I am not your nearest kin. I must make you available first to him." (Ruth’s heart may have skipped a beat.)
3. In the interest of her reputation should she be seen, Boaz instructs her to wait until everyone is fast asleep. He then, loads her shawl with an abundance of grain, and sends her home.

N. Back Home With Naomi.

1. Ruth arrives home in the very early morning hours. Naomi must have been waiting at the door, wringing her hands, saying, "Yes, yes, what happened?"
2. Ruth shows her the container of grain. She may have also expressed concern that he was not, after all, the nearest of kin.
3. Naomi assures her, "Don’t worry, Boaz is a man of action, and he knows what to do." (3:18) She was right.

O. At Daybreak. (Draw: Sandal. Write: "It’s a deal!")

1. 1.Boaz calls a city council meeting with the elders and the next of kin. After reviewing the case, he concludes, "Naomi has property to redeem and this man has first right. However, if he accepts the land, he must also marry the Moabite widow."(4:5)
2. The nearest of kin declines. Boaz announces, "You are all witnesses. I have hereby accepted Naomi’s land and I have acquired Ruth as my wife. The "deal" is settled by passing a sandal (their contract). (Draw: balloon, "Build the House of Israel") The blessing given by the elders of Israel that day reveals not only a full acceptance of Ruth, but a prophetic word concerning Ruth and Boaz in the ultimate plan of God. (READ: 4:11, 12)

P. Wedding bells ring. (Draw: Ground, arch & bell with ribbon)

1. Boaz takes Ruth as his lawfully- wedded wife and they have a wonderful honeymoon.
2. (Draw: baby in crib) and, in the course of time, a baby is born. They name the child Obed.
3. (Draw: Left panel. Write: words in panel) Naomi takes the child, lays him on her bosom and becomes his nurse. In a sense, Naomi adopts Obed as her own. Her friends declare, "A son has been born to Naomi!" God has greatly blessed this once "empty" vessel. She is now "full".
4. Ruth has been adopted into the family of God just as Boaz’s mom, Rahab was, years before. God has used Jews and Gentiles to build the Messianic lineage.

Q. The Family Tree. (Draw: Right panel. Write: names in panel)

1. The author of the book of Ruth, shows clearly how God watched over the entire story.
2. Starting with Perez, a prominent ancestor, the family tree is traced all of the way to King David - their hero.
3. We know from reading the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 1), that David was the ancestor of Joseph - who married Mary, the mother of Jesus.

R. Our Kinsman, Redeemer. (Draw: Starburst. Write: "Jesus: Our Kinsman-Redeemer!- Gal. 4:4-7" on barn roof.)

1. We, like Ruth, are helpless strangers, without help or hope in a hostile world. Our inheritance is rooted in a fallen nature. Jesus, of whom Boaz was a type, possesses the character and the resources, all we need to feel secure, happy and satisfied.
2. (Read: Galatians 4:4-7) Jesus left His home in heaven to become our "kinsman", identifying with us in every way.
3. As the Lamb of God, He paid the supreme price for our redemption. His blood covers our failures, weaknesses and sins.
4. With His resurrection and ascension, He made a way for all of us...Jews and Gentiles...into the family of God.

APPLICATIONS FOR LIFE

1. As Christians, to whom could we compare Boaz? Ruth?
2. What do you mean when you ask God to "cover you."
3. Name some character strengths of Boaz that we should emulate?
4. What scripture assures us that, "All things work together for good for those who love God?" (Rom. 8:28)