We are learning about some of the heroes of the Old Testament who loved God and lived their lives for him. In this session we are going to hear about two women: Naomi and Ruth. Let’s watch the video to see what happened:
Story Video:
© Tommy Nelson. Read and Share Bible. Art by Gwen Ellis.
Time to Think and Pray
Questions
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Why do you think Ruth wanted to go to Israel with Naomi?
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What was the name of the rich man that Ruth met in Israel?
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What was this man like?
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What did Ruth do to see if the man wanted to marry her?
Poor Ruth and Naomi had both lost their husbands! Ruth had been married to Naomi’s son and she loved Naomi as much as her own mother. They both lived in a place called Moab. After her husband and sons died , Naomi decided that she should move back to Israel, which was her home. She told Ruth to stay behind in Moab with her own family. But Ruth wanted to go with Naomi! She was very loyal and and didn't want to leave her. In Moab, people worshipped false gods that were bad. Ruth wanted to go to Israel with Naomi so that she could become a part of God's special family, and worship the one true God.
When they arrived in Israel, Ruth and Naomi didn’t have any money, so Ruth started working in a field that belonged to a rich man called Boaz. Naomi thought that Boaz would be a good husband for Ruth but they needed to find out if he wanted to marry her. One night, when Boaz was sleeping in his field, Ruth went to him and lay down at his feet. This was a sign of respect, and showed that Ruth wanted Boaz to marry her. When Boaz woke up he was pleased to see what Ruth had done. He knew she was a good woman who loved God, and he liked her very much! Soon Ruth and Boaz were married and had a baby! They and Naomi all lived their lives worshipping God together.
Ruth wanted so much to be a part of God’s family and we can too! All we need to do is ask God to forgive us for the wrong things we do, and try our best to love and follow him each day. God loves us so much and wants us to be a part of his special family!
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that we can be a part of your special family, just like Ruth and Naomi were. Please help us to love and follow you each day so that we can grow in faith and become close friends with you. Amen.
This Week's Song: Great Big God
Naomi & Ruth Bookmarks
You will need: Colouring pens or pencils, scissors, wool or ribbon (optional) and a copy of the printable template.
Colour your bookmarks and cut them out. Tie a piece of wool or ribbon through the hole at the top. Why not give one to a friend?
Challah Bread Recipe
You will need: 500g White bread flour, 70g caster sugar, 7g dried yeast (1 packet), 2 eggs, 70ml sunflower oil – plus extra for the bowl, and 1 tablespoon poppy or sesame seeds for topping (optional).
Challah bread is a traditional Jewish sweet bread that is usually eaten on the Sabbath each week or at Passover. This might have been the kind of bread that Naomi and Ruth would have eaten! Follow the instructions on bbcgoodfood to make your Challah loaf. Make sure you get help from a parent or guardian to make this yummy recipe!
Image by bbcgoodfood.com
