RUTH 2 THE KINDNESS OF GOD

We are in the middle of our study through the Book of Ruth and we are also approaching Thanksgiving coming up this week. Some of you may have decorated for Thanksgiving and not caved in to the pressure to decorate for Christmas in October. I can’t say much because I listen to Christmas music pretty much any time I want to.

When I think of Thanksgiving decorations, I think of straw and wheat stuffed scarecrows and turkeys and pumpkins everywhere. Maybe you have a little black-hat Pilgrim standing around somewhere with his black buckle shoes. All of these decorations bring up a vibe of celebrating a harvest.

When I think of harvest in the Bible, the Book of Ruth comes to mind because a large portion of the Book takes place in a harvest field. 

We began the story last week looking at Naomi and Elimelech who were from Bethlehem and they had taken off to the land of Moab to escape a plague that was sent on the land. This all took place during the period of spiritual apostasy in the time of the judges. God was judging the people of Israel for their unfaithfulness.

Elimelech and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, had died during their 10 year stay in the land of Moab, leaving Naomi behind with Ruth and Orpah, her daughters-in-law. She tried to send them both back and Orpah left, but Ruth stayed with her.

Our story picks up today after they had returned and Naomi and Ruth are in need of some food and care. Let’s see what happens next.