Ruth Chapter 1: Draw From the Well Bible Study

Ruth and Naomi Part 1,

Naomi's Departure and Ruth's Devotion

In the time of the Judges, a man named Elimelech and his family departed Bethlehem and moved to the pagan country of the Moabites.  There they settled and became part of the community.

Read Ruth Chapter 1.

1.

Why did Elimelech and his family leave Bethlehem?

2.

What is the country that they moved to called?

3.

Who are the Moabites according to Genesis 19:36-37?

Read About the Moabites

The Moabites were allowed to marry Jews but they were not allowed to worship in the assembly.

Elimelech's reason for leaving Bethlehem may seem like a godly one.  He was attempting to save his family from starvation during famine.  However all but Naomi his wife perished while in Moab.  Our life and our times are in God's hands.  His protection and provision knows no limit.  Elimelech's attempts to save his family did not extend their lives.  God does not need our help.  It is possible that Elimelech's natural desire to be a good protector overcame his ability to trust and have faith in God.

The physical famine in Bethlehem may also have been accompanied by spiritual famine in Elimelech.  He removed His family from the people of God and moved them to a foreign land with foreign gods.  The physical famine drove Elimelech to depart from Bethlehem.  Spiritual famine symbolized his departure from God.

--Her Departure with Ruth and Orpah from Moab

4.

 While in Moab what great losses does Naomi suffer? (Ruth 1:3-5)

5.

 Why is this a serious situation for Naomi: to be in a foreign land with out a husband or sons?

6.

 Why does Naomi decide to return to Bethlehem? (vs 6)

7.

 Who accompanies Naomi as she leaves Moab?

 8.

 What does Naomi urge her daughter-in-laws to do? (vs 8-13)

9.

What is Naomi's main concern for her daughter-in-laws?

Israelite law stated that if your husbands dies without an heir (See Deut. 25:5-6) the closest living relative of your husband would *redeem* you by marrying you and providing an heir.

--Her departure from God leaves her empty and depressed

 10.

What does Naomi say God has been doing in her life according to vs 20?

 

11.

 How has she responded to what she feels is God's discipline in her life? (vs 20)

 

Names:  Naomi makes a play off the meaning of her name.  

The name Naomi means *Pleasant* while the name *Mara* means bitter.

 

12

How does Naomi describe her life in verse 21?

 

Naomi's life has become empty in many ways.  Her life is empty of a husband, of her offspring, and her womb is no longer able to produce children. 

 

13.

 

What hope would there be for a widow in Naomi's situation?

 

14.

When have you experienced emptiness in your life? What was the cause and how did you feel?

 

15.

 

When God disciplines us, what is His purpose?

 

When we experience the hand of God in discipline it is a loving hand that seeks to

bring us back into fullness with Him. Naomi says God has disciplined me and made me bitter.  What God longed to do is discipline her and make her broken. 

 

15.

Why would brokenness be an important step toward repentance and revival?

 16.

What do you suspect God may have been doing in Naomi's life that she failed to realize?

 

17.

What should be our attitude when we experience the discipline of God?

 

18.

Why is it important not to let any bitterness take root in our lives? (see Hebrews 12:15)

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