Your STM Cross-cultural Journey With RuthSample

This might not be the best time to make major life decisions, but...

Summary: Disaster befalls a family. In the midst of grief, two young people are faced with a choice: Stay or go?

Setup: Naomi looked up from her packing, her expression blank and her eyes red. There was nothing left for her in the country of Moab. Not long ago, her husband and two grown sons had filled the modest dwelling with life and laughter. The boys had married local women, and Naomi was hoping that a grandchild would come along soon. Even after her husband passed away, she had hope.

Then suddenly, the young men were dead as well. Now, Naomi’s joy and hope were gone. It was time for her to go back to her hometown. Alone.

Her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, glanced at each other, considering their options. Their world had been rocked, too.

Read: Ruth chapter 1, observing the emphasis on Naomi’s problem—the loss of her family and legacy. Who else experiences the pain of loss?

Then come back and tackle the questions below!

Reflect: Naomi seemed reluctant to receive Ruth’s offer of help. What might be some reasons for that?

Look Back: What losses or challenges have you experienced? How has God used those experiences in your life or in your relationships with others?

Look Around: As you enter a new environment, observe the people you have come to serve. How do they resist or accept the help offered by God’s servants?

Ask God & Others: What encourages God’s servants to stay committed—like Ruth—in the midst of challenging circumstances?

Pray & Plan: Pray that you will be willing to do whatever it takes this week to identify with those in need. Then, set a small, specific goal to get started.

Dig Deeper: Who were the Moabites? How did the Israelites relate to them? What did God’s law say about them? (Use the index or concordance in your Bible or Bible app.)