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Ruth 1:8-10

 Although Naomi's spiritual health is at it's lowest at this point in the story (Ruth 1:13, 20-21) her relationship with her daughters-in-law is at it's highest.
Naomi, it turns out, is a good mother-in-law who enjoys a close relationship with Orpah and Ruth.

How do we see their 'painful shared experience' drawing them closer together?

Why do Ruth and Orpah chose to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem?

On the way back to Bethlehem, Naomi has a change of heart.

Why?


The Moabites were descended from Lot (and therefor distantly related to the Israelites) but had been long-time enemies of the Israelites (see Numbers 22-25).
When the Israelites were making their way into the Promised Land, Moabite women seduced the Israelite men and led them into idolatry, causing them to sin against God, eventually resulting in 24'000 Israelites dying (see Numbers 25:1-9)...


[Activity] Read Deuteronomy 23:3, Nehemiah 13:1-3, Deuteronomy 23:6, and Judges 3:14.
What can we gather from all of this?


Would you agree or disagree with Naomi that both Ruth and Orpah have a better future in Moab?
Why or why not?

In Ruth 1:9 Naomi encourages her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab... but instead, what do they decide to do?

If you had to live in a community that was unwelcoming of Christianity, what might be some of the challenges or dangers that this could pose to your Christian faith?

Their willingness to give up family and friends, their future and their happiness, shows their devotion to their mother-in-law.


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