Elementary Level, Block 5—Aaron to Ruth
Week 50
Boaz—Caring for Ruth
Point to Emphasize: It is noble to take care of others by bearing the responsibility for them.
Reference Reading: Ruth 4:1-22
Memory Verse: As for God, His way is perfect… (2 Samuel 22:31a)
Story Sample
When Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, it was the beginning of the barley harvest. Ruth volunteered to go glean in the fields. Does anyone know what it is to glean? This was an Old Testament regulation that provided for the poor, the travelers, the orphans and the widows. During the harvest of the field the reapers were not allowed to go back in their steps so that there would always be some grain left behind for the poor (Dt. 24:19-21). The poor were then allowed to enter the field after the hired reapers, so that they could gather and keep the gleanings. This was God’s way of caring for these people, and it was their right to work in this way. And this was what Ruth was going to do in order to care for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi.
Now, Naomi had a relative, a relative of her husband Elimelech. His name was Boaz, and he was a man of great wealth, and a man who was for God. And it happened that it was in his field that Ruth was gleaning. Boaz came along beside the field and noticed Ruth gathering in the field. He asked his worker who she was, and the young man told Boaz that it was Ruth, a Moabite, who had come with Naomi from Moab. And then this young man spoke well of Ruth. He told Boaz that she was a very hard worker, and that she had been working hard all day, and had taken very little rest. This man had noticed how diligent she was. So he gave a good report about her.
Most people appreciate a hard worker. Have you ever had this happen at school? Your teacher gives a special word or reward to one of the children because she said they worked so hard on a project or a special assignment. And doesn’t it make you feel really good when that child is you?! You feel good because you know you worked hard on that project, and you feel good because you know someone appreciated your hard work. [Storyteller, insert your own experience.]
Boaz appreciated that Ruth was such a hard worker. He appreciated the report he had heard about her, how she had taken such good care of Naomi, and how she had been willing to leave her family and home and come to a strange country. So he made sure she was taken care of as she worked. Ruth was so grateful. She felt unworthy to be treated so kindly.
Boaz knew that she had chosen God by coming to this land, and that Jehovah would surely bless her. Boaz was a very honorable man who responded to the good report about Ruth. He included her in the mealtime with the reapers, making sure that she had enough to eat, and even some extra. Then he instructed his young men to protect her as she worked, even allowing her to glean some of the standing grain. He also had the men break down some bundles that she could glean the best grain. He told them not to reproach her or rebuke her. He did the best he could to provide for this young woman.
Eventually, Boaz married Ruth and God honored this marriage. He blessed it by giving them a baby boy. This was a wonderful birth. The baby’s name was Obed. This was the best family, don’t you think? We have the grandma Naomi who returned to God’s people, and the father Boaz who was an honorable man of God, and the mother Ruth who left all to be with God’s people. What a great family for Obed!
And do you know, the story doesn’t end here. Obed eventually became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David the king. And did you know that David was the ancestor of Jesus? So God was all along planning the best family to eventually bring in Jesus. God always has the perfect way. The story of Ruth is a wonderful story of God’s care!