Ruth and Naomi

Long ago there was a famine in Bethlehem, which means there was not enough food. So a man named Elimelech took his wife Naomi and their two sons to the land of Moab, where there was food.

In Moab, Elimelech died. The two sons married women from Moab, named Orpah and Ruth. About ten years later, both sons died too. Naomi was left alone with her two daughters-in-law, and she was very sad.

Then Naomi heard that God had sent food to Bethlehem again, so she decided to go home. She told Orpah and Ruth to go back to their own mothers' homes. Orpah kissed her goodbye and went. But Ruth held on to Naomi and would not leave. Ruth promised to stay with Naomi for the rest of her life, and she chose to worship the God of Israel.

They reached Bethlehem just as the barley harvest began. Ruth went out to the fields to gather the leftover grain the harvesters dropped. God's law said poor people and strangers could do this.

The field belonged to Boaz, a good man who was a relative of Naomi's husband. Boaz noticed Ruth and asked who she was. When he heard how kind she had been to Naomi, he told her to stay in his field, drink from his water jars, and eat lunch with his workers. He even told his workers to drop extra grain for her on purpose!

Naomi was amazed. She knew Boaz was a close relative who could take care of their family. Later, Ruth asked Boaz to marry her and protect the family. Boaz agreed, and he did everything the right way, in front of the town elders.

Boaz and Ruth got married, and God gave them a son named Obed. Naomi held the baby close, full of joy. Obed grew up to be the grandfather of King David, and many years later Jesus was born into this same family!

God takes care of people who are sad and alone.