Ruth shares with Naomi

Ruth 2:17-23

To help the children learn that God took care of Naomi through Ruth.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22b, NIV*).

The last Bible story focused on Boaz’s kindness to Ruth. This week will deal with the result of Ruth’s work in Boaz’s field. She picked up wheat until sunset. When she finished, she would gather the stalks and thresh them to take them home. Ruth carried approximately 22 kilos of grain. God’s care was also present as she was able to carry that weight and bring Naomi part of her food.

What is evident in this story is Ruth’s care for Naomi. She always gave a portion to share with her mother-in-law. She could also have worked fewer hours and still collected enough grain. However, she did not. As a result, she was able to adequately attend to her needs and those of Naomi. Naomi, of course, gave credit to the one who deserved it. She praised God for his providence and thanked him for the life of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth continued to work in Boaz’s fields, and the grace of the Lord was always on these two women.

We can learn from the example of Ruth. She not only picked up wheat to bring food to her home, but she worked hard. She not only provided for herself, but also for her mother-in-law. God teaches us his faithfulness through this story and shows our response to divine care. Remember that our resources do not belong to us. When we love God and decide to follow Christ, we must not cling to our possessions; rather, we let God use what we have to help our families and others in need.

Younger children learn best through examples. If you say one thing but your actions are contrary, your children are likely to be guided by your actions. That is why the story of Ruth and Naomi is a great example to them. The words and actions agree! Through Ruth’s perseverance and work, the children will realize that Ruth not only said that she would help Naomi, but did everything possible to achieve it. We hope that this lesson forms a solid foundation in the hearts of your children, knowing that God not only cares about us, but expects us to do everything possible to show his love to others.

Take advantage of this week’s lesson for children to put into practice what they learned. If possible, enable them to participate in a church or community project. It might look like this: this week prepare a large box to store supplies. Ask the children to make cards that speak of God’s love and care. Encourage them to bring canned food to deposit in the box. Tell them: “Next week we will fill this box with food. We will put the cards there and take it to people who need something to eat. We can share with others, just as Ruth shared with Naomi. God can use us to help others.”

Bring extra cans of food so that visiting children or those who do not have enough resources can participate in the activity. Encourage them by telling them that food cans and cards are important, since they will show God’s love and care for others.

General review

Use the children’s activity sheets from precious weeks to briefly review the previous two lessons. Show the illustrations and ask them to explain what happened in each situation. Preschoolers tend to forget details of the story, so it is important to help them remember before teaching them something new. Modify the following activity or add activities that fit your group’s particular needs.

God’s care

You will need cardboard or paper, markers and colored pencils.

Give each child a piece of normal or construction paper. At the top write “God takes care of us.” Ask them to draw a picture of how God cared for Naomi and Ruth. As you work, tell them: “God cared for Ruth and Naomi while traveling to Bethlehem. He also used Boaz to provide food for them. In the same way, we can trust that God cares for us.” Write the child’s name under their drawing. Place the works on the wall, like a mural.

Ruth and Naomi puppets

You need to find resources for this activity in the children’s book. You also need two wooden sticks, tape, pencils and scissors.

Help the children trim the figures of Ruth and Naomi by following the dotted lines. Attach them with sticky tape to the wooden sticks. When they finish, tell them: “Hold your puppets while listening to the Bible story.” When you mention the name of Naomi, they must raise the puppet that corresponds, and when they hear the name of Ruth, raise the puppet that represents it.

Ruth worked hard all day in Boaz’s field. She picked up stalks until it began to darken. When she separated the grain from the stalks, she realized that she had collected more than 20 kilos of grain. She took this load and went to Bethlehem to tell Naomi everything that had happened. “I brought many grains as food for you,” Ruth said excitedly. She was happy because she could share with her mother-in-law what God had given her.

Naomi was surprised and happy. “Where were you working today?” she asked. “May God bless those who have helped you so much!”

Ruth told her that she had been working in the camp of a very kind gentleman named Boaz. “Boaz gave me permission to collect the stalks and even eat with his workers,” Ruth said.

“Thank God for Boaz! He is part of our family,” said Naomi. “So keep working in his field and do not walk away from the workers so no one will hurt you.”

Every day Ruth continued picking stalks of wheat with the workers until the harvest was over. Meanwhile she lived with Naomi and made sure she had enough food.

God cared for and helped Ruth and Naomi every day.

Bible review

Divide the class in pairs. If your class is small, do this activity with the whole group. Ask each pair to take turns using the puppets of Ruth and Naomi, and to review what they learned in the Bible story.

Ruth shares with Naomi

Hand out Student Activity Sheet #99-A and #99-B plus pencils. Ask the children to trace the word of faith and write their name on Student Activity Sheet #99-A. Show them how they can use the lines as a guide to complete the other half of the drawing of the bunch of stalks. Allow time for it to be colored.

Help the children paste or draw a picture of their favorite cereal on Student Activity Sheet #99-B. Encourage the children to take home their activities and share the lesson with their families and friends.

A project of love

If possible, (as mentioned earlier) organize the class to participate in a church or community project to help someone in need. For example, they could prepare a basket of groceries.

Send notes to parents so that next week they will allow their children to cooperate with the food basket. Decorate a large box with colored paper to store donations.

Explain that just as God used Boaz to help Ruth, he also wants to use us to help other people.