Reading the story of Ruth should be refreshing to the students as well as minister to their felt need for English, as storytelling is a valuable fluency activity. During these nine lessons we will look at several grand and seminal Biblical themes, especially the picture of a “Redeemer” as illustrated by Boaz’ marriage to the foreigner Ruth.
Biblical Themes in the Book of Ruth:
1) God rules what happens in the world. It was God that gave food to the people of Bethlehem, Ruth 1:6. It was God that led Ruth to the field that belonged to Boaz, Ruth 2:3. It was God that gave Ruth and Boaz a son, Ruth 4:12. When bad things happened, God still used them, Ruth 1:21. God can make good things come from bad things.
2) God loves people. He does not only love Jews. He loves people from all other countries also. He does not only love men. He also loves women, Ruth 2:10, 13. Boaz’s love for Ruth is a picture of God’s love for us. Read the *family tree of Jesus in Matthew 1. There are 4 women in it and probably 3 of them were foreign to the Jews.
3) God cares for people. This means that he gives them what they need. God cared for the family of Jesus 1000 years before Jesus came to the earth, (Ruth 4:16). God uses people to care for other people. He used Naomi to care for Ruth and Obed. Those that love Jesus are part of his family. That means that God cares for them as well.
Other points that might touch our students:
1. There were foreigners in Jesus’ family tree, although he was to be the ultimate King of Israel. Japanese may not be able to imagine foreigners in the line of their emperor. (Thanks to Abi for this one.)
2. Ruth’s good relationship with her mother-in-law
3. God’s law about gleaning – providing for the poor. Japan was criticized in the past for fencing off its overseas orchards precisely so that poor people couldn’t glean
This series could not have been written without Wycliffe’s wonderful site easyenglish.com, where you can find very easy translations of most of the books of the Bible as well as Bible study materials. It was written with especially grateful thanks to Gordon Churchyard. All of the bolded text in this series was drawn from his material.
Filed under: Old Testament | Tagged: Bible esl, Bible lesson, tesl, tesol | Leave a Comment »