DesaraeV

Ruth and Naomi — Version 1

Stretchy Elephant is Ruth, and she stays with Naomi.

Here is Naomi's family: her husband Elimelech, their sons Mahlon and Chilion, and their daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. A famine had brought them from Bethlehem to Moab.

In Moab, Naomi's husband Elimelech died, and later both of her sons died too. Naomi was left with only Ruth and Orpah, her sons' wives.

Naomi heard that God had given food in Bethlehem again, so she started home. Orpah turned back, but Ruth loved Naomi and clung to her: 'Your God will be my God.'

They walked and walked, all the way home together.

They reached Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Naomi said, 'My life has turned bitter. I left full, with my husband and sons, but I came home empty, without them.'

God's law told farmers to leave grain for people in need. Ruth gathered what was left behind, so she and Naomi would have food.

Boaz was a kind relative of Naomi's husband, Elimelech. He protected Ruth in his field and shared his food.

Boaz first asked the nearer kinsman, who declined. Then Boaz redeemed Naomi's family land, and Ruth became his wife.

Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed. Naomi cared for him with joy. Obed became Jesse's father and King David's grandfather, in Jesus' family line.

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." — Ruth 1:16 (KJV)

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About the Author — Desarae Harmon is the creator of Stretchy Elephant and the author of the Stretchy Elephant children's books. She writes gentle Bible stories and picture books for young children, published by Agency Couture, LLC, and lives in Iowa with her family.