This lesson teaches children that God never forgets his people, and he works out his good plan even when things look sad or empty. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the verses, and the activity.
Big Idea
God takes care of the people he loves, even when we feel forgotten. He makes things new, and he keeps every promise he makes.
Memory Verse
Ruth 4:14
The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous in Israel.
(WEB)
Have the children stand up and clap once for “Blessed,” then hold both hands open in front of them for “without a near kinsman.” Repeat the motions together three times, then say the verse back to them while they keep the motions going.
The Story: Ruth 4 for Kids
Ruth had come home to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth was from Moab, a land far away, and she had chosen to stay with Naomi even after her husband had died. Naomi had been very sad, and she had said her name should be Mara, which means bitter. But God had not forgotten them.
Boaz was a kind man in Bethlehem, and he was a relative of Naomi’s family. He had been kind to Ruth in the fields, and now he went to the gate of the town, where the important men sat to talk and make decisions. He called together ten leaders to watch. There was another relative who had the first right to help Naomi and buy her family’s land.
Boaz asked the man if he would buy the land. The man said yes at first. But then Boaz told him that he would also need to take care of Ruth. The man said, “I cannot do that,” and he took off his shoe and gave it to Boaz. In that day, passing a shoe showed that a promise was final.
So Boaz married Ruth, and God gave them a baby boy named Obed. The women of the town said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you without family.” Naomi held the baby close, and her sadness began to turn into joy. Obed grew up to be the grandfather of King David, and that is how God’s family line kept going.
Read It Together
Ruth 4:9-10
9 Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.”
(WEB)
Point out that Boaz told everyone at the gate they were witnesses. Explain that he wanted everyone to see that he was doing the right thing, and that he was keeping his word to care for Ruth and Naomi.
Ruth 4:13
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son.
(WEB)
Show the children that the story moves from sadness to a new beginning. Point out that God was the one who gave Ruth and Boaz a child, and that the happy ending was his gift.
Ruth 4:16-17
16 Naomi took the child, and laid him in her bosom, and became nurse to it. 17 The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi”. They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
(WEB)
Ask the children to notice how Naomi, who had felt empty, now held a baby in her arms. Explain that God can fill the empty places in our hearts with his love and with the people he gives us.
Talk About It
- How do you think Naomi felt when she came back to Bethlehem with nothing?
- What did Ruth do that showed she loved Naomi very much?
- Why do you think Boaz wanted everyone at the gate to see what he promised?
- How did God take care of Naomi and Ruth in this story?
- Where is one place you have seen God take care of you or someone you love?
Activity Ideas
Family Tree Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Draw a simple tree with branches, and write Obed at the bottom, then Boaz and Ruth above him, then Jesse, and then David at the top. Let the children decorate the branches with leaves, and talk about how God kept this family line going through many years.
Shoe Exchange Game
You will need one shoe for each pair of children, or a small object like a sock or a cup. Sit the children in a circle and pass a shoe around while the group says, “God keeps his promises.” When the music stops or you clap, the child holding the shoe tells one promise God has made. This helps children understand what it meant to pass a shoe as a sign of a done deal.
Promise Card for Home
You will need an index card, a pen, and a sticker or small drawing. Ask each child to write or draw one way God takes care of their family, then put the card in a pocket or on the fridge. Encourage them to read it aloud when they feel worried or forgotten at home.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Ruth 4 shows that God works through ordinary people and ordinary acts of kindness, like a relative stepping up to redeem a family in need. The chapter also shows that the story of Israel is part of a bigger story that leads to Jesus, since Ruth and Boaz are in his family line. Adults can appreciate how God’s faithfulness stretches across generations.
With children, avoid overstating the idea that God always gives us a baby or a happy family in exactly the way Ruth and Naomi received. Instead, focus on God’s faithfulness, love, and care, which are true even when our stories look different.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for never forgetting us, even when we feel alone or sad. Thank you for taking care of Naomi and Ruth, and for keeping your promises. Help us trust that you are working for our good every day. Amen.
