In The World

Use this news story from recent days to help your students see the relevance of this week's lesson from the Standard Lesson Commentary or Standard Lesson Quarterly.

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Download "In The World" for March 21.
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QUARRELING OVER A HOMELAND

While U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel last week, Israel announced plans to build 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem. That action would anger, if not displace, large numbers of Palestinians who claim the area as theirs. Biden condemned the plan and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton strongly lectured Israeli leaders about the matter. Compromise is difficult, and the peace talks the U.S. is trying to mediate could collapse. Critics and proponents of Israel are also arguing the issue—with varying motives—in Washington, DC.

CHOOSING A NEW HOMELAND

National and tribal rivalries also existed between the Israelites and their neighbors in Ruth's time. Ruth's decision to move to Judah—voluntarily becoming a "displaced person"—was not a political statement. It was simply a matter of living out her loving commitment to Naomi, her mother-in-law. Thus Ruth, a Moabite woman, chose to go to Judah and live in peace there with Naomi and her relatives. Ruth's pledge also expressed her dedication to Naomi's God.

1. What forces are at work in today's conflicts between Israel and its neighbors? What should be the church's stance, if any, regarding these?
2. What factors may have been behind the differing decisions of Ruth and Orpah?
3. What does Ruth's care for her mother-in-law suggest about family relationships today, if anything?
4. How does our commitment to God and others help ground us during the stressful realignments of life?
5. How can we express Christian love for "displaced people"—those who have to move because of economic distress, etc.—within our own country?
6. What is your church doing to welcome those of different cultural backgrounds?

—Charles R. Boatman

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• Visit the Christian Standard Sunday School lesson page.
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• Visit "The Lesson in Life" to help apply the lesson in everyday life.
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