“Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
Ruth is definitely one of the coolest women in history. The book of Ruth comes right after the book of Judges and it is really a breath of fresh air. Ruth is a woman from Moab who follows her Jewish mother-in-law back to Israel. Chapter one begins with Naomi and her husband as the main characters but soon changes the focus to Ruth. This woman Ruth comes from a foreign land but somehow came to Bethlehem and became the mother of King David. We will trace her voyage and see the fruit of her decision, “Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
img source "Ruth" painting by Brian Kershinik
Elimelech and his wife Naomi left their home in Bethlehem because of famine and set out to Moab to live there. Their two sons Mahlon and Killion married Moabite women. One married Orpah and the other married Ruth. Maybe things seemed better than living in famine but tragedy struck their house. First Elimelech died leaving poor Naomi and widow. Then Naomi’s children Mahlon and Killion died leaving Naomi with two widow’s as her daughters-in-law. They say only a widow can understand a widow and perhaps they comforted each other but enough was enough. Ten years they had lived in Moab and Naomi finally decided to return home. She set off with her two daughters on the road back to Judah. But looking at her daughters-in-law she was moved and urged them, “Go back to your own home. May the Lord show kindness to you. May the Lord grant that each of you find rest in the home of another husband.” She kissed them and they wept and they both said, “We will go back with you to your people.” Namoi explained, “Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?” Then Orpah wept and kissed her mother-in-law goodbye.
Ruth remained. Naomi said, “Go back with your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth’s people worshiped idols but from Naomi Ruth heard of one God who created the heavens and the earth. Ruth was not just being loyal to her mother-in-law. She wanted to be identified with God’s people. She was a widow but she was a woman who could make a decision of her own. This decision would change the course of history. We really don’t think about our decisions and the influence they will have on our lives and the next generation. Maybe it was not the best thing for Naomi’s family to flee the famine in Israel and move to Moab. She lost her husband and two sons there. Such bitterness ached in her heart that she refused to be called "Naomi" meaning “pleasantness.” When she got home she insisted on being called “Mara” which means bitterness. Still there was a sweetness she was not aware of. Her daughter-in-law Ruth followed her to a land she did not know and a people she did not know. Ruth had a chance to marry again in Moab. In Israel she was a foreigner, a gentile. Ruth was willing to risk everything in her life if only she could identify with the God of Naomi and his people. The Last verse in chapter 1 says, “So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabites, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.” This verse foreshadows the blessing that was coming through a time of harvest.
Just like Ruth we are just one person in a world of woes. What we do today doesn’t seem like much of anything, but there is an enormous impact to the next generation. This woman was a foreigner but she became the mother of kings. It was not so much her human loyalty as her decision to follow her Creator God and identify with his people that made Ruth outstanding in history. In the time of suffering came the greatest grace she or Naomi would ever receive. She was included in God’s history as a mother of kings.
No matter what we have done or where our heart has been, God accepts us and welcomes those who turn to him. I see that Naomi made a turning point in her life. She wasn’t trying to protect and save her life as she was fleeing from the famine. She came to trust God with her life and yes her life was bitter but would have a sweet ending. Who can understand a widow but a widow? Who can understand one who loses a son? I have two sons but they are so precious to me. The younger son has a health problem and sometimes is delirious. I don’t know what to do. I cry and I’m powerless to see him suffer. He says to me, “Dad, I can’t do anything good.” He has dyslexia and is last in his class. In Korea this is frowned upon. So I told him, “You are my son. You will find something you can do well.” Then he gave me a hug and said , “I can hug well.” Later I found that he can draw pictures well too. Although I have two sons I could not bear to lose even one son. Yet God who created all the heavens and earth had only one opportunity to come to be with us. Jesus did not become God. He was God and was with God in the beginning. Almighty God came to this earth and took on human flesh and walked among us. He only did this one time. He could take this opportunity to rule over the world and establish a correct government but he took this opportunity to be born as a baby and placed in the poorest place, to serve and love and to forgive. “God gave his one and only son. So that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God understands the loss that we have suffered. He gave his only son. He was forsaken and suffered mocking and ridicule. He was rejected so we can be accepted. Through Jesus we become the children of God. We call him, “Father”. He knows and understands us. He knows the bitterness of our hearts. He makes bitter water fresh. Today we have a decision to make to return to him and be his people. This decision not only changes you but influences many generations. Like Ruth was changed to the mother of kings you will be changed to a kingdom of priests and a holy nation people with the sweet love of God in your hearts.
Love,
365GROOVY
@mineopoly
