Ruth 1: 14-18
This little family had no idea that God was setting them up to act out a significant part of His Plan of the Ages!
They were only trying to have enough food to eat, and ended up staying a lot longer than they planned, as sorrow upon sorrow descended upon the women, as they lost all of the men that were to support them. So it was time for Naomi to head home.
She realized how hopeless her daughters-in-law would be as foreigners in Judah, so she explained to them why it would be better for them to go back to their own mother's houses so they could marry again.
(14) And they lifted up their voices and wept again;
It was a hard and sad thing they were doing, breaking up their family!
and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law,
Orpah said good-bye to her mother-in-law and headed back toward her own mother's house.
but Ruth clung to her.
Ruth wouldn't budge, she just held on to Naomi and wouldn't let go.
(15) Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law."
Naomi didn't understand her stubbornness, and urged her to do what would give herself the best chances, like Orpah had done.
(16) But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.
(17) "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."
This is the most beautiful and heartfelt speech in the whole Bible! It has been used in wedding ceremonies through the ages!
Ruth saw in Naomi something she knew she would never find in her own land with her own people and her own gods. Her heart was open to the whole culture and lifestyle Naomi had lived before her all these years, and she saw Naomi's strength in the Lord through all the tragedies they went through.
So Ruth abandoned her land, her people, her customs, and the gods who claimed that territory, turning to what she anticipated to be a much better land and people and customs and the Lord God that Naomi worshiped.
She made a complete break, burned all her bridges, and was prepared to throw herself wholeheartedly into the culture of Israel, receiving Israel's Lord God.
(18) When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Naomi probably knew how stubborn Ruth was when she made up her mind, so she knew it was settled, and gave up trying to convince her.
These women knew each other. All three of these women had been living together for about ten years, so they were well aware of one anothers personalities.
Both of these daughters-in-law were stubborn, but Orpah was too proud to change her religion to submit to the Lord of another land, and decided to stay with what she knew. So she kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and stayed in her own land and culture.
But Ruth's loyalty to her mother-in-law stemmed from more than just the relationship; she had witnessed Naomi's strength of character through both good times and bad, and loved her and her God who strengthened her. She saw more in Naomi than Naomi ever thought!
We as Christians also live in a world that is hostile to our faith and our God, as Naomi did. And they are watching us, as though we live in glass houses, seeing how we deal with both prosperity and disaster. We may never know who is being influenced either for or against our Lord, by our lives.
Jesus said that we are His witnesses. We are to share with those around us what He has done for us, our own experiences. When we handle both good and bad with grace, that will open the door for us to be able to speak into others lives, concerning the issues they are facing.
We seldom are aware of how God is using us in others lives, so we need to always be careful with our attitudes and our words, and with what we allow in our lives. We may never know who is watching.
O my Father, Naomi didn't realize the good influence she was having on her daughters-in-law, and she was gracious to let them make their own decisions. There was no controlling them at all, just giving them the facts as she saw them, and letting them go or stay, at their choice.
My Father, teach us how to just present the facts as You have showed us, and not put any pressure on others to go our way. We are not responsible for their decisions, but we are accountable for giving them the Truth.
O Father, send out all Your children, to be Your messengers and missionaries, to tell the world all about how much You have loved us all and already have provided the rescue, the answer to all of our questions and problems, in Your Son. Let every living person in all the nations of the world hear and understand clearly to make a free decision to turn to You, or to reject Your gracious and generous gift.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, do come quickly, Lord Jesus!
