An Impetus To Choose

Ruth 1:16 – 17 – But Ruth replied, “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. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Ruth, the Moabitess, was the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Naomi who had lost her husband and both her sons in Moab, decides to return to Bethlehem. But she insists that her daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth, return to their mother’s house. Orpah agrees after some persuasion, but Ruth refuses. Ruth insists on returning to Bethlehem with Naomi.

Ruth insisting on going with Naomi meant more than a change of address. Ruth was willing to forsake the Moabite gods she grew up with and was willing to embrace the God of Israel. She says to Naomi, that Naomi’s God would now be her God.

Naomi’s life evidently had made an impact on Ruth. Naomi, who went through much suffering, losing her husband and both her sons, was able to display a life that loved and honored God. Naomi’s life was interesting enough for Ruth to follow. Naomi’s courageous decision to go back to the God of Israel, gave Ruth the impetus to choose to follow Naomi and her God. 

Would those who are watching your life and mine, see us compromise our faith? Or would they see us take bold decisions to love and honor God, leading them to like Ruth say, ‘I want your God to be my God’