Ruth 1

Ruth, the young widow from Moab, would not leave her mother-in-law, Naomi, the native of Bethlehem. Naomi had lost her husband and her two sons. The time had come for her to return home to Bethlehem, and though she sent both her daughters-in-law back to their mothers, one of the girls refused to leave her alone in her distress.

“Where you go I will go.” Loss like Naomi faced is a sad part of life in this age. It does not fall evenly to all. Some receive a larger portion of grief than others. A welcomed comforter can be a gift from God. Ruth pledged to be with Naomi in her misery.

“Where you lodge I will lodge.” Naomi was old. How would she provide for herself back in Bethlehem? Ruth promised not only to be in the same town as her mother-in-law, but to live with her. If Ruth could find food, she could share what little she had with her mother-in-law, and she could be near her when the house was dark and silent.

“Your people shall be my people.” Naomi would not consider herself a Moabite woman any longer. She would be a daughter in Israel living with her mother. Others might think of her as a foreigner, but she would not think that way. She would accommodate herself to a new life and culture, not as an outsider, but as an adopted child of the people of promise.

“Your God will be my God.” Ruth would be a follower of the God of Israel. The Lord of compassion and steadfast love, the Lord of righteousness and peace, would be her Fear and her Trust. She would not bring the god of the Moabites with her into Israel. She would worship the God who created the heavens and the earth.

“Where you die I will die.” The commitment of the young woman would be for the remainder of her days, no matter what further tragedies or blessings came upon either of them. They would have to find hope in the Lord together.

Naomi did not look the same to her neighbors when she returned home to Bethlehem. This was more than the normal passage of time. Loss had made its mark upon her body and soul. She did not know how to live out the word “pleasant” anymore, which was the meaning of her name. She believed in the Almighty God of providence, but she knew that her life was now bitter. She talked as a woman who had a death sentence written on her soul by God. She had no hope. Yet the person of hope was with her even in the daughter-in-law who would not leave her.

Jesus is the Son of God over creation and over all providence. He is the Word of God's power, even before He was the baby in a manger in Bethlehem or the man on a cross. He is committed to those who don't remember how to hope. He will not leave His own in their despair and emptiness.

He will go with you where you go. He will be in your home when everyone else has left you. He will be your God. He will show you the way to walk for the remainder of your days. He will lead you back to hope when you cannot remember the way home to heaven.

Jesus will do more for you than Ruth could ever have done for Naomi. He will be with you beyond death. He will be the Man in your life forever.