the road to Judah

Week 10 Ruth

The book of Ruth begins with a story about a decision two young widows had to make.
Naomi had lived for years in Moab. Her husband and her two sons had died there. So now she was heading back home. She must have been a pretty fine mother-in-law because her in-law-ed girls wanted to go with her.
The three of them packed up and left. But Naomi stopped right there by the last-ditch and gave Ruth & Orpah a final chance. It’s better if you stay here: things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has caused me to suffer.
Ruth & Orpah stood there in the sun at their crossroad on the way to Judah with a decision to make.
Naomi had painted a pretty hopeless picture of her own chances. So, on second-and-last-thought Orpah decided to go back home. Her choice makes sense when you think about it. Staying was a bit safer, a bit more secure. Better safe than sorry.
But Ruth told Naomi: don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Leaving home. Emigrating. Converting. Big choices but for Ruth safe wasn’t better. Security wasn’t part of her calculus.
So Orpah went back to safety but Ruth kept heading west.

Note: quotes from Ruth 1:13, 16 (NLT)