Elimelech died and left his widow Naomi alone with her two sons. The two sons both married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. About ten years later, Mahlon and Chilion also died and left Naomi all alone without husband or sons.
15-16 Naomi said, “Ruth, listen. Your sister-in-law is going back to Moab to her people and to her gods. Now go with her.” But tearfully, Ruth insisted, “Please don’t ask me again to leave you! I want to go with you and stay with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will now be my people, and your God will now be my God.
— Ruth 1:3-5; 15-16
Ruth was born and raised in Moab which was a depressing place. She may have barely escaped being sacrificed to their god Chemosh herself. When the people heard about the miraculous things that happened in the Israelites’ history by their God Yahweh, they stood in awe. These stories were carried far and near by the caravan drivers. So Ruth fell in love with a Hebrew, married him and got to know this family’s God. She heard stories of His love and protection and was probably thinking, “you serve a God who loves you and doesn’t demand children’s blood?” How astounding to her young mind!
Naomi was Ruth’s link to thIs I AM God. Ruth trusted this beautiful God of love. So when Naomi and girls were going back to the land of her birth, Ruth abandons Chemosh and the people of Moab and says, “I am going with you wherever you go and wherever you live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God”.
Ruth comes into the river of God’s love. Her determination to let the love of God wash over and lead her happened at the border where she confessed her belief and commitment to Him. She became a convert and begins to trust this God.
I grew up thinking that Ruth loved her mother in law Naomi so much that she just couldn’t bear to leave her, but now I understand it was not Naomi that drew her. No, it was Naomi’s God, the loving, good, kind, great I AM that drew her. She wanted Him to be her God! She found the God who swore His covenant to her. He loves her! She does not concentrate on her circumstances. Instead she concentrates on resting in a God who is working it out. She discovers God (Love) in the midst of whatever situation she finds herself.
This is the God who loves you and is working in your situation to bring about His purpose and intention. He is GOOD and He LOVES you beyond imagination. Stories like this encourage us and show us that God guides, connects, blesses and favors in the midst of big challenges. He is your Creator and He will NEVER abandon you! You are His treasure!
“Don’t pass the love of God through circumstances, pass circumstances through the love of God.”
God Never Abandons You