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In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!” At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 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 1:1-17 NRSV)
Economic necessity drives people to do things they normally wouldn't want to do, such as pack up and leave a familiar place to find that which will provide for their families. And that sometimes includes crossing national borders. In our case, the economy in Kingsville made it necessary for my father to leave there for Houston for six months where he found a good-paying job and later took us to join him there. We crossed only cultural borders and some county lines, but there was no other remedy. Such was the case among the Jews from Bethlehem. Remember that name? A certain baby was born there some years after this migration, but this Jewish man, his wife and two sons went to live in the country of Moab. It was a difficult move because the relationship between Jews and Moabites was not the best, but this man risked it along with risking the lives of his family members, to find a place where food and housing might be available. And as happens sometimes with migration, the boys found Moabite women to marry. And, as sadly happens in migrations, the dad and the sons all died, leaving the wife a widow with two widowed daughters-in-law. Naomi, the widowed mother-in-law, hears that things are better back in Judah and decides she must return to her home. She believes her daughters-in-law would be served staying in their home land. Her hope was that they could find new husbands and have children. Orpah agreed and returned to her home. Ruth decides she should stay with Naomi and wants to move to Judah. Their departure scene is awesome and Ruth's words are used in weddings to indicate the commitment of love that is needed for relationships to work; "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." Boom! Powerful words from a strong commitment on her part to stay with a woman whose faith had blessed her. We know that this move by Ruth blessed humanity and God's plan, for she becomes the great-great grandmother of King David, and one of the mother's in Jesus' lineage. What an amazing faith huh? What would you have done in her situation?
Our faith is a journey and an adventure. We may not know what is around the next corner, but we know that God walks with us. And with God with us the adventure is always exciting! And every adventure begins with the first step of faith. And each step takes you closer to the blessings God has prepared for you. And who knows, a special blessing for people you may not even know!
PRAYER: Loving God, break down the barriers to a full faith that may be in our hearts, minds, or spirits. Open our hearts, eyes, and hands to share your love with all people. Increase our faith and our love. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share love and help with others in Christ's name!
Blessings of love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
