Ruth 1
16 But Ruth said: “ Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.”
Note that Elimelech and his family had a very good reason for leaving Israel and going to Moab. But take note of what happened to them in Moab. Elimelech might have thought that he would protect his family from the Moabite influence, but both his sons got married to Moabite women. And as time went on Elimelech and his two sons died and Naomi was left with her two daughters-in-law. It was only God’s grace that stopped a total disaster from coming to the family. Naomi clung to the Lord in this desperate situation.
When Israel came out of Egypt and wandered in the wilderness many nations attacked them but God gave them the victory. The Moabites realised that they could not defeat Israel in battle and so they devised a plan to seduce the children of Israel into idolatry and fornication and so bring separation between them and God. It was only God’s grace that Israel was not utterly destroyed, but many Israelites died because of their sin. Because of what Moab did to Israel God told the children of Israel that “An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD” (Deut 23:3).
Naomi’s situation was desperate and eventually she opened her heart to her daughters-in-law that she will return to Israel. Her daughters-in-law loved her, cried bitterly and said that they will go with her. However she urged them again to return and Orpah cried and kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. She was like many so-called Christians who promises that they will serve the Lord to the end. But sooner or later their love for the Lord grows cold and they break their promise and return to the very sins and friends whom they had left.
Maybe there is someone even among us who have returned to his or her old ways – the very ways that you left when God saved you. There is nothing as painful as seeing someone turning back from following the Lord. God says that “no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). The devil might tempt you with the pleasureable memories of your sins. Yes, you’ve confessed them but you still remember and long for those sins. You’re like Israel that longed for the fleshpots of Egypt whenever the way became difficult.
However, the Bible tells us in no uncertain terms that Ruth would not leave her mother-in-law. She clung to her and said, “ Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me and more also if aught but death part you and me.”
May we have this spirit that was in Ruth. May we cling to the Lord Jesus as Ruth clung to Naomi and as Naomi clung to the Lord. Ruth left her gods and her people and made the Lord her God and God’s people her people. And even though Naomi lived amongst the Moabites for many years, yet by Ruth’s words we see clearly that Naomi did not serve the gods of the Moabites but clung to the Lord and stayed faithful to Him. And she also won over Ruth to the Lord.
If you find that you have turned back from following the Lord and had grown cold towards God and His people, return to the Lord this very day. He is still ready to forgive, cleanse and accept you. Do not delay.