Nougat 12

Today is bittersweet for me and many others. Nevertheless, may this be a blessed day for all those who mother. And may we all remember with fondness, someone who mothered us. Blessed Mothers’ Day.

Please consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

‭Ruth 1:16 NIV‬

[16] 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.

Assimilation Lessons from Ruth & Naomi-2

We don’t know much about Ruth or Orpah’s background, especially in their single years. Why did these two Moabite women accept marriage from foreigners? Nowadays, we would certainly presume that the men needed marriage to assimilate. But as Jewish men, that was taboo. And, helping the men to ‘get their stay’ still doesn’t tell us about the young women.

Both women were childless at the time of widowhood. They were free to return home, wherever that was. Yet they both considered relocating to Bethlehem with their mother-in-law. When she insisted, Ruth remained. Was that custom, or pity, or a genuine love for her mother-in-law? I propose that Ruth saw Naomi as a mother figure.

This comes from what Ruth says to her, “don’t tell me to leave, don’t force me to stay with my people.” That kind of insistence suggests a bond of friendship, rooted in devotion to Naomi. We see more in the chapters following, where Ruth is commended for her treatment of Naomi by Naomi’s kin.

Further, Ruth vowed, “I’ll adopt your people as my own, I’ll convert to your religion. I will die in your country and be buried there with you…” That’s some serious covenanting! I believe that Naomi must have earned that kind of devotion. Judges 10:6 tells us that many Israelites made sacrifices to the Moabite god, Moloch, aka Chemosh. In my estimation, this paints a picture of Naomi’s faith and positive attributes that Ruth sought to emulate. To the extent that Ruth renounced her citizenship and religious beliefs. All because of Naomi’s lifestyle.

Siblings, that wasn’t a light decision. Natural-born Moabites were not permitted in God’s presence. Ruth, based on her mother-in-law’s lifestyle (or life situation), nevertheless willingly forfeited her former identity. I believe Naomi must have impacted her in a positive way.

Let’s now turn the spotlight on people we do know intimately well. Ourselves.

If we were in Naomi’s shoes, would Ruth plead to accompany us? When we enter a situation that’s foreign to us, I pray that we’re so positively different that others would wish to emulate us. I also pray that those whom we parent and mentor are equally impacted by our witness.

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May all we seek be found in Christ