An Eternal Impact

It was during the time of Judges, a man named Elimelech was married to Naomi and had two sons Mahlon and kilion. There was a famine in Bethlehem at the time,
and so, they decided to move to Moab. The Sons eventually married Moabite women, their names were Ruth and Orpah.

In the first chapter of the book of Ruth we are introduced to Naomi and her family, and we learn what transpired in her life as she moved from Bethlehem to Moab and the situations she finds herself in. Her husband passes away, eventually her two sons die too, and she had no grandchildren.

In that time and culture, widows were hopeless and helpless – particularly older women like Naomi who were too old to remarry. They had no standing or much help from society.

She loved her daughters in laws. She had nothing to offer them in terms of security or provision and so she urges them to return to their families in the hope of securing a better future for them. Her daughter-in laws do not desire to leave her but upon insisting , Orpah returns but Ruth insists upon staying with Noami.

For both Ruth and Orpah to be hesitant to leave her side speaks a lot of how she would have loved and treated them. Keep in mind that these were Moabite women but Naomi being an Israelite in no way seemed to have shown that difference.

Ruth replies to Naomi and says “Don’t urge me to leave you or 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 will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

What does Ruth’s response to Naomi tell us about her faith and how she lived her life?

Ruth’s desire to stay with Naomi and accept Israel’s God as her own implies that Naomi left quite an impression in how she lived. Noami probably lived her faith out in her everyday life, showing love, kindness and acceptance. She probably did not just extend this to Ruth and Orpah but must have reflected all these qualities to the other Moabites she would have encountered in her time there. For Ruth to not just want to stay with Naomi but also accept her God, reflects an understanding from Ruth that the way Noami lived her life was an outpouring of her faith. Having to move from Bethlehem and being among Moabites and their practices and worship of their gods, did not cause Naomi to lose her commitment to God, become lukewarm or half-hearted in her love for God or obedience to him.

Noami teaches us so much about living in a manner where our words and actions create an impact for Christ more than just a declaration that we follow Jesus. May we reflect and ponder on how we are doing in reflecting Jesus through our actions and words.

Lord, there are many moments where we falter in truly reflecting you, help us Lord to be more aware of being your ambassadors. Through how we live, by your grace, may we leave quite an impression of you to others, creating an eternal impact. Amen.

God Bless.