Your God Shall Be My God

Have you ever pondered exactly when Ruth became a believer?

Naomi had two daughters-in-law. Scripture is clear that they both had a good relationship with Naomi. She was special to them in that she was the mother of their husbands. But upon the death of those men, they were forced to walk together through a tragedy like none other. The shared grief must have fostered a unique kind of closeness between the three women.

When Naomi decided to go home to Bethlehem, she encouraged the two young women to go back to their own homes in Moab. "May the Lord show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband." (Ruth 1:8b-9 NIV)

Scripture says that she kissed them but they wept aloud as they protested. After some discussion, the one daughter-in-law, while weeping, kissed Naomi and left. She loved her and maybe it was hard, but she left all the same. Ruth stayed. Scripture says she clung to Naomi. Naomi said "Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." (v.15)

Ruth's response? “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." (Ruth 1:16)

This was a life changing moment for Ruth. She was a Moabite. Here sister-in-law went back to her Moabite people and her Moabite gods. Ruth said that Naomi's God, would be her God. It brings tears to my eyes as I type these words. Ruth chose our God, The One True God! 

But don't miss this: The God Ruth chose, she also identified with Naomi, her mother-in-law. What did Ruth see in Naomi that would make her choose her God? Naomi had surely shared her God with the women her sons loved. Maybe this was a test for Ruth. Whether it was a confirmation or fresh, Ruth took a bold step of faith. She wanted more of The One True God. 

I love the stories of how God uses a mother-in-law to bring a daughter-in-law into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, much like in Ruth chapter one. The more common and less flashy stories are the natural mentoring relationships that are possible for two believing women. The rest of the book of Ruth shows a beautiful picture of that kind of relationship. 

The challenge for us is obvious. When the other part of our mother/daughter-in-law relationship spends time with us, what do they see? Not what do I see. What do they see? Do they want more of our Jesus? Don't we want that most of all?

When your God is my God, that is our most important shared love. 

My son, your husband is a wonderful addition.