Crossroads...

The book of Ruth is most notable for its themes of loyalty and friendship among women. However, upon closer examination this book makes us observe life at its crossroads. Crossroads are crucial points in life where a decision must be made. In Ruth 1:13-14 Naomi states:

"... 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."

During the time of this passage, there was a famine in the land of Judah. Naomi, her husband Elimalech and their sons Mahlon and Kilion moved to the city of Moab to escape it. Shortly after their arrival, Elimalech died. Mahlon and Kilion married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. After ten years, Mahlon and Kilion died also. Once God began providing food for Israel again, Naomi decided to return.

These verses paint the picture of three female silhouettes standing, backs against the setting sun, at a crossroad. Three women...all widows...all childless...all impoverished...all in dire straits making life changing decisions. Each woman possessing her own dilemma. They had no legal rights to property. They had no economic rights which would allow them to easily enter the workforce and earn a living. These women are momentarily physically and spiritually stuck. Have you ever felt stuck?...Physically?...Spiritually?...Both? Eventually, we see each woman choose her new path and move in the direction of her faith and her destiny. Orpah reverts. Ruth progresses. Naomi evolves. Let's examine each woman's physical and spiritual turn.

To "revert" means to return to a former state. In Ruth 1:15, Naomi states that Orpah returns back to her people and her gods. Despite marrying into and residing with an Israelite family for 10 years, she never embraced their God. Once Naomi painted the picture of how bleak a future in Israel could be and encouraged Orpah to leave, she did. She went back to what was familiar. She went back to what was known. She went back to what was easy for her.

Progress is defined as forward movement towards a destination. Ruth frantically falls upon Naomi and clings to her desperately, refusing to return to Moab. It is obvious that Ruth's former past in Moab held some type of trauma for her that she never wanted to experience again. In verse 16, Ruth commits herself to a lifetime of service to Naomi and even pledges to worship her God if she will only allow her to stay by her side. It is obvious Naomi has made an impression on Ruth through her past acts of love and affection as well as her current faith-filled journey back to Israel to face the unknown. Ruth boldly commits to an unknown future with the openness of a child, simply putting one foot in front of the other without questioning the process as long as she can hold the hand of Naomi and her God. She arrives in the nation of Judah a pauper, gleaning the fields of near-kinsman Boaz. With coaching from Naomi and a bold spirit, she does as she is instructed and manages to convince Boaz to marry her. Fast forward and we discover that Ruth is included in the lineage of Christ! Talk about a come up! ...From foreign widow to gleaner to wealthy housewife to great-grandmother of David as well as an ancestor of Jesus Christ. All because she made the decision to have blind faith, commit and never look back.

Within Naomi, we see a sort of spiritual evolution occur. Evolution being defined as the gradual change needed to flourish within a given environment. In this case, we're discussing Naomi's spiritual environment. Once the famine strikes, Naomi and her family are shaken, anxiety-filled and full of fear about their ability to sustain themselves despite the fact that in Deuteronomy 11:13-17 God promises to send rain for crops and animals as long as His people obey Him and refuse to worship idol gods. Just like the nation of Israel, Naomi and her family begin to wander physically and spiritually. Physically, they head for Moab (the land of their enemies). Spiritually, they forget God's promises and begin to lean to their own understanding. They had more faith in their own ability to procure food in a foreign land than in divine providence. Just as Naomi believed things couldn't get any worse, she suffers the death of her husband as well as both her sons. Devastated, bereaved and brokenhearted she decides to return home upon hearing the news that God has decided to provide food for Israel. Naomi states in verse 21: "I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty." In actuality, Naomi's spiritual testimony is the reverse of her statement. The lack of faith causes she and her family to leave. The evolution of her faith to the level of full dependence on an almighty God who is the true source of all good things prompts her to return. She comes full circle as she returns to her homeland.

Who's reflection do you see when you stare into the mirror? Do you see Orpah? Are you more like the woman who finds herself spiritually slipping back into the life she once knew. When life gets hard, sometimes it feels easier to stick to what we know, even when it doesn't serve us. In Deuteronomy 31:8, God promises Israel that He will go before them and be with them as they enter the promised land of Canaan (the unknown). At the crossroads of life, believe that He will be with you too. Also believe that He will never leave or forsake you. Ruth did. When she decided to step out on faith and rely on God, she was rewarded for it. Her life was a series of blessed progressions like no other. Lastly, do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Naomi was afraid to stay in Israel due to the famine. She also experienced fear as she made the decision to return. She had no idea how she would fare there after having lost everything she held dear. Her fear was a twofold mechanism. Her first fear drove her farther from God and His provisions. Her second fear forced her to look to God and rely on Him completely. While Naomi's focus was on the abilities of her husband and sons to provide for her, God used a least likely candidate to be her blessing...another impoverished widow from another land. You never know how God is going to bless you. Look to the Lord when you come to life's crossroads and let Him be your guide.

This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. ..."Jeremiah 6:16