Taking a Difficult Decision

We have in one way or the other heard the story of Ruth, the Moabites. She was one of the characters in the Bible that made a hard and difficult decision. If one can understand Ruth’s story in-depth, one must step into her shoes. Once you put yourself in her place and acquaint yourself with the background to the story, it is only then you would appreciate the book of Ruth.

When Ruth told Naomi, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16) she was, in fact, making the hardest decision of her life. From the context of this verse, Naomi had urged both her daughters-in-law to move on with their lives. Her sons had died, and she was old. Even if Naomi could give birth at that age, Ruth and Orpah could not marry them. Naomi gave them the option to carry out their lives because, to her, she had nothing to offer them. Everything about Naomi showed that there was nothing more to give to them. However, it is at this time that Ruth made the hardest decision. As the verse above shows, Ruth was leaving everything behind. She counted the cost and denied herself.

Ruth had relatives, friends, and colleagues in Moab, but she made up her mind to go with Naomi. She had come to love the woman Naomi was. She wanted Naomi herself. Although it was Naomi’s son that brought Ruth to her, after coming to know her, Ruth fell in love with her personality. Ruth was fully aware that Naomi could not give her another husband from herself because of her age. Ruth had no idea what would happen to her in Israel. Yet, she said, “Your God, my God.” In Ancient Near East, every nation had its god. Similarly, Moab had its own national god. In Judges 11, the national god for both Ammonites and Moabites was called Chemosh. When Ruth said Naomi’s God would be her God, she was saying, “I’m denying Chemosh and taking Yahweh as my God”. Ruth did not just say it and leave it there. She made Naomi and the people of Israel her own. She made Yahweh her God. Even when Naomi insisted that Orpah and Ruth should be remained in their land and with their countrymen, Ruth insisted that she would go with Naomi. Orpah left Naomi never to be heard of in the biblical text again, but Ruth followed her to fulfill her God-ordained destiny.

In the Christian life, most often, you will have to make hard decisions that no one would seem to understand your way of reasoning. Like Ruth, her family might assume she was going mad. Some decisions will drive friends away from us. Some decisions might make you a fool in the sight of men. Family may attack you because of a firm decision. Because of a certain decision, you will be the odd, weird, and strange one amid company. Many will look at you with disdain. Nonetheless, if you wish to walk with Christ, do not run away from hard choices and decisions however stupid you might look to people. Taking a stand for God might bring suffering. These sufferings and afflictions are light compared to the surpassing worth of glory that awaits you. Ruth had to suffer hard labor. She had to cater to her aged in-law. She was the odd one among the Israelites. She was in a foreign land. But, there was something about her, which is, that she made Yahweh her God. She placed her confidence and hope in Him. I do not know what hard decision you must make because of your faith in Christ, but know that it will not be in vain. There are some ungodly ties and relationships that must be severed. Whatever the decision is, only if it is for the Lord, it shall end in glory because through Ruth, David came. Through Ruth, the King of kings came to earth. Ruth is long dead, but she still lives because of a hard decision she made. Soli Deo Gloria 

Michael Yaw Tano

tanomichael65@gmail.com

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