Have you ever made a big promise? A promise comes with expectations. Will the promisor fulfill what has been pledged? And what consequences— good or bad—will follow? In this third conversation from the book of Ruth, a monumental promise is made. After Orpah left, Naomi urged Ruth to leave too. Naomi specified that Orpah was returning not only to her people in Moab but also to her gods. This would have included Chemosh, the national god of the Moabites, whose worship involved horrific pagan practices such as child sacrifice (2 Kings 3:27). Orpah’s decision not only severed her tie to Naomi but marked her return to the culture and religious practices of her people.

In Ruth’s resolute reply, she made it clear that she was being led in a different direction. She asked Naomi to stop trying to persuade her to do otherwise. She refused to return to Moab and reaffirmed her commitment to remain with Naomi. First, Ruth committed to living all of her life with Naomi. “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay” (v. 16). “Go” and “stay” are opposites in the Hebrew. Together these clauses create a literary merism—the contrasting extremes represent the whole.

But Ruth committed not only her ongoing presence to Naomi. She also committed to cultural and spiritual unity. Ruth was “all in”—to the point of death (v. 17). Ruth even swore on the name of Israel’s God, thus acknowledging Him as her own. Hearing this speech, Naomi accepted Ruth’s determination and “stopped urging her” (v. 18). Naomi’s logic could not compete with Ruth’s hesed and faith. The women continued their journey and came to Bethlehem (v. 19). If returning to Bethlehem were the narrative goal, the story would end here. But, of course, that was just the beginning. God had so much more in store.

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