Text: Ruth 1:1-18
I’ve had a few weddings where a very brief quote from the book of Ruth was used for the scripture reading: “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
Beautiful sentiments, but all the more powerful because they were said by one woman to another woman—a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.
The book of Ruth is a wonderful story about women who survive against the odds and against the way things are in their society. It also demonstrates a different view of the God of the Hebrew Scriptures—or Old Testament.
Elimelech and Naomi left Bethlehem in Judah and went, with their sons Mahlon and Chilion, to the land of their ancestors, to Moab, the land of their cousins—cousins with a tenuous and sometimes violent past.
There was no love lost between the people of Judah and the people of Moab. Here’s what the book of Deuteronomy says about their status: “No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD, because they did not meet you with food and water on your journey out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam son of Beor, from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.”[1]
So, there’s lots of bad blood over a case of poor hospitality and then later over some angry rhetoric. Seems like there’s nothing new under the sun. But Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon and Chilion went there anyway. Why? Because there was a famine in Judah.
There may have been a conversation like this before they left: “I don’t care that we’re enemies! Who even remembers what it was all about? They are people just like we are. When was the last time we had a battle? Nobody can remember anymore! They have food! If we go there we will be able to find food—and maybe more!”
No history of anger, hate, violence—or any kind of bad blood—should ever stop people from showing compassion and kindness to others. When we hold onto hate we forget that God calls each and every person precious. Each and every person is precious to God. Who cares? God cares!
So, they went to live in Moab and after awhile Elimelech died. Naomi’s sons eventually married Orpah and Ruth. Hmmm, a problem has cropped up! Mahlon and Chilion married women from Moab! They married women who were from a people who were enemies of the people of Judah. Even if things were now peaceful between their two nations and intermarriages happened often, they were still forbidden. But Mahlon and Chilion didn’t see enemies—they married people.
And then THEY died too. So there were three women with no means of support in the culture of either of their lands. Back then, when a man died, his brother was required to marry the widow in order to provide heirs for the dead brother! So Naomi, Orpah and Ruth were out of luck because they were now outside the system. Their life situation didn’t fit into the norms of how things were supposed to be.
Since there were no male relatives in Moab to care for Naomi and her daughters-in-law and do the right thing by providing sons for them, and since there was word that the famine in Judah had ended, Naomi decided to set off for home. Along the way she told Orpah and Ruth to return to their own families. She would live out her days in bitterness and poverty.
I’m sure this was a very difficult moment because Naomi cared about Orpah and Ruth. She called them daughters. Her affection for them went beyond the required, ‘You married my son so I will love you’ idea. She wanted them to be able to be cared for and supported, and she knew she couldn’t do that. She didn’t want the bitterness of her life to ruin their lives.
Though she convinced Orpah to leave and to seek the care of her mother’s family, Ruth was not convinced. She vowed to stay with Naomi no matter what.
Orpah wasn’t a bad person for going back to her home, and Naomi wasn’t a bad person for being bitter about her situation. But Ruth did something extraordinary. She took on the role that was reserved for men. She would care for her mother-in-law in the same way that a son would. She would never leave her. She would worship Yahweh, her mother-in-law’s God. She would learn the ways of Naomi’s people. She would become part of those people. Naomi and Ruth would live out the rest of their days connected to one another.
That was a big step of faith for Ruth because—for her—there was great risk in continuing this journey. “Leaving Moab, Ruth would face not only a language barrier, a food barrier, a social etiquette barrier, and a religious practice barrier; she would also face the constant subtle and not-so-subtle reminders that she was 'not one of us.’”[2] Remember that the people of Israel were forbidden from dealing with the Moabites.
The kind of love that Ruth and Naomi had for each other is called Hesed—that unconditional, life-affirming love that comes from God. It is the love that oozes through those two rules we’ve been given: Love God unconditionally. Love everyone unconditionally. [3]
Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi has great significance, not just for the two of them. Ruth has been traced as the ancestor of David and Jesus, and her love for Naomi has been lifted up as an example for all to follow.
And who cares about all of this? WE should! Even though this story shows us that some things never seem to change—like hatred of “foreigners” and others who are different from us—LOVE can overcome our fears and our prejudices.
This story shows that the God of the Old Testament was not always pictured as a wrathful, vengeful God. This story demonstrates God’s compassion and calls us to reach beyond the boundaries of race and clan and kin and gender and sexual orientation and even beyond the boundaries of what some people call “normal families.” This story demonstrates what I’ve always known to be true—that sometimes your friends make better family than your relatives; that people can create their own families to love and care for one another and non-traditional families shouldn’t be criticized if they work.
God’s love is big enough for all of us, and at the table we ALL become one family. The love of Ruth for her mother-in-law, Naomi, is an inspiration to us. It calls us to CARE for one another and to remember that God’s love never leaves anyone out.
And Naomi recognized Ruth’s love, care and determination. “When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.” [4]
And next week we’ll hear the rest of this story. AMEN.
Endnotes:
[1] Deuteronomy 23:3-4 NRSV.
[1] Gary Charles, Feasting on the Word, quoted at
http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/november-1-2009.html
[1] Rev, Kirk Moore, at
http://unioncongregationalucc.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/sermon-whereveryougo/
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