Faithful GodSample

What's My Name?

The famine that drove Elimelek and his family out of Bethlehem (which, ironically, means “house of bread”) had ended.

Unfortunately, Elimelek and his two sons had both died in Moab. Naomi (Elimelek’s widow) and her two widowed daughters-in-law now faced a terrible decision: where to spend their widowhood.

With the famine over, Naomi chose to return to Israel. She urged her daughters to stay in their own land of Moab with their people.

One daughter begrudgingly listened, embraced Naomi and left. Ruth, however, refused to leave Naomi. She delivered one of the most famous declarations of fidelity ever recorded (even if misused at weddings):

“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. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:17-18)

The irony of this statement is that it drips from the lips of a Moabite woman. In stark contrast to the Israelites who have broken faith with God, Ruth the Moabite declares that what Israel is supposed to be—faithful—she actually is. We see in Ruth a commitment that rightfully should belong on the lips of the people of God.

But this is not the pivotal moment in this text.

Naomi asks to be called “Mara” (the Hebrew word for bitter) because “the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me” (Ruth 1:21).

Israel’s theology placed all of life under God’s direct control (see the story of Job). And in a resigned fashion, Naomi blames God for her misfortune.

But here, we need to pause and remember the story. Israel’s faithlessness had brought about the famine. Elimelek chose to take his family away from the Promised Land to live away from God and His people and to intermarry with others.

Naomi falls victim to fatalistic thinking; she takes no responsibility for her own life and the decisions that have been made. She has suffered, but it is not God’s fault.

It’s easy and tempting to blame things outside ourselves for what life hands us. However, as men, we must step up and take responsibility, both for the decisions we make and for our reactions to our circumstances.

Prayer: God, I know that my actions have consequences. Some of the situations in my life are due to the choices I have made. Help me to accept responsibility for my actions and to prayerfully and wisely make decisions that honor You. Amen.

Reflection: What life circumstances do you have that tempt you to think fatalistically about life? How can you take responsibility for where you have been and where you are going?