The Book of Ruth is best known for the love story between Ruth and Boaz. The Book of Ruth, however, is also a love story between Ruth and Naomi – one that awesomely reflects the love story between us and Christ Jesus.
Naomi’s husband and sons have died, leaving her with her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi is preparing to return to Israel and Orpah and Ruth insist on going with her. Naomi, however, is equally insistent that they not go, but remain in Moab so that they can find other husbands. At first, both Orpah and Ruth protest. In response, Naomi ups the ante:
“[M]y daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? [I]f I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands?” (Ruth 1:11-13)
Naomi’s sobering warning hits its target in Orpah. Orpah is still a young woman who can bear children. Orpah loves her mother-in-law, but her potential future as a wife and a mother takes precedence. With her truest desires revealed, Orpah turns back. Ruth, however, stands her ground and makes one of the most moving declarations recorded in the Scriptures:
“Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17)
The next scripture reads “When [Naomi] saw that [Ruth] was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem.” Ruth 1:18-19.
Naomi did not manipulate Ruth into going with her, nor did Naomi let Ruth follow her back to Israel in ignorance. Naomi took great pains to make it plain to Ruth what Ruth would have to sacrifice if she went with her. So strong was Ruth’s love for and commitment to Naomi that Ruth chose to follow Naomi despite the price.
As Naomi dealt with Ruth, so Jesus deals with us. Contrary to Naomi, Jesus asks us to follow Him. But He does not ask us to follow Him blind. Instead, Jesus invites us to follow Him with our eyes wide open:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves . . .” (Matt 10:16)
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matt. 16:24-25)
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:11)
Just as Naomi wanted Ruth to understand what she was about to sacrifice, Jesus wants His disciples to understand fully what it will cost us to follow Him. Just as Naomi articulated Orpah’s truest desires, and gave Orpah the opportunity to turn back, so Jesus has a way of unearthing the deepest desires of our heart before asking us to deny them for Him. In the end, Ruth’s sacrificial love for Naomi earned her a place in the lineage of Jesus. Likewise, our sacrificial love for Jesus earns us a place in the kingdom of God.