Where you lead, I will follow…
But Ruth replied, "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 1:16-17
Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead.
If, like me, you're a fan of the show Gilmore Girls, I apologize now for the notes of the theme song likely stuck in your head. Hearing this song today triggers nostalgia for my youth as I envision myself running to the TV after school ahead of my brothers so I could watch my favorite show.
Of course, I also can't help but hear this song and think of Ruth's famous words to her mother-in-law Naomi: "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" (Ruth 1:16, NIV). Ruth and Naomi are similar to the characters Lorelai and Rory Gilmore in their mother-daughter relationship, except Naomi is Ruth's mother by marriage and not birth. Both pairs of women are depicted as inseparable, relying on each other for support, love, and advice. And while the theme song above does summarize how Lorelai and Rory feel about each other, Ruth takes it a step further by literally following through with her words.
When Ruth speaks verses 16 and 17 to her mother-in-law, Naomi is in a state of depressed surrender. She has lost her husband and both of her sons after moving from her home of Bethlehem to Moab to escape famine. When she hears that the Lord has sent rain to end the drought in her homeland, Naomi makes the decision to return to Bethlehem, but urges her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to return to Moab and make new lives for themselves.
Although both young women cry at the thought of leaving Naomi and insist on coming along, only Orpah turns back. Ruth's decision to stay encompasses two desires: to care for her mother-in-law and to follow the God of Israel. When I have studied the book of Ruth in the past, my focus has been on the former desire. I saw Ruth as one-dimensional - seeking above all else to show compassion for Naomi who had been so good to her while she was married to her son. But by verbalizing her decision to follow Naomi's God, Ruth did three very important things:
She broke with the tradition of idolatrous Moab to go to the land of promise.
She stepped forward boldly in faith, similarly to Abraham but without the encouragement of a promise directly from God.
She foreshadowed the gentiles one day becoming children of God.
While anyone can read the story of Ruth and commend her loyalty to Naomi, we as Christians can get so much more out of the story! I love this quote from John W. Reed's commentary on the book of Ruth: "Ruth the Moabitess broke the tradition of her idolatrous people and her irresponsible ancestor, Lot's older daughter. Ruth became a believer in the God of the Hebrews. She sought her fulfillment as a mother through the righteous requirements of the Mosaic Law. She proved herself to be worthy of being named with the finest women of Israel." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).
Wow! By obeying that little tug on her heart telling her to follow Naomi, Ruth became one of the most iconic examples of someone Hebrew and Christian women alike can aspire to be, especially when faced with a choice that can totally change the course of their lives.
A few months ago, my children and I followed my husband to a new place where he was to begin his fellowship. We found ourselves 14 hours and 4 states away from the life we spent the previous 4 years building, and the process of adapting to our new normal was challenging to say the least. I went through a similar transition 5 years ago when I initially followed my husband to Virginia for his surgical residency, as well as four years before that when I followed him to medical school. All of these transitions were scary and difficult, but when moving felt especially hard, I could always find comfort in Ruth's words: "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" (Ruth 1:16, NIV).
Although Ruth wasn't making this declaration to her husband, it did reflect the foundations of a marriage. She was choosing to leave the only home she had ever known to be with someone she cared deeply for, even submitting to the other person's guidance and beliefs. And as we all know, Ruth's commitment and faith did lead to a wonderful marriage with Boaz where she eventually became the great-grandmother of King David and secured her place in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Today, we can choose to echo these famous verses to our Heavenly Father in prayer. God has shown me again and again the good that can come from following His lead. There is no way to imagine what all He has in store for us, but if we choose to confidently step forward in faith, we know He will provide a strong foothold for every step. Wherever you find yourself today friend, ask God to take the lead. Follow Him confidently into the amazing things He has planned for you. You never know the blessings that could result for generations to come.
