Superstition says that bad news comes in threes – happening all at once or in quick succession. Well…

that’s precisely what happened with the family of Elimelech while they were living in Moab. First,

Elimelech died, plunging Naomi into widowhood. Second and third, both sons, Mahlon and Chilion, died,

swallowing up the hopes and dreams of their young wives, Ruth and Orpah.

Things were terribly unpleasant – so much so that Naomi, the woman whose name meant “pleasant,”

wanted to change her name to Mara, which meant “bitter.”

After living in Moab for ten years, word arrived that there was now bread in the house of bread,

Bethlehem, Naomi’s hometown. So, she decided she would sadly crawl back into town alone and live

out her days there. She graciously encouraged her much-loved daughters-in-law to go back to their own

parents’ home, marry again, and have their own families.

When they arrived at the crossroads where a decision had to be made, Naomi entreated the young

widows to stay behind in Moab: “May the Lord grant that you find rest, each one in the home of her

husband.” Then she kissed them [goodbye] and they wept aloud (Ruth 1:9).

Picture the scene with me: three women bawling their eyes out in the middle of the road (v.9), clinging

to each other, then crying some more (v.14). Imagine with me the tear-soaked cloaks and tunics as they

said their final goodbyes to Orpah, who chose to return to Moab. And perhaps Ruth had some additional

tears to shed as she said goodbye to her homeland and chose to accompany Naomi to the town of

Bethlehem.

This was the crossroads where faith and the familiar duked it out. For Orpah, the familiar won out; she

went back to Moab. For Ruth, faith won out; she went on with Naomi to the village of Bethlehem. At the

time, the choices of the two young widows at the crossroads probably didn’t make any headlines. Yet at

this very moment, Orpah walked off the pages of Scripture and Ruth walked right into the lineage of our

Savior, Jesus Christ – and into our hearts.



But aren’t crossroads decisions like that? At the time, it may seem like any other moment. But when we

invite God into our decision-making, those moments may become crossroads and turning points. What

decision do you need to make today? Will the familiar win out? Or will you invite God into your moment

and step out in faith – and perhaps begin a new chapter in your story?

By Judy Shrout

Judy is the wife of Tom, mother of Heather, mother-in-law of Jim, grandmom to T.J., Ainsley, and

Maggie, and grandmother-in-law to Piper.