Excerpt from Ruth and Naomi
by Ellen van Wolde

As well as opting for a woman and a people, at the same time Ruth opts for a God. She indicates this not only in the expression “your God is my God” but also by actually calling on YHWH in verse 17b: “Thus may YHWH do to me and thus may he continue to do.” This verse is important if we are to understand what Ruth now really believes. Naomi believes in God on the basis of a proportionality in relations between YHWH and human beings (1:8, 13, 21); it is for YHWH to give goodness to those who show goodness. At least that is what Naomi believes. Naomi gradually distances herself from this YHWH, when first her husband and then her tow children die and, old and alone, she has to go on without any future. According to Naomi, YHWH has not kept the rules fairly.

And then along comes Ruth, who opts for complete surrender to YHWH. She goes with Naomi, believes in YHWH, and hope that He will be with her. She is not afraid to take the risk, though she is well aware that most people around her would prefer the certain to the uncertain and choose the familiar rather than the unknown. Precisely because she has trust in YHWH, in Naomi, and in herself, she dares and promises trust. You can no longer accuse her of youthful arrogance, since she has already been married for ten years to a foreigner, a man of Judah, and she has lost her husband. So she knows what kind of misery life can bring. And yet this woman is ready to opt for an uncertain future, an unknown people. and an unknown God. Ruth’s trust in YHWH is not like Naomi’s. Ruth does not say that she believes in proportionality, far less does she know whether her God will reward her for her good behavior. He might well not. At least He has given no sign of that in Naomi’s case. And yet Ruth believes and sets out. She cannot expect much inspiration or appreciation from Naomi, yet nevertheless she does it.

Naomi is silent towards her, but will have understood her daughter-in-law well from her own perspective and experiences. For who abandons her own family and identifies with a strange people and a strange God? “Your people are my people,” says Ruth to Naomi. Despite everything she believes in YHWH, she gives herself to Him, without expecting to get anything out of it. She also gives herself to Naomi without expecting anything in return. She invests without knowing whether there will ever be a return at all. “She’ll have to learn and get wiser” will have been her mother-in-law’s reaction. “Belief in YHWH didn’t do me much good, and she can’t expect much from me. I’m exhausted and weary.” And yet Ruth goes, hoping for the best!

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