Stephen Sandford is a valued member of Wellington South Baptist. The following is adapted from the sermon he preached on 19 July 2026.
Ruth 1 is often remembered for Ruth’s beautiful declaration to Naomi: “Where you go I will go… your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Yet behind Ruth’s remarkable commitment is another important question: what had she seen in Naomi that made her willing to follow Naomi’s God?
Naomi and her family had lived in Moab for many years, far from Bethlehem and surrounded by a culture devoted to different gods. Their years there were marked by deep loss: Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died, and later both of her sons died. In a time when women depended heavily on husbands and wider family for security, Naomi’s future was uncertain.
When Naomi heard that the famine in Bethlehem had ended, she set out for home. She did not pressure her daughters-in-law to come with her. In fact, she encouraged them to return to their own people, where they might have the opportunity to remarry and rebuild their lives. Orpah returned home, but Ruth chose to stay.
Ruth’s decision was costly. She was leaving her family, homeland, familiar customs, and former religion for an unknown future. Her commitment to Naomi was also a commitment to Naomi’s God. Although the passage does not spell out every detail, Ruth’s words suggest that Naomi’s faith had been visible to her. In a foreign land and through painful circumstances, Naomi had witnessed to the God of Israel in a way that Ruth found real and worth following.
Naomi’s story encourages us that our witness does not need to be dramatic or perfect. It is often seen in the steady, faithful way we live through ordinary days and difficult seasons. As we continue to follow Jesus, may others see in us a faith that is genuine, hopeful, and grounded in the love of God.
Reflect
How might Naomi’s witness to Ruth inform the way we share God’s love with those in our own circles and the wider community?