Unshaken by Francine Rivers Read Free Book Online Page A

all speaking at once, their piqued interest focused on Naomi’s misery. Ruth was not surprised or hurt because the women chose to ignore her. Naomi had warned her she would not be welcome. “My people will see you as a foreigner. And worse, they’ll know you’re a Moabitess.” Everything about Ruth’s appearance declared her nationality. Her clothing was distinctive, and her skin was darker. She had no money to change the one, and no ability to change the other. It would take time for these people to accept her.
    “Don’t expect to be invited into anyone’s house,” Naomi had said. A Hebrew could not invite a foreigner inside his home without defiling it.
    “Oh, Naomi,” the women said, hearing about the death of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. “Oy, your sorrow is too much to bear!” They seemed to withdraw slightly, embarrassed, uncertain. Were they afraid Naomi’s misfortune might somehow be transferred to them if they offered her assistance? Ruth moved forward, edging her way through the women until she was close enough to Naomi to be seen.
    “Don’t call me Naomi.” Naomi cried out. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me.” She began to weep and wail. “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why should you call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy?”
    Perhaps the women had been too long separated from Naomi to share her grief. Though offering words of sympathy, they seemed ill equipped to comfort her. They stood uneasy, looking at one another, distressed and silent. Ruth moved forward again, and when Naomi’s gaze fell upon her, relief flooded her mother-in-law’s face. “Ruth, oh, my Ruth, come here to me.”
    As Ruth pressed her way forward, the women moved back from her, drawing away so she wouldn’t brush against them. They no longer ignored her, but stared openly, contemptuously. Heat poured into Ruth’s cheeks. Had the Moabites stared at Naomi the same way when she first came to Kir-hareseth?
    “This is my daughter-in-law. This is Mahlon’s widow, Ruth,” Naomi said, taking her hand. Ruth could feel how Naomi was shaking. Was this the moment her mother-in-law had most dreaded? Introducing her Moabitess daughter-in-law to her friends? Was Naomi ashamed of her? She was all the proof these people needed that at least one of Naomi’s sons had turned away from God and taken a foreign wife. Ruth was filled with sorrow at the thought of causing her mother-in-law more grief.
    “She’s a Moabite.” The words came out like a curse.
    “By birth,” Naomi said.
    “Does she expect to stay here?” Never had Ruth felt so unwelcome.
    Naomi lifted her chin, her hand tightening around Ruth’s. “Yes, she will stay. She and I will live together.”
    “But Naomi, think of what you’re doing!”
    “I would not have survived without Ruth.”
    “You’re among your own people now, Naomi. Send the foreigner back where she belongs. You know what the Law says.”
    Naomi turned slightly, her body rigid. “There were Egyptians who came with us out of Egypt.”
    “And look at the trouble they caused!”
    “Foreign women are cursed of God!”
    “They turn our men’s hearts away from the Lord!”
    “Enough!” Naomi cried out. “Should I cut off what God has grafted in? Ruth chose to come with me. She turned her back on her mother and father and her brothers and sisters, all she has ever known, to come to Bethlehem and worship God with me.”
    Everyone fell silent for a moment, but Ruth knew words could not convince these women that she was worthy of acceptance. She would have to live an exemplary life before them in order for them to believe she had chosen Naomi over her father and mother, and God over the idols of her people. Time. It would take time.
    “You have returned in time for Passover, Naomi. It is good to have you back among us.”
    And with that said, the women began to disperse,