Ruth 1:6-22 | Turn! Turn! Turn! by Pastor Greg Mah (Oct 12, 2025)

Today’s journey through Ruth 1:6-22 invites us to consider the power and direction of our turning—how the choices we make in moments of loss, uncertainty, or longing shape our lives and our relationship with God. The Hebrew word “shuv,” meaning “turn” or “return,” echoes throughout this passage, as three widows—Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth—each face a crossroads. Their responses reveal the deep spiritual truth that the direction of our turning matters profoundly, not just for our circumstances, but for our souls.

Orpah’s story is a reminder of how easy it is to choose the familiar over the unknown, to seek comfort and security even when it means turning away from God’s promises. Her decision to return to Moab is not villainous, but it is a sober warning: the pursuit of good things—like marriage, stability, or acceptance—can become idolatrous when they draw us away from God. Our hearts are always being shaped by what we pursue, and even small turns can have eternal consequences.

Ruth, in contrast, chooses a path of radical love and loyalty. She turns not just toward Naomi, but toward Naomi’s God, forsaking her own people and gods. Ruth’s commitment is not driven by the hope of marriage or personal gain, but by a self-giving love that reflects the heart of God. Her story challenges us to examine what we are willing to risk or leave behind for the sake of faithfulness, and to recognize that even good things—like marriage—are not ultimate things. Only God deserves that place in our hearts.

Naomi’s return to Bethlehem is marked by brokenness and bitterness. She comes home empty, blaming God for her pain, yet her imperfect faith is still faith. The beauty of her story is that God meets her in her mess, not with condemnation, but with grace. The porch light is always on; the Father is always waiting for the one who turns back, no matter how long they’ve been away or how messy their return.

Ultimately, the invitation is for each of us: no matter how many wrong turns we’ve made, it only takes one turn—one act of repentance, one step of faith—to come home. God’s arms are open, ready to receive us, not with shame, but with unconditional love. Today, it may be your turn to come home.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Direction of Your Turning Shapes Your Destiny Every decision, even those that seem small or practical, points your heart in a direction—toward God or away from Him. Orpah’s choice to return to Moab was not overt rebellion, but a preference for comfort and familiarity over faith. Our lives are shaped not just by what we avoid, but by what we pursue, and the trajectory of our turning can have consequences that echo into eternity. [15:35]
• 2. Idolatry Is Often the Elevation of Good Things Idolatry is not always about bowing to statues or foreign gods; it is often the subtle elevation of good things—like marriage, career, or security—into ultimate things. When we allow anything, even God’s gifts, to define our worth or direct our lives more than God Himself, we risk turning our hearts toward idols. Ruth’s refusal to idolize marriage, even at great personal cost, is a call to examine what we have placed on the throne of our hearts. [21:23]
• 3. Faithfulness Sometimes Means Risking the Unknown Ruth’s journey is a testament to the courage it takes to step into the unknown for the sake of love and faithfulness. She leaves behind her homeland, her gods, and her prospects for security, choosing instead to align herself with Naomi and the God of Israel. True faith often requires us to risk comfort and certainty, trusting that God’s presence is worth more than any earthly guarantee. [19:44]
• 4. God Welcomes Imperfect, Messy Returns Naomi’s return to Bethlehem is fraught with bitterness, blame, and pain. Yet God does not require her to have perfect faith or a spotless record—He simply welcomes her home. Our returns to God are often messy, filled with regret or confusion, but what matters is the willingness to turn. God’s grace meets us in our brokenness, not after we’ve cleaned ourselves up. [35:05]
• 5. One Turn Is All It Takes to Come Home No matter how many wrong turns, mistakes, or years spent far from God, it only takes one act of repentance to be welcomed back. The story of Naomi, and the image of the porch light left on, remind us that God is always waiting, arms open, ready to receive us without shame or condemnation. The invitation is always open: today can be your turn to come home. [39:18]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:28] - Reflections on Last Week and Ruth Series Introduction
• [01:26] - Devotional Plan and Staying in the Word
• [02:07] - Ruth 1:6-22 and Ecclesiastes 3: Turning and Seasons
• [03:41] - The Sovereignty of God in Life’s Seasons
• [04:26] - The Meaning of “Shuv”: Turn or Return
• [05:27] - The Three Widows and Their Turning Points
• [06:06] - Recap: Elimelech’s Family in Moab
• [07:32] - Naomi’s Urging and the Daughters-in-law’s Response
• [09:29] - Ruth’s Famous Declaration of Loyalty
• [11:23] - The Repetition of “Turn” in Ruth 1
• [12:14] - Orpah’s Turn: Choosing Familiarity Over Faith
• [15:07] - The Subtlety of Idolatry
• [19:06] - Ruth’s Turn: Radical Love and Loyalty
• [21:23] - Marriage, Idolatry, and Ultimate Things
• [24:38] - Naomi’s Turn: Returning in Brokenness
• [26:35] - The Porch Light: God’s Welcome Home
• [28:31] - Naomi’s Messy Faith and Honest Lament
• [33:46] - God’s Provision in Our Emptiness
• [35:05] - The Power of One Turn
• [36:05] - Billy Graham’s Daughter: A Story of Welcome
• [39:18] - God’s Unconditional Love and the Invitation Home
• [41:21] - Prayer of Turning and Response

Bible Reading

Ruth 1:6-22 (ESV) —
> 6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food.
> 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
> 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
> 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
> 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”
> 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?
> 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons,
> 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”
> 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
> 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”
> 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
> 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
> 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
> 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?”
> 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
> 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
> 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Observation Questions

1. How many times does the word “turn” or “return” (shuv) appear in Ruth 1:6-22, and what is the significance of its repetition in the story? ([11:37])
2. What are the different choices made by Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth when faced with loss and uncertainty? ([12:00])
3. According to the passage, what reasons does Naomi give for urging her daughters-in-law to return to Moab? ([08:08])
4. How does Naomi describe her own return to Bethlehem, and what does she say about her feelings toward God? ([28:51])

Interpretation Questions

1. What does Orpah’s decision to return to Moab reveal about the temptation to choose comfort and familiarity over faith? How does the sermon warn us about the subtlety of idolatry in our own lives? ([15:07])
2. Ruth’s commitment to Naomi goes beyond family loyalty. What does her decision teach us about the cost and nature of true faithfulness? ([19:44])
3. Naomi returns to Bethlehem feeling empty and bitter, even blaming God for her pain. What does her story show us about how God responds to our imperfect or messy faith? ([28:51])
4. The sermon says, “It only takes one turn—one act of repentance, one step of faith—to come home.” How does this idea challenge or encourage someone who feels far from God? ([35:23])

Application Questions

1. Orpah’s story is not about open rebellion, but about choosing what is familiar and secure. Are there “good things” in your life (like career, relationships, or comfort) that might be pulling your heart away from God? How can you recognize when a good thing is becoming an idol? ([15:07])
2. Ruth risked her own security and future to follow Naomi and God. Is there an area in your life where God might be calling you to step out in faith, even if it means leaving behind comfort or certainty? What would it look like to take that step? ([19:44])
3. Naomi’s return was messy—she was bitter, broken, and blamed God. Have you ever felt like you couldn’t come back to God because you weren’t “put together” enough? How does Naomi’s story speak to that fear? ([28:51])
4. The sermon uses the image of the porch light always being on, and the Father waiting for us to come home. If you feel far from God, what is one practical step you could take this week to “turn” back toward Him? ([26:35])
5. The direction of your turning shapes your destiny. Think about a recent decision you made—big or small. Did it point your heart toward God or away from Him? How can you be more intentional about the direction of your daily choices? ([15:35])
6. The sermon mentions that even after many wrong turns, it only takes one act of repentance to come home. Is there an area of your life where you need to make a “turn” back to God? What’s holding you back? ([35:23])
7. Ruth refused to let marriage or any other good thing become her ultimate thing. What is one “good thing” in your life that you need to hold more loosely, so that God remains first in your heart? ([21:23])