When you stand at the crossroads of choice (when you get married)

“Now Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.  They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband” (Ruth 1:3-5).

The two sons of Elimelech, Mahlon and Kilion, were at the crossroads of choosing whether to marry a Jewish woman of their own, or a woman of Moab, where they were living.  But they were not the only ones who were at the crossroads of choice.  Their mother Naomi stood at the crossroads of choice as well.  In other words, the marriage issue between Marlon and Kilion were not only their own but also their mother, Naomi’s issue as well because her sons’ wives were her daughters-in-laws.  Naomi stood at the crossroads of choice whether to take the Jewish women to be her daughter-in-law or the Moabite women to be her daughter-in-law.  Naomi had to choose one of them.  Naomi and her two sons chose to take the Moabite women against the command of God (Ruth 1:4).  They made a practical choice.  They should return to the land of Judah and married the same race.  But Mahlon and Kilion married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth (v. 4).  As a result of their practical choices, Malone and Kitty lost their lives like their father (v. 5).  Their mother Naomi lost not only her husband Elimelech but also her two sons Mahlon and Kilion.  And not only she became a widow, but her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, became widows as well.  This reminded me Boaz who chose to marry the Moabite woman Ruth (ch. 4).  The reason is because like Mahlon and Kilion, Boaz did not marry the same race, a Jewish woman, but he chose to marry the Gentile woman and a widow Ruth.  What is different?  Why is Mahlon marrying Ruth a pragmatic but unbiblical choice, and Boaz's marriage to Ruth is impractical, but a biblical choice and a choice of faith?  When Ruth married Mahlon, Ruth was not a woman who believed in God of Israel.  Rather, she believed in Moabite gods (1:15).  But when Ruth married to Boaz, she did not choose her own people and her Moab gods, but she already chose her mother-in-law Naomi’s God and her people (v. 16).  In other words, Ruth was a believer in God when she married Boaz.  So Marlon's choice of marrying a Gentile woman, Ruth, was a pragmatic choice but it was unbiblical choice.  On the other hand, the choice of Boaz, who married the believer Ruth, was a biblical choice and a choice of faith.  The Boaz’s choice of marrying the woman of noble character Ruth (3:11), who feared God (Prov. Ch. 31), was the biblical choice that was made by faith.

I hereby ask two questions about the Christian marriage.  The first question is whether it is okay for the Christian singles to marry a foreigner?  From Korean Christian parents' perspective, I am sure many of them want their children to marry the same race Koreans.  I am sure they are some parents who are firmly opposing their sons or daughters marrying the foreigners.  Some other parents prefer their sons or daughters to marry Koreans, but allow them to marry foreigners if they want to.  Just as the Jewish parents who made their children to marry only with their own race Jews in the Old Testament times, even now the Orthodox Jewish parents are still making their children to marry only with their own Jews.  Why do the Jews marrying their children only with the Jews?  The reason is related to the second question.  The second question is, is it okay for the Christian singles to marry non-Christians?  God made his people Jews married to their own Jews in order to prevent them from being deceived by the gentile spouse and forsaking God and serving idols.  Therefore, God’s intention of the same Jewish race marriage was to keep their faith in God.  So I think even though the Christian singles marrying unbelievers who do not believe in Jesus is a pragmatic choice but it is an unbiblical choice.  I think Christian singles who believe in Jesus must marry the same Christians.  If so, what if the Christian marriage is a Christian believing in Jesus, but not of the same race?

My personal thought is that it is okay to marry a Christian who is a foreigner.  Of course, some parents may prefer that their children to marry the same race, but there is no biblical basis for that.  I think what is important to the parents is whether their son’s girlfriend is lie Ruth who is a noble woman who fears God.  Nobody knows whether a Christian single sister who believes in Jesus is a noble woman or not.  And I think we, the parents, should not be greedy about the marriage of their children.  We must not look at our future son-in-law or daughter-in-law with greedy eyes and seek worldly success and wealth.  If we do not fear God like Naomi and make our children to marry non-Christians is killing the souls of our children.  We Christian parents must make biblical choices by faith.  The Christian singles must make biblical choices by faith.  We must choose the one God has chosen.  We must choose a noble man or woman who fears God.  I hope and pray that the Christian singles are able to make such wise choice.