James 1:3 tells us the testing of our faith is a good thing. We are strengthened as we challenge each other, as iron sharpens iron, and we work out our salvation with “fear and trembling.” In this narrative in Ruth, we see that God used Naomi’s test of Oprah and Ruth to bring Ruth into His covenant people. Ruth’s faith was in YAHWEH and she thus detested “her gods.” She understood the costs that walking after God involved, and embraced them.
