The valley of decision

Meanwhile, the valley of decision. The valley of decision.

Key points

• Preseason Conerly Trophy watch list confirmed by Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.
• Such decisions, created rightly, will mark us out as different-as unreservedly committed to after Jesus Christ, the one in whom we truly find abundant life (John 10: 10).
• Supreme Court to rule on 2020 Census results that negatively impacted Mississippians.
• After being struck by the triple tragedy of burying her husband and her two sons in Moab, Naomi decided to go back to her hometown, Bethlehem.
• Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975.

Meanwhile, the valley of decision. The valley of decision. By: Alistair Begg – September 1, 2026.

Ruth remarked, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from after you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your individuals shall be my residents, and your God my God." – Ruth 1: 16.

There are moments throughout life that demand a decision. As pastor and author Rico Tice notes, "We are the choices that we make.", and.

After being struck by the triple tragedy of burying her husband and her two sons in Moab, Naomi decided to go back to her hometown, Bethlehem. Yet instead of forcing her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to return with her, Naomi pressed them to remain in their own homeland of Moab, return to their families, remarry, and live full lives (Ruth 1: 8-9). Ruth and Orpah were suddenly faced with a life-altering decision.

Meanwhile, the lives of these three women were interwoven. They had lived with one another, experienced loss together, mourned together, and wept together. Ultimately, Orpah chose to remain behind, and Ruth decided to journey to Bethlehem with Naomi. Essentially, Orpah did what was projected and sensible. Ruth, by contrast, abandoned the known for the unknown. She offered up the likelihood of remarriage to cling to her aged, helpless mother-in-law.

Ruth understood that her decision should not be guided by familiarity, security, or relational prospects. This moment would shape her life and her destiny. Remaining in Moab would mean remaining with the false gods of her upbringing and turning her back on everything she had presumably discovered from Naomi regarding the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Naomi's God had become Ruth's God. That is why she decided to stay by Naomi's side.

Ruth's decision on the road to Bethlehem points forward to the valley of decision that Jesus calls each of us to stand in: Do you want to be my disciples, or do you want to return to the life you've known? Who is there who will forsake his or her father and mother and everything they know-all that represents stability and security-for my sake? (see Luke 14: 26). Can we confidently say to Christ, "Where you go I will go"? Can we declare, "Though the way ahead is unfamiliar and unpopular, still I will follow"?

This is not a decision we create just right now of salvation. We create it every day of our lives: Will we go back to our old, sinful ways, or are we going to follow the way of truth? Will we create sacrifices and take risks so as to follow God and serve His residents?

Ruth's bold, faithful response to this pivotal choice sets an example for us as we consider what degrees to earn, what careers to pursue, how we spend our time and who we spend it with, how much funds we have and how we're going to steward it, or where we're going to live and serve. Such decisions, created rightly, will mark us out as different-as unreservedly committed to after Jesus Christ, the one in whom we truly find abundant life (John 10: 10). Regarding the Author(s).

Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. After graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written a number of books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. His Daily Devotionals are presented here via a syndication agreement. Faith Alistair Begg August 28, 2026.

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Taken together, the developments around the valley of decision point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.