Her name was Orpah, and this would prove to be the most critical moment of her life. Would she take the risk and follow her mother-in-law to Bethlehem or turn back to Moab? Would she risk living in a land of complete strangers? Take a chance on never remarrying? Never having children? Would she be willing to take on the responsibility of a widow for the rest of her life?

As if Naomi were reading her mind, she looked straight into the faces of both her daughters-in-law and insisted they turn back. She would have nothing to offer the two young women. No more sons for them to marry. No guarantee of a kinsman redeemer. Not even the promise of regular meals or a roof over their heads.

Orpah rightly predicted Ruth’s response. She had always been the more daring of the two, more willing to take risks, and more likely to pursue adventure. But this wasn’t child’s play. This was the moment that would define their lives forever.

So there she was, standing at the crossroad of her life. Venture into the unknown or return to the familiar? Going home wasn’t the most exciting choice, but it was the safest. As unpleasant as Moab was, at least it was predictable.

The three women hugged each other and cried. Such a precious unity had grown between them. Years of living and laboring side by side had resulted in a strong bond of interdependence. Especially when one by one, the angel of death had visited each of their husbands, leaving them with more in common than they ever wish for. Widowhood. A curse in the eyes of their culture. The dreaded misfortune every Israelite woman feared.

Oh, how the voices shouted in her head. Cries of “what if?” and “what then?” They won. Leaving her precious mother and sister-in-law, Orpah turned back to the familiar, the comfortable, the predictable. She turned back to Moab.

The Bible is silent regarding Orpah’s future, which speaks volumes in itself. Returning to the familiar is a good formula for living a mundane existence - one not deserving of much mention. On the other hand, Ruth’s choice led her to Bethlehem and her ultimate destiny as the great-grandmother of King David. Both stood in the center of a defining moment. One was never heard of again. The other is part of the royal lineage of Jesus Christ, Himself.

But before we look down our noses at Orpah, the fearful maiden who preferred the mundane over the mysterious, perhaps we should consider our own tendencies to “turn back” Remember the opportunity you were given to advance your career, but the new boss was questionable, and the new duties were unfamiliar? Or what about the time the praise and worship leader, recognizing your gifting, asked you to sing a solo, but you were afraid of forgetting the words or missing a note? Maybe you passed up the once-in-a-lifetime offer to start your own business, or move to the country, or go on a mission trip, or have a baby, or abandon your heart to someone who loved you. If so, then welcome back to Moab, Orpah.

The truth is, it’s simply easier to turn back than to journey into the unknown. Our flesh loves comfort. The proof? Mounds of buttery mashed potatoes, steaming bowls of cinnamon oatmeal, gallons of Chunky Monkey, and boxes of gooey Godiva. All hail the god of comfort food! We opt for practical flats over sexy sandals, spend a fortune on our Lazy Boy, order pizza online, refuse to part with our shabby housecoat, and become one with our favorite jeans. Need I say more? The flesh LOVES comfort!

And the Comforter loves us, which is why there is more than one defining moment in our lives. When we miss one, He loves us enough to present another and another…and yet another. So that eventually, by the grace of the One who breathes life into every moment — whether fleeting and defining - we lay aside comfort and throw ourselves into the great adventure. Life in the Unknown. Life in the Unpredictable. Life far removed from Moab.

Be forewarned — the choice to leave Moab is only the beginning. Bethlehem is scary. It’s risky and rocky and full of uncertainty. But it’s also the most adventurous ride of your life.. Exciting, exhilarating, free-falling, and fun, you’ll live every nerve-wracking day utterly dependent on the One who called you to Bethlehem in the first place.

So what’ll it be, Friend? Orpah or Ruth? Safe or scary? Mundane or mysterious? Life is short. A lot shorter than we understand when we say, “Life is short.” One day we’re kissing our baby. The next, we’re kissing our baby’s baby. May God give you the discernment to recognize your next defining moment and the courage to kiss Moab goodbye.