Four People Who Said ‘I Will’

Yesterday I remembered getting married and saying, ‘I will…’ It was in the church where I grew up and was taught Bible stories… where people said ‘I will’.

…Elimelech, Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Killion live in Bethlehem. There’s a famine… they move to Moab… the two boys marry local girls, Orpah and Ruth. Tragedy strikes – Elimelech dies… Mahlon and Killion die.

Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem, suggesting that her widowed daughters-in-law stay in Moab. Orpah agrees; Ruth says, ‘Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God, my God.’

Ruth’s loyal ‘I will’.

The Philistines are attacking Israel. Young David visits his three older brothers in King Saul’s army. The Philistine champion Goliath is terrorising Israel, challenging Saul to find someone to take him on. Everyone’s scared.

David sees the problem, decides to volunteer and goes to Saul saying, ‘Let no-one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.’

David’s courageous ‘I will’.

Uzziah is King of Judah brings some prosperity and military success. Uzziah dies, leaving political instability, moral decay, idol worship and the Assyrian Empire threatening invasion. The nation needs strong political and spiritual leadership.

The prophet Isaiah is overwhelmed by a dramatic vision of the holy God who says, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Isaiah replies, ‘Here am I, Send me.’

Isaiah’s God-directed, ‘I will’.

In Jesus’ story known as ‘The Prodigal Son’, a young man claims his inheritance from his father, leaves home, abandons his family, squanders the money. Left with nothing he gets a job feeding pigs.

Hungry, humiliated and homeless he decides, ‘I will set out and go back to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son…’’

The Prodigal’s confessional, ‘I will’.

Musing… My ‘I will’s… that may require Ruth’s loyalty, David’s courage, Isaiah’s spiritual insight, or The Prodigal’s humble confession.