In Ruth’s Footsteps

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

My blogging days – and my work with Earl Cox and Israel Always – are officially ending as I follow another path in a new role in my advocacy for Israel and her people. I recently became the first regional outreach director for AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) where it is now my job to build relationships with and encourage political action among pro-Israel Christians in the Southeast. It is exciting for me to be in this groundbreaking role. I recently moved to Atlanta to join AIPAC’s southeast region office.

For me, this position is the zenith of years of pro-Israel advocacy, and I am honored to affiliate with AIPAC, peopled with fine, dedicated, bright staffers. For those of you who may not be familiar with AIPAC, it is an American advocacy organization with 100,000 members across the United States that works to build support within the U.S. government for a strong, mutually beneficial US-Israel relationship. I encourage you to visit www.AIPAC.org to learn more.

Of course no blogger can walk away without saying a few words so here is my personal “Blogging Last Will and Testament.”

The Book of Ruth is my inspiration.

Over the centuries, Ruth has inspired its readers by painting a picture filled with loyalty, redemption, and enduring relationships. Young couples often include one verse from Ruth in their wedding ceremony, Ruth 1:16:

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts you and me.”

This verse is applicable in a broader sense in describing the heart of a modern day Christian Zionist like me. Ruth’s Gentile loyalty coupled with Naomi’s Jewish acceptance is a treasure trove, a role model, for the current Jewish and Christian cooperation, and one I hope we can all emulate.

Ruth, a Gentile, returned with her Jewish mother-in-law to her ancestral homeland (the land of Israel) after Naomi’s sons died in Moab. The ancient portrayal of Jew and Gentile — bonded together in relationship — is reenacted now in the 21st century as Christians stand shoulder to shoulder with Jews in the United States-and beyond- to help our ally, Israel, continue its fight for survival.

Ruth and Naomi’s love for each other changed history. Together, now we can follow in their footsteps as we confront the spread of hatred and terrorism, all too often directed against America and Israel.

Millions of Christians like me consider our stance with Israel and the Jewish people a command from God to be in relationship with His people whom He calls “the apple of His eye.” We believe we owe a debt of gratitude to the Jewish people for giving us our Scriptures, recognizing that Christianity was birthed in the cradle of Judaism. I also believe that Israel is a vital ally of the United States, a country that shares our democratic values, our love of life and liberty.

If you are a Christian, I encourage you to deepen your commitment to the US-Israel relationship. All of us can do SOMETHING. Educate yourself so that you may speak the truth in love. To my Jewish friends, thank you for following Naomi ‘s lead, accepting our friendship and overcoming your own well-founded suspicions born of centuries of persecution carried out in the name of an often distorted Christianity.

I so deeply appreciate all of you who have taken the time to read my thoughts over the last two years. I want to thank Earl Cox and everyone at Israel Always for his trust, mentorship and dedication. I encourage you as well to follow Earl Cox’s important work with Israel by logging on to www.IsraelAlways.org and www.FrontPageJerusalem.com. I will continue to log on to IsraPundit, One Jerusalem and others to keep up with my cyber-friends there.

If you wish to learn more about AIPAC, please visit the web site or contact me at asamuels@aipac.org. Let me hear from you and shalom, shalom to all!