Ruth 1:19-21
‘So they both went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”’
The Book of Ruth is a beautiful one. It’s a love story. But one that wouldn’t be obvious to the unbeliever. It’s a love story between God and the unredeemed. At this time God is working through Israel. But, after Jesus, God wants to bring in the stranger, the gentiles. This book is an example of that. Our last time in Ruth we heard her great proclamation of her loyalty to her mother in law. In it we hear her say that she wants to adopt Naomi’s God. That was God’s aim. Redemption is a wonderful concept in the bible. This book illustrates that.
On the surface Naomi appears to be right, God seems to have dealt bitterly with her. She lost her husband and her two sons. The heritage which was to bring her blessing is gone. But God had something better in mind.
God wanted her back in Israel. Her loss did that. God gave the land to her ansestors. Blessing was attached to it. To be away from it cut off some of that blessing. Yes, there was a famine, which is what led her husband to leave. At times God led them away from the land because of famine. The story of Jacob and Joseph is one example. Was her husband disobedient or was he following the thoughts God put in his mind. It could be either. We do know that God used it mightily.
Naomi’s story is a little Job-like. His circumstances made no sense to him. They did in time. He proved a great point, “I know my redeemer lives”. Naomi’s will as well. The beautiful story of redemption is about to be displayed.
Naomi’s entering into Bethlehem must have been difficult. The very thing she feared happened. The town was aghast upon seeing her. She describes it, “I went away full, but returned empty”. Unknown to her she wasn’t empty. She brought back with her a great prize in Ruth.
We might feel empty, but God may be ready to do a work. That which God may use might be in us. When we are weak He is strong. There are aspects of my personality that I thought were weaknesses, but God turned them into strengths. My mom pointed them out when I was 17. At the time it meant nothing to me. I saw it as a deficit. However, God has always used it. It took thirty years for me to see it.
This is another instance of Romans 8:28, “We know that God can work all things for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose”. We rarely see it coming, but it does. Our loving, all powerful God doing what He does. He makes beauty out of ashes. He is about to do that with Naomi.
Thank You, Lord, for Your love and Your guidance. You are so good to us.