For the Ruth 1:19-22 PODCAST, click here
19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. ~ Ruth 1:19-22
Today, we return to our study of the book of Ruth which is a story for people who get to that place in life where we wonder where God is when our world fall apart. This little four chaptered book is for those who wonder where God is when one tragedy after another meanders into our lives. It's a story for people who wonder whether a life of integrity in tough times is worth it. And it's a story for people who can't imagine that anything great could ever come out of our broken lives.
In v.19 of today's passage we read, "Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, 'Is this Naomi?'"
The journey from Moab to Bethlehem for Naomi and Ruth was about 50 miles in distance. It was not an easy trip in a land which is hilly, rocky, and very hot. Their trip included crossing over the Arnon river and the Jordan river. Naomi and Ruth had to carry whatever they owned including the water they needed to drink while on their journey. This was not an easy trip. In fact, with carrying their things, stopping for rest and sleep and the like, it probably took them a minimum of two days.
Upon their arrival to Bethlehem, all the city was excited. The women of the town were astonished at the person they once knew. More than 10 years had passed when Naomi had left with her husband and sons for Moab. Then she was a much younger woman. Now, she returned looking older, more worn down from the sadness and the years that had passed. The second law of thermodynamics had taken its toll on Noami both physically and spiritually.
In v.20-21 of today's passage we read, "20 But she said to them, 'Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?'"
Here, we get a glimpse of Naomi's inner state when she told the women of Bethlehem not to call her Naomi which means "pleasant." When God defined Naomi, she was pleasant and beautiful and sweet. This is why we must be ardent in seeking the Lord on a daily basis through our study of the Scriptures and prayer. His definition of our lives is the best and yields the best results. Of course, we must be careful that these two spiritual practices are not just boxes we check off on our to do list for the day. Those who read the Bible and pray as a religious exercise miss the point. Those who see the Bible as a pane of glass that enables us to see God more clearly understand what our relationship with God is all about. It's about knowing Him and making Him known.
The late Mike Yaconelli said it well when he wrote, "Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins where we are now in the mess of our lives."
In hearing her given name repeated time and again as she encountered the people of Bethlehem, Naomi could only think that it was no longer appropriate. In her mind, the covenant God of Israel, was distant from her and she felt the pain of it each time her name was repeated. And so, she thought a change to reflect her sad condition was needed. Interestingly, the name she chose is not the normal Hebrew form of the word. It is lacking the letter "h" at the end of the name which is the same letter that was added to Abraham and Sarah’s names as a sign of God's covenant grace. It was as if she were an outsider to the Lord and His covenant provision, wallowing alone in her bitterness.
Being defined by God shows up in our lives by how we respond to Him and how we choose to live our lives. When we choose to believe that He is gracious and we can not out-sin His grace, it is then that we are being defined by Him. We must be very careful to not even depend upon one ounce of our good behavior to define us because when we do that, we will become very discouraged and jaded. But, Naomi was not in the moment being defined by God and she became bitter.
Naomi requested that her old girlfriends reference her as "bitter" for she was quite defined by her bitterness. Four times in context did Naomi refer to God. She was bitter at God because she thought He was bitter toward her. I find it interesting that when pain comes into our lives, we blame no one but God. We do this because we know that God is the only one who could have prevented our pain. Ever notice no one curses any of the names of the gods of Hinduism or any other religion when life goes south on them?
While attributing her affliction to the Lord, Naomi implied that God was evil or wicked. This is what sin does to us; it distorts our understanding of God. It leads us to conclude that He is the opposite of what He really is. Instead of ascribing the evils that come our way to God, it is right that we humble ourselves and choose to trust Him with the outcomes of the trouble in our lives. In the midst of our afflictions, it is most important how we choose to respond. Above all, we are to never ascribe evil to the Lord. It is we humans who chose the path we are on and it is the Lord God who sent His Son to correct it.
Naomi failed to see that the kindness of the Lord was just around the corner. Thinking she was the object of God’s wrath, she misinterpreted the sad and troublesome hardships she had faced. What seemed at the time to be harsh and cruel was in due time to be replaced with joy and comfort. But even more, the troubles she faced had served a larger purpose as her life has been used to show the greater, and often unseen, hand of God as He unfolds history in a way which displays His sovereignty and His kind heart toward mankind.
In v.22 of today's passage we read, "So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest."
The reaping of the barley historically took place during the month of Abib which happened at the time of our March/April. It commences during the Feast of Unleavend Bread when the first-fruits of the harvest are cut and presented to the Lord, a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was at that same time of year when the Lord Jesus was crucified and then rose from the dead.
The first obvious indication of God's blessing here was the barley harvest. Even though, at that time, barley was the least expensive of the grains, when we can see the sovereign hand in the least of these, we will better see His hand in the greatest of these. It is obvious that one of the main lessons here is discovered when we conclude that God is good even in the lean moments of life. Of course, once we get to that spot we will find it much easier to conclude He is good in the times of plenty.
