Life of Ruth Lesson 4 “The Journey Home”
As we move forward in this biblical account, we begin to observe that Ruth and Naomi could not have been more dissimilar. Both were at entirely separate stages in life. One was older, had experienced a long marriage, children, and very deep trials accompanied by much heartache. The other was younger, had a short marriage which did not produce children and, as such, had experienced her own kind of heartaches. They were from different countries, had contrasting cultures and opposite religious beliefs. Very individual women indeed. But let’s shine the spotlight on Naomi for a few moments. Many can relate to the heartbreak of losing a loved one. But Naomi lost three family members, one right after the other. Certainly losing her husband would have been heartbreaking enough, yet, she could not have foreseen losing a son as well! Imagine the grace of God that must have taken. And just when it would seem as though the remaining son would step into a leadership role and care for his mother, he died too! By this time Naomi was depleted. She had nothing left. And the woman whose name according to the Jewish scholars means “sweet one”, changed her own name to Mara, meaning bitterness, or made bitter by adversity. Matthew Henry reminds us, “Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.”
Charles Spurgeon assures us, “Fiery trials make golden Christians.” Those peerless authors’ powerful allusions notwithstanding, a profoundly deep trial can produce unwanted by-products; a spill- over effect, if you will, and if we are not watchful over our souls, we might change our names as well. For the danger for the Christian is not only found in the trial itself, but in the duration of it. It is growing weary in the process. When it doesn’t let up. When it seems as though your prayers are not being answered. When despair settles down in the place hope has vacated. One can imperceptibly go from being the most devoted, sound in the faith, spiritual-minded, strong Christian to a shell shocked, traumatized, and despondent child of God. Yes, child of God. But not for long.
Naomi was bitter and full of despair. And she was a woman of God. And with that bitterness came the mistaken belief that because she lost the life she once had-she had no life before her. But God’s Word, that infallible, perfect Word, compels us to believe quite the opposite in times such as these:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
“But the God of all Grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
I read a statistic once which stated that right after 9-11 the average American adult put on 10 lbs. Why? They needed comfort- so they ate. (If that is true overall-can you just imagine the “proceeds” after our current situation ends!) Everyone wanted something familiar in an effort to stabilize their abruptly shifting landscape. Similarly, when something unsettling happens in our lives, we long for the ordinary, unremarkable day once more and the security it brings with it. The kind of day we took for granted once, and, more to the point, the kind of day we used to gripe about because it was just so routine. Yet, God leads his children to face uncertain and yes, often painful situations because they change us for the better. But, you say, then why don’t I feel better? Because the goal is not to make you feel better, the goal is that you will be better. A better man or woman with a deeper walk with the Lord, and a powerful testimony. These trials have a way of strengthening us right to the core. And what is the Christian’s core? It’s the heart; the seat of the emotions, “decision making central”-if you will, the mind. For us, the process develops nothing less than the mind of Christ, Philippians 2. The goal for the Christian is to be conformed to the image of Christ. And as such, you will do so much more than survive these times of trials and testing; you will flourish. Even though it is evident that Naomi felt anything but strong, or godly or full of faith, God was working in her and through her. Naomi’s thoughts were, “I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty.” She wasn’t talking about money or the superficial fluff and stuff of life. Rather, she was speaking about her loved ones; those she loved and who loved her. Women find so much worth in loving and being loved back. Naomi was in so much pain she wanted to go back to Bethlehem and disappear. But this young, spirited, newly converted girl from downtown Moab kept saying, “Wait for me! I’m going with you! Don’t leave me here! I can help you! Wait for me!” Naomi was resigned to going it all alone assuming it was all over for her. And the worst presumption she proclaimed? “The Almighty is against me!”
God had other plans for Naomi and His plans would supersede hers. He was not going to allow Naomi to remain in fear and self-pity. And not unlike Naomi, he commands us to trust him even when it is one thing after another. He is always working on us and through us and rest assured, he will always finish what he starts.
Next Lesson: “The Leading Man”
