Read Ruth 1:19-22
19. “So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20. And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty; why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22. So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.”
The study book says “Naomi claims that she went away full, it seems that she had forgotten that she had fled from famine. She now feels. With short-sighted vision, that God had brought her back empty. What she faith to see was that she has left full of herself, and God had emptied her so that he could fill her full.”
Chapter 1 of Ruth began with famine and now ends with harvest.
Naomi had experienced hardships with her husband and two sons dying and also becoming poor.
Naomi wanted to change her name to Mara because Mara means bitter. Naomi was bitter because she blamed God for bringing her back empty. She just needed to put her past behind her so she could move forward.
Is it not crazy how God works is mysterious ways? He works in way we cannot see with our human eyes, but we can feel the work being done in our hearts. Sometimes we allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in earthy lifestyle, we need to get caught up in the Christian lifestyle and trust him always.
how can you have a biblical response to a “why me” attitude?Matt 9:9 is a good verse to go with this—
“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he faith until him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.”
— no questions asked. Matthew trusted God and followed him. Matthew abandoned his job (he was a tax collector) and went with Jesus to be a disciple. My bible says “Sometimes the decision to follow where Jesus leads requires difficult or painful choices. Like Matthew, we must decide to leave behind the things that would keep us from following Jesus.”
How can we be blinded by ourselves and miss out on what God is doing?We sometimes left our human emotions in the way. I have been there. I know I can be blinded because I’m focused on MYSELF, rather than focused and trusting God. When our minds are working overtime we can miss out on things.
What do you need to empty your heart of and lay down at His feet today?This could be issues at home, work, anxiety, medical issues, family issues, sickness, and so much more!
Dear Lord,
Help me Lord to not be bitter so I can see you working in my life. Help me to love like Jesus. I pray that you fill my emptiness full of your love and your words. I pray for the ones who do not know you Lord.
- Amen