In Ruth 1:19-22, Naomi has now returned to the land of blessing and is greeted by the women of the town with awe at her change. In fact she had changed so much that they question whether it is even Naomi at all. They were asking, "Is this Naomi"? Surely, you have had this experience. Someone moves away and returns after many years and you hardly recognize them. Just ask anyone who has attended their fortieth or fiftieth high school reunion. We don't know exactly what age Naomi was when she left Bethlehem but even if she was entering early middle age, there would still be a significant change in her appearance in ten years, especially in the days in which Naomi lived. She did not have all the scientific advances toward youth and beauty that the modern world has.
But, Naomi's change was not just outward. Her change was not just from middle to old age. Her change was a change in the soul. As she expresses it herself, it was a change from "full to empty", from "pleasant to bitter". Her change was truly that of pain, grief and regret; pain in her present circumstances, grief at all her loss and regret for leaving the land of promised blessing and trusting in the provision of another land. And, she could not see past her grief to the providence of God working for her.
Naomi tells the women who question if it is really her in Ruth 1:19-22, "Don't call me Naomi", meaning pleasant, "but call me Mara", meaning bitter. Then she continues to say, "I went out full". Here she admits that she (of course along with her husband and sons) went out and yet she goes on to say, "and the LORD has brought me home again". She confesses her own wrong turn in going out from the land of promise, but recognizes the providence of God in bringing her home again.
The LORD knows His sheep and calls them back to Him when they wander from him. There is a marvelous verse in the life of David from 2 Samuel 14:13-14 when he expelled his son, Absalom, from him and would not restore fellowship. A wise woman was told by Joab to speak to David about the situation in order to bring Absalom back. In her argument, the woman said to David, "Does God take away a life? Instead he devises ways (or means) in bringing his banished ones back to Him." Did you know that He has devised the greatest means of all in bringing back his banished ones to Him? That means is the way of the Cross of Calvary. We can come back by way of repentance and faith in the work of the Son of God for our salvation. Have you experienced that? Have you, as a lost sinner, come back to God by way of Christ Jesus' death for you on the cross? If not, my prayer is that you will come to Him now.
Back to Him was the phase that Naomi used, "The LORD has brought me back home". She does give the Glory to God for bringing her back. But, in her grief and bitterness, she makes the statement that He has brought her back again empty. Grief, bitterness and pain blind us to the real working of God. In Naomi's grief and bitterness she could not yet see that God had not brought her back again empty. She may have lost her husband and sons but God had brought her back with a companion who would prove to be better to her than ten sons. Although, she is unable for now to see God's working or to even be thankful that He has provided her a companion and loved one in Ruth. God understands and is well acquainted with our griefs. He does not ridicule, chide or blame us for our tears and sorrow. He is patient with us and allows sorrow and grief to have it's perfect work. We need to have the same patience with others in their griefs and sorrows.
Maybe you are in bitterness today for whatever reason and you cannot see God's provision for you because of your grief and pain. But, know this, that if you are His, you have the assurance that He is working for you, that he is working all things for your good. (Rom. 8:28). Yes, you may hurt, you may have to experience the bitter trial of pain and suffering, perhaps even as a chastisement for your own sin. But, remember His pain and suffering for you. He too experienced sorrow to bring you to God. God was not only devising means to bring back Naomi to the land of blessing, but through her suffering he was devising means to bring Ruth to Himself and to do a far greater and eternal work in, through and for both of these widowed, sorrowful women. Who can tell what eternal purpose God may have for your suffering and grief today?
No, Naomi did not come back empty. God never brings back his people empty. He has far greater blessings for us than we can ever imagine. In fact the last verse gives us a hint of those blessings in the life of Naomi and Ruth. It says, "Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. When Naomi left, she left during a famine. Now that she returns, she returns to a feast of barley. If she could have seen through her grief and bitterness, she would have seen the great blessings of God in giving her Ruth and in bringing her back not to a famine but a feast. Will she see that in the weeks to come? Will her "hope deferred" be turned in to "hope renewed"?
How about you? Are you having a hard time seeing the providence of God in your life? Has your hope been deferred because of losses and crosses? Are your eyes blinded by grief, sorrow and pain? Know that you are not the only one to have passed this way and know too, that God has devised means to bring you back to Him and back to the blessings He has in store for you. Look to Him today, look beyond your bitterness, beyond your grief to His goodness. See the people and things that He has placed around you today and know that He has a good purpose for it all. And, hopefully, your "mara" (bitterness) will soon be turned into "Naomi" (pleasantness). And, God will bless your trials to His Glory and your good.
Be still my soul; the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain,
Leave to your God to order and provide:
In every CHANGE He faithful will remain.
Be still my soul; your best, your heavenly Friend,
Through thorny ways leads to a JOYFUL end.
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