I am starting to read the book of Ruth. How depressing is this book in the beginning? Chapter one starts with a famine, Elimelech the husband of Naomi who has moved his family away from their home dies, and then only after Naomi’s two sons marry to bring more baggage into the family, the sons die. Now we have a woman who is starving, out of place, husband-less, son-less, and now has the responsibility of caring for two daughters-in-law with no way of making ends meet. And you think you have it bad!
It is hard for my to empathizes with Naomi because I cant say I have ever had it that bad. It is easy to see however how one could become bitter in such circumstances. There is within chapter one a name play between Naomi which means pleasant, and Naomi’s desired name of Mara which means bitter. How sad that Naomi has resorted to calling herself bitter, but I think there are many of God’s people today who might as well go file for a similar name change. Its hard not to think of Job in connection with terrible circumstances, yet Job said something very profound in Job 1:21 when he said; the Lord gives and takes away, but blessed be the name of the Lord. what a different outcome between these two people.
How can we face circumstances in life whether good or bad, and echo the words of Job, rather than Naomi? I think Paul gives us the answer in Philippians 4:10-13. He says that in everything, he has learned to be content because his strength is in Christ. when the disciple Peter stepped out onto the waves, he did so through the power of Christ, and when he sank he did so through his failure to stay focused on the one who gives strength. Today I am encouraged to keep my eyes focused on Jesus who as Hebrews 12:2 tells us is the author and perfecter of our faith. We have no reason to be bitter, and every reason to be pleasant.
