“Call me Mara” – Part 2
Ruth 1:20 (NKJV)
But she said to them, “Do not call me ]Naomi; call me ]Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me – Ruth 1:20 (NKJV)
Naomi had returned home after a disastrous sojourn in a foreign land. She had left home with her husband and sons to seek a better life in Moab. Bethlehem was going through a famine. No one knew how long it would last. They had to eat and feed their children so they left for greener pastures. But she was returning home sad and alone. Her husband and their sons had died. She was bitter. How could God do this to me, she thought?
Her daughter-in-law, Ruth was accompanying her. Ruth was a Moabite who insisted on accompanying her despite no longer being beholden to her. Ruth had decided to leave her own family and her gods to make Naomi her family and Naomi’s God, her God. (Ruth 1:16-17). This was the only good thing that happened to Naomi in a long time. She had faced crisis after crisis and must have felt somewhat uplifted when Ruth said, “…Nothing but death will separate me from you.”
Even in crises, we can impact the lives of others for good when we faithfully serve the living God. His promise is never to leave us or forsake us. She had left her country to live in a pagan land because there was a famine. She and her husband had forgotten how this same God fed her ancestors with angels’ food (manna) in the wilderness and had poured water for them out of a rock. Now she was remembering and this gave her the courage to return. Naomi’s return was marked by abundance. The favour of God was upon her and her daughter-in-law.
If we can but trust God to take us through the tough times, we will not only experience His providence but will show others how to trust Him also. There are those who closely observe our faith in action and are strengthened in their faith. Our God will be their God too. We win others to Christ by our lifestyle.
Prayer
Lord, I thank You for grace to go through the tough times as well as the good times. I thank You for Your Holy Spirit that comforts us so that we can comfort others in their time of need. We give You all the praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read: Ruth 2
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 74:10-17; Acts 10:24-48; Acts 11:1-18; I Kings 1; I Kings 2:1-12
