God is still working when life feels empty and even when we are unaware that He is with us. Naomi returned to Bethlehem, overwhelmed by the loss of her husband and sons. She openly admitted her bitterness. Her name, Naomi, means “pleasant” in Hebrew. She knew her life was no longer pleasant because of her losses, so she wanted to be called Mara, or bitter.
Ruth 1:19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” [1]
Complaining Against God
The problem of Naomi’s suffering is the driving force of the book of Ruth. The dialogue between the women of Bethlehem and Naomi demonstrates this. Never in the text does it suggest that God initiated or caused Naomi’s pain. Unfortunately, some will say that misfortune in life means that God is judging one for sin. While there are consequences for poor decisions, we don’t want to assume that God’s judgment is behind all tragedy.
There are times when vocalizing our raw emotions can be healing. Scripture is full of lament, or a heartfelt cry to God when we are overwhelmed. One-third of the Psalms express lament. There is a whole book of Lamentations in the Old Testament. These writings express deep grief and often include a plea for God’s help and a declaration of trust in His faithfulness.
Psalm 44: 23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. 24 Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?… 26 Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love. [2] It is comforting to know that God does hear our prayers of lament, and this can help lead us closer to Him.
Hope to Come
Even though Naomi is suffering, we don’t want to miss how God is working behind the scenes to restore her. Naomi wasn’t entirely empty. She was back home among friends in the spring of the year. The end of chapter one gives a subtle hint of what is to come. Ruth 1: 22 So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.[3]
It was spring, and the barley harvest allowed Ruth to glean food for the two of them. This act led her to the fields of a man named Boaz. He noticed Ruth’s work ethic and commented that Ruth was better to Naomi than seven sons. (Ruth 4:15) Boaz acted as a kinsman-redeemer. This is a close male relative who is responsible for helping a family member in need, by redeeming property or marrying a widow to preserve the family line.
Boaz married Ruth, and they had a son named Obed. This brought great joy to Naomi. The child became the grandfather of King David, and Jesus would be a descendant of that line. We can see from this that God is still working when life feels empty. Even when we might not be able to see our way forward, we can trust God. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/when-transition-is-difficult
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers