Day 9: Naomi

Her name means 'my joy' or 'pleasant'. She was mother in law to Ruth and Orpah. She is a woman who understands loss all too well. It seemed to follow her everywhere she went. They had initially left their home in Bethlehem and set course to Moab because of a terrible famine that had struck the land. This was her first loss. She had to leave her family and the people that she had known for most of her life because of a famine (another loss). Elimelech, her husband soon died (loss). She was left with her two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. They married Ruth and Orpah and after 10 years they also died. What a tragedy and a series of losses. She was left alone in a foreign land. Only her daughters in law were her consolation. When she heard that the windows of heaven had opened upon Judah and that God had blessed them with grains and crops, she decided to return to her country with her two daughters in law. She had come full to Moab but sadly she was leaving empty. She came a married woman yet she was leaving a widow. We do encounter such scenarios in life. Where what we thought was our ticket out was actually a ticket into something worse. We run away from challenges only to bump into them where we are going. This was the case with Naomi. It's no easy road but we are encouraged that the Lord is for us and not against us. I'm reminded of Paul's words when he says, "Who could ever separate us from the endless love of God’s Anointed One? Absolutely no one! For nothing in the universe has the power to diminish his love toward us. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between us and heaven’s love. What about persecutions, deprivations, dangers, and death threats? No, for they are all impotent to hinder His omnipotent love". Whatever you may be going through, never for a moment think that God has forgotten about you. He is still writing your story as He still was writing Naomi's story. Naomi leaves with her daughters in law but on the way she tells them to go back to their mothers' homes. Orpah says goodbye and returns, but Ruth refuses and vows to go with Naomi wherever she goes. When she gets to Bethlehem she is welcomed by the women of the city who were wondering if it was really her. Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara [meaning ‘bitter’], because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Naomi could not see past her suffering. Like many of us, she may have felt as though her tragedies were punishment for her sins. Yet had she known the blessings in store, she might not have felt so hopeless. May you see past your sufferings. As you draw the picture of your life, may you draw past the valley. It's just a season that will soon pass. Weaping may endure for a moment but joy comes in the morning. Look around you, the Lord has blessed you and preserved you. Rejoice and be glad for you have found favour in His eyes. Naoki thought she had lost too much but Ruth became her reward. A reward better than 7 sons!