15 Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back home to live with her own people and gods; go with her."
16-17 But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!"
18-19 When Naomi saw that Ruth had her heart set on going with her, she gave in. And so the two of them traveled on together to Bethlehem.
When they arrived in Bethlehem the whole town was soon buzzing: "Is this really our Naomi? And after all this time!"
20-21 But she said, "Don't call me Naomi; call me Bitter. The Strong One has dealt me a bitter blow. I left here full of life, and God has brought me back with nothing but the clothes on my back. Why would you call me Naomi? God certainly doesn't. The Strong One ruined me."
22 And so Naomi was back, and Ruth the foreigner with her, back from the country of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
S: verses 16-17 -16-17 But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!"
O: Verses 20-21 show the really normal but really wrong response of the human heart... Naomi is hurting & bitter & blaming God. She forgets that God brings good out of everything - just as we in our weakness are prone to forget. Already in verses 16-17 she has experienced a rich & beautiful thing as a result of her trial: the love of Ruth - both for Naomi & for Naomi's God. The sweetness of this gift is kind of lost on Naomi at the time, it seems, but again - lest we judge her too harshly - I would guess many of us would miss it just like she did. How much we need our hearts & minds transformed so we can see the gifts of God in the midst of our pain.
A: I personally was living for awhile in the midst of some tough circumstances with plenty of loss - and I was hurting & bitter & blaming God - not seeing the sweetness of the gifts God was giving me right in the middle of it all. How much I need MY heart & mind transformed so I can see the gifts of God in the midst of my pain.
P: Lord, forgive me for my hurt & lack of trust. Help me to see Your hand in all things, & to look for the GOOD, not the lack. Amen.
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