Call Me Mara
Ruth 1:19-22
So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, "Can this be Naomi?"
The book of Ruth tells the story about how the character of God speaks for itself. Not unlike Job, Naomi was a woman who lost her family except for her daughter-in-law, the one that stayed behind. She was married once with a husband and two sons and two daughters-in-law. But the men died and the other daughter-in-law left her to her own devices. Is it not funny how you can be the only one in someone's corner and they still feel as if there is no one there because of everything they have been through. When there is nothing left to do, go on. God has better things coming even if you cannot see them yet.
"Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."
Naomi felt like she lost everything. She says that God "brought me back empty." She blames the Almighty and his judgement for her misfortune and circumstances. Unlike Job, where God answered the searching hearts and questions directly with a knowledge of himself, God remained silent in Naomi's life allowing his character to speak for itself. See even Naomi's changed location, circumstances, and her new name did not change who God is. It did not mean his power over the circumstances had lessened. See, her bitterness was not over the circumstances, her return, or even her sadness; her bitterness was at the Lord himself for allowing it to happen. No, even causing it to happen in Naomi's point of view. If you must get salty with someone, get salty with God. See, you cannot get salty with other people and have your personality and relationships with others and with God unaffected.
So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.
The text here says, but God. Is it not wonderful how there is always a but God somewhere in the story. Just when you think it is over and can get no better, that is when God says, 'I have something for you.' You may feel at times tempted to say with the family of Lazarus in John 11:21, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died." Naomi got mad at the Lord and even changed her name; to God, she was still just Naomi and as pleasant as ever. Ruth and Naomi arrived just as the barley harvest was beginning. There was a famine before when she left. See, Naomi got it twisted. God sent her away empty and brought her back full. Resurrection day for the situation had not come yet. Sometimes it takes God awhile to work through circumstances and the people to turn them around for his glory and your ultimate good. Be careful when charging the Almighty with creating a mess when he is not even done bringing your blessing yet. At least hear the end of the story before you judge him. Job lost everything and got back double for his trouble according to Job 42:12. The name Naomi meant enjoyment or pleasure and was someone in whom God delighted in blessing. The barley harvest is where Ruth met her future fiancé by the name of Boaz, meaning swiftness. When pleasantness meets swiftness, you know God is in the house. Could it be the reason for the delayed turnaround is that they have not yet gotten together? Psalm 85:10 says that "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." At the end of the story, Naomi is accompanied by Ruth who was "better to [her] than seven sons" and is granted a renewed life and sustenance in her older years according to Ruth 4:15.