I love You, Thorns & All - Signed Ruth ♡♡♡

 

"With her two daughters -in-law she left the place where she had  been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband" - Ruth 1: 7-9

Yo! ever heard those crazy stories where new mums, go throw thier new born baby in a lagoon or just drop them off the street? [I know, I know, what a way to start off this devo right? sigh] - In most cases, some of these women in thier hopelessness, are unable to see past the gift of "new life". Their poor conditions, self loathing, pity party, shame maybe, as well as the inability to see how they are able to add value to that new life, can overpower deeply thier sense of reasoning. " Look I am already jacked up, this will only be extra burden". I know we are not told in scripture the specifics of what Naomi was thinking, when she suggested her daughters in-law be on thier merry way. Reading the beginning portion of the book of Ruth though, will have you seeing how the tragedies and misfortune of Moab, took a hold on Naomi's thought life. We talk a lot about Ruth, so let's talk about Naomi, shall we? :)

Naomi and her husband Elimelech, with thier two sons had moved to the country of Moab for greener pastures. I mean, it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Afterall there was famine in Bethlehem. Let's not get into the hoopla hoopla, about if they heard from God or made the right decision [that's a completely separate topic altogether:)]. Whatever the case, they are in Moab. Unfortunately for Elimelech & Naomi, things didn't go as planned. Infact as a family, they were met with one tragedy after another. Naomi's husband dies. Then her two sons get married [exciting times eh?] But they too also both die after 10 years, leaving Naomi with her two daughters in-law, in this strange land. Let's be real here, it could take a whole lot, to really think straight in that kind of situation. Scripture tells us that, Naomi had heard that God had come to the aid of of her people back home in Bethlehem. He had provided food for them. So,  she and her daughters in-law prepared to return home from there [Yay HOPE]. I imagine, Naomi having these delightful conversations with her daughters in-law about Bethlehem. They are skipping at the idea, dreaming about how things might change maybe? Or maybe they aren't even doing any of these things lol. Anyhoo, they then sit down to plan and prepare for thier long trip. Only to all set off the next day and Naomi begins to sing a different tune...

With her two daughters -in-law, she left the place where she had  been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. 

Err what's up Naomi?  I imagine Naomi on the way, reflecting on the tragedies of the last couple of years. I imagine her thought pattern to be something like this; "wait, why am I taking these poor women along with me?" "there is nothing to give them", "I have no value whatsoever to add to thier lives", "they've gone through a whole lot of misfortune marrying into my family", "they are better off starting a new life for goodness sake", " oh how my life is so unfortunate, I'd rather they are free, than be under my own curse"...feel free to fill in all the other gaps and stories that touch. Don't pretend like your thoughts don't go wild sometimes [rolls eyes lol]. You get my drift though? 

The harsh realities and difficulties of life, can cause people to think so negatively about themselves in this way. They cancel themselves out of any chance of receiving God's goodness, kindness and mercy. So much so that, they get others to begin to think the same way about them too. Their experiences shape thier thoughts, affecting deeply how they see themselves. Thank God there was a Ruth in Naomi's life, who was able to see beyond what Naomi couldn't see in herself at that moment. - "But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me ever so severely, if even death separates you and me" - Ruth 1:16-17. Dang!

I always wondered what it was exactly that Ruth saw in Naomi's life, that made her to make such BOLD statement "Your God will be my God?". I mean, isn't that so incredible? that even in the midst of what seemed like a hopeless situation, the God of Israel was still very much in full view! - JUST WOW! - God never gets swallowed up by tragedies, difficulties and hardships my friends. He is revealing Himself through all of it still, in matchless wonder. 

So consider this in your great despair. Consider this, when you begin to think that nothing good can ever come out of your life because of all that you may have been through. On the other side, there was a lot of adventure waiting for Ruth & Naomi.

"....Though an army besiege me, my heart  will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident  - Psalm 27:3

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" - Psalm 27:13-14

 

Love,

SR