Before diving into the story, however, I suggest a small modification. To consider, for this blog only, a title change, to: The Book of Naomi. This minor tweak will eliminate confusion, because the story and my blog both actually focus on Mother-in-law Naomi rather than Daughter-in-law Ruth. And also for these reasons:
- The Book of Naomi, Argument One: Chapter One opens identifying a few of the background characters. Only one of those characters lives until the end of the story: Golden-years Naomi (specifically "his wife").
- The Book of Naomi, Argument Two: The last paragraphs of the book conclude with the focus on Naomi rather than Ruth.
- The Book of Naomi, Argument Three: This possibly egocentric blogger identifies with Aged and Finding My Found Naomi.
As she meagerly packed for the trip, she might have rehearsed many senseless regrets:
- Naming one of her now deceased sons Mahlon, which probably meant "weakling"
- Ever leaving the "Land of Bread," Bethlehem, for what ended up being 10 long years in oppressive Moab
- Not returning to Bethlehem after Husband Elimelech's death and before her sons marriages
- Allowing her two sons to marry Moabite women. Maybe that is the reason for the barrenness of her two daughters-in-law and the death of both of her sons.
Naomi and her family for some reason refused to leave Moab. Maybe they were waiting until they could proudly return to Bethlehem. But that never happened. The playing cards Naomi saw (the famine in Bethlehem) seemed worse than the risky cards that were face down on the table. Moab was risky because Naomi's family had removed themselves from their Israelite faith and heritage. Extended family with a support system were lacking.
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| This photo I took of a bride at our nearby park inspired the following Naomi poem: No one wants that I least of all To be widowed Destitute and alone. Where does the downcast soul turn? Past shadowy hopelessness, despair, and bitterness? To Heaven's illumined, royal throne Poised and quietly steadfast To "marry" oneself To renewed plans and purposes That to Him.alone.are known. |
On the road leaving the city, Naomi encourages Daughter-in-law Ruth to return to Moab. After all, it is Ruth's home. Ruth, however, refuses to leave Naomi's side.
Naomi fails to see her tangible source of hope, and Ruth's as well. Good Ruth is marriage-worthy. I speculate it reveals a lack of sensible decision-making, for over 10 years. Maybe she fears that anything Moabite curses her. And/or, maybe she fears being shunned by her people. Entering Bethlehem with a Moabite by her side could deepen Naomi's humiliation. And, too, maybe she thinks that because of barrenness, Daughter-in-Law Ruth will have no chance of finding a husband in Bethlehem. She omits the power of the supernatural. When we turn towards God, He can restore any situation.
Whatever Naomi's deep-down insecurities or reasoning, she is willing to plod the trek alone to the House of Bread and face the music of disgrace. Might that music include the pixilated paranoia of people's hushed whispers: Elimelech never should have moved his family to Moab. We survived the harsh famine. And now when the famine is finally over, Naomi returns home. And, adding insult to injury, Naomi's sons even married formerly despised Moabites.* Her sons are gone and both of their wives are barren. Naomi surely has a curse on her.
Naomi releases every last thread of pride, admits to failed strategies, changes her course, and heads to Bethlehem with Loyal Ruth by her side. Somewhere along that road, she owns up to "the bad, the good, and the ugly" on the path to "Finding My Found":
- "I am bitter,"
- "Good Moabitess Ruth is my daughter-in-LOVE," and
- "I am too old."
Even and especially today the same is true. God loves us. When (not if) we are humbled by age, unfair circumstances, or life in general, we need to deeply search the soul of the matter. And then, plod along the road to marry to God's renewed purposes.
It sounds trite and maybe even wastefully narcissistic to spend time with ourselves. But if it is done with genuine humility, intangible change can occur. The ground becomes fertile for Finding My Found. With God's grace, Truth from His Word, and with all-important time, the vision of our heart eyes can improve. We are prepared to see things we would normally miss; the random niche in the normal to seek the fluke in the freedom.
Like when I heeded that quiet nudge to walk at 9:00 a.m., a much earlier time than usual. And noticed a bride in the park's niche (photo above). To unexpectedly capture a fluke photo, for something. Maybe a poem for an already-composed blog. It is the supernatural spin that creates opportunities and enhances outcomes. The remaining chapters of the Book of Naomi (namely, the Book of Ruth) contain many random niches and seeming flukes.
One Good Ruth + God can begin to outweigh "the bad and the ugly"
To be continued, capitulated, and consummated
But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me--even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons--would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you,
To be continued, capitulated, and consummated
But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me--even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons--would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you,
because the Lord's hand has gone out against me!"
(Naomi 1:11-13)
most commonly known as
(Ruth 1:11-13)
*No Moabite was allowed to "enter the assembly of the Lord," because they had oppressed Israel.
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