Bitter or Blessed?
After the death of her husband, and later, her two sons, Naomi felt that the LORD had raised His fist against her. (See Ruth 1:13) Instead of being called Naomi, which means pleasant, she told them to call her Mara, which means bitter. But look at Yahweh and His faithfulness to continue providing for her. In Ruth 1:6, He got word to her in Moab, that the LORD had blessed His people in Judah by giving them good crops again. In Ruth 1:16-17, He provided the loyalty of her daughter-in-law, Ruth, who told Naomi: “...Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
Naomi was blessed to have a home and land to return to, in the town of Bethlehem. Ruth diligently gathered grain and provided food for Naomi. Yahweh also provided Boaz, a kinsman redeemer, who married Ruth, so she could have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property. (See Ruth 4:10) When Ruth gave birth to a son, Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. They named him Obed, and he became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. (See Ruth 4:16-17)
Pain and suffering are part of life here on earth but Yahweh eventually works all things together for good. Don't get bitter, while waiting for circumstances to get better. If you are going through a season of loss and grief, continue to praise God, knowing that a season of life and growth is ahead of you. All of our days are written in His book and whatever chapter you’re living right now, you are not at the end of the book yet.
