“Don’t call me Naomi, call me Mara, because God all powerful has made my life very sad (bitter). When I left, I had all I wanted. But now, the Lord has brought me home with nothing.”
Ruth 1:20
These are the words of Naomi to the women of the town of Bethlehem. She had not only left everything that she knew to follow her husband to Moab in hopes of finding food, but eventually lost her husband and both of her sons and was living in a land that was not her own. Not her people. There was nothing there for her, so she returned home.
We never read in the story what events led to the death of her husband or both of her sons. We don’t know what their life was like in Moab or even how long they were there. Initially all we hear about is Naomi’s pain and her journey back.
Isn’t it like us, when life gets too hard for too long, that all we want to do is focus on our pain and plan our journey back to something we once had? We quickly lose sight of the life we’ve experienced and anything good that might’ve happened. We want to blame God and tell others that it’s his fault. He made our lives very sad. He took everything away. Anything good becomes overshadowed by the bad.
Pain, if you’ve ever experienced it, physically or emotionally, is more intense the more you focus on it. When your pain consumes you, it hurts worse. You can very easily become bitter and you want others to know about it.
But Naomi’s pain is not what the story of Ruth is about at all. Although this is where the story begins, thank God, it’s not how the story ends!
You see, the book of Ruth is a redemption story. What is that you say? Redemption is a word used for purchasing a slave in order to set them free.
If you’ve been following our blogs you already know that Ruth followed Naomi back to Bethlehem and began working in Boaz’s fields in order to provide for her mother-in-law and herself. She picked up what was left behind by the workers. She worked tirelessly through harvest season after harvest season. Eventually she humbled herself at the feet of Boaz one night in complete submission to him. He accepted her and gave her his oath that he would care for her. He ultimately gathered 10 of the leading men of the town together and purchased the land owned by Naomi’s family and therefore married Ruth. He made her his wife, freeing her from slavery. God blessed Ruth and gave her a son. A son whose lineage not only included King David, but Jesus himself!
Boaz is the Savior in this story. He is an awesome picture of Jesus. The God who saves outsiders and our mighty and awesome redeemer.
Just as Boaz redeemed Naomi, Jesus bought you and I at a price as well. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, we too are no longer slaves. We are set free. Hallelujah!!
Naomi was able to rejoice because she had been a woman who lost everything and now she has a grandson. She has a legacy. A legacy that includes Christ. Naomi’s story has been redeemed.
Tell me, what is YOUR redemption story?
Remember the hopeless mess you came from
Remember the price Jesus paid to satisfy the law and make you his own
Remember when you fell at Jesus feet and submitted yourself to him
Remember the oath Jesus made to you
Consider the hope and legacy that God has given you now
Sounds like a beautiful story Jesus is writing in your lives and in your heart.
Like the women from Bethlehem who are celebrating Naomi’s grandson and her redemption story, you can also say:
“Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.”
Ruth 4:14-15
Mary Swafford is the founder of Shaken & Stirred, Meals that Matter, Coffee Talk, and a Co-Owner of Boulder Coffee in downtown Sand Springs. She is a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful children, but most importantly a daughter of the most high God. You are likely to find her chugging or serving coffee, sitting in a tattooist’s chair, or making friends out of strangers.