Introduction

Last July my husband and I moved to Fort Cobb, Oklahoma to be with my father. Moving involved us packing the 5th wheel and pulling it 1500 miles. The trip nightmare began twenty minutes out of Ramona, California when the truck would barely pull the 5th wheel up a grade. $5,000. 00 later we left California. However, upon arriving in Oklahoma a detour caused us to have no brake lights, frustrated by this fact, when we finally arrived in Fort Cobb, my husband misjudged an awning of my brother’s gas station and hit the gas station awning. Fort Cobb a small town, the police arrived in minutes, we were the talk of the town.

Reading and Assignment

Ruth 1: 19-22, 1 Peter 4:19, Psalm 34:19.  Soap Ruth 1:19-21  Click on the reference to read the passage.

Scripture

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me” (Ruth 1: 19-21, KJV).

Observation

Naomi and Ruth move to Bethlehem, Naomi well-known now the talk of the town, Naomi feels sadness proclaiming the bitterness of her life. She blames God.

Application

Have you ever been the talk of the town? Is there sadness in your life? Do you blame God for the bitterness and or grief in your life? Do you trust God with the details of your life?

Prayer

Father God, Your word promises that everything works for good according to Your purpose. Thank you that we can trust that You know about the details of our lives, even when we are sad, lonely, and grieving. Thank you that You care about what is happening in our lives. Lord, I pray for anyone who may be grieving the bitterness that life sometimes gives us. I pray that they turn to You because of Your plan to give us a hope and a future. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Conclusion

Upon reading the commentaries, it was probably a ten-day journey from Moab to Bethlehem. Naomi recognizes that good and bad come from the hand of the Lord. Charles Stanley says this is a life lesson. Naomi’s name means “pleasant” but nothing feels pleasant in her life. We may be tempted to believe the Lord has turned against us but as believers, we can claim Romans 8:28 that all things work together for those called according to his purpose. Assured that God has a purpose for our grief. Naomi was known in her small town.

After a few days, Doug and I were no longer the talks of the town. Looking back at the accident I am thankful for the circumstance. You see because of the accident, I lived with my dad the last five months of his life. If we had not had to have the 5th wheel repaired I would have been visiting my dad instead I lived with him.

Here is the link to Love God Greatly for the Friday blog.  Enjoy the blog. Thank you for being with me on this journey through Ruth.

Share a time when you looked back and you saw God working in your circumstance. Where does your hope come from?