The Book of Ruth ~ Devotion Nine

"Let's Move!"

In our last devotion we learned about Naomi’s entrance into her hometown of Bethlehem. Apparently the women were surprised to see her. In fact, they weren’t sure it was her after ten years. She wasn’t with her husband Elimelech or her sons. Rather, she was with a stranger. Who was that young woman?

Naomi began her introduction by explaining that she was no longer named “Naomi,” which means “my joy,” but had taken on the name “Mara,” which means “bitter.” We know why Naomi was bitter. She even blamed God for changing the meaning of her name.

When I was younger I was called Carrie Anne. When I got older I changed my name to Carrie. I still, to this day, don’t like to be called Carrie Anne because it makes me feel like I’m a child. (Waa-waa., call the wambulance! ) I know that my parents named me after two very special people (their sisters), but I still don’t like it. Carrie sounds so much more sophisticated (yeah right). Maybe Carrie Anne reminds me of my insecurities. (Who knows?)

Could it be that Naomi didn’t like her name anymore because it brought back memories of happier times with her husband and her sons? Bittersweet memories that made her heart physically skip a beat or two. Maybe every time someone would say her name it made her heart ache so much she would rather be called by a name that described how she felt now. Her name didn’t affect her situation it affected her attitude.

It would be like me feeling dumb or ugly and telling everyone my name was "Dumb Ugly." Nice name right? But this is exactly what Naomi did. She dropped the joyful name for bitterness. What joyful name have you dropped for bitterness?

So with this new name Naomi began the next chapter in her life with a woman who gave up her life to follow her. I wonder how Ruth must have felt as she stood there hearing her beloved mother-in-law tell these women of her bitterness.

Naomi’s name didn’t affect her situation

it affected her attitude.

Ruth 2:1-3 Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech. One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.”

Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.” So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

The field where Ruth picked up grain was near the city of Bethlehem. This land is rich with Biblical history. Little did she know what God had in store for her in this bread basket of the Promised Land? Isn't it funny how God leads us places and surprises us with things. We often call it coincidence, but it's really God wanting to delight us.

Here is some interesting history of this little town known as Bethlehem. Take a look:

Genesis 35:18-19 Rachel (Jacob's wife) was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”). So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

1 Samuel 17:14-15 David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army, but David (later King David) went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:1-2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

Bethlehem was definitely a place where mighty things of God happened. This little town holds great significance historically as well as spiritually in the lives of the chosen people of Israel. The most significant is that our Lord Jesus Christ made His entrance, as God in human form, in the tiny helpless body of an infant.

We can see the scarlet thread of salvation running from the Old Testament to the New Testament. None of this was accidental or coincidental. It was God’s plan and He is still working out His plan in the perfection of His holiness.

Naomi knew that it was the command of God for the farmers to leave the corners of their grain fields and not gather the secondary gleanings of their crops. Rather, they were to be left for those in need. So when Ruth suggested that she go and gather the leftover grain, Naomi agreed to let her go.

Can you even imagine the hunger and desperation these women found themselves in? Desperation can get us to do things we normally wouldn’t. I can’t help believe that God was directing them towards food in a certain field so that He could show them how much He cared about them and had a plan for them.

In our desperation we often seek out things that will fill our needs immediately. But do we remember the promises of God like these two women? Even in her bitterness, Naomi remembered God’s commands. She was at her lowest point when she decided to try God’s way again. Naomi was humbled by her dire circumstances.

1 Peter 5:6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Humility can be forced upon us, but this verse says we must take the responsibility to humble ourselves under His mighty hand. He doesn’t force us into anything. When we do, He gently lifts our faces and says, “I will lift you out of this in My time, My perfect time.”

The Greek word for “right time,” is “kairos,” which means, “a point when something is ready or favorable.” God won’t move until He knows the time is right. Not, about right or kind of right, but perfectly right. This is where faith comes in to play. We may not understand why it’s taking so long to reach this perfect time but we can be sure that the Creator of this universe knows the best time for us.

Faith is not just sitting around waiting for something to happen. Faith is an active thing. It requires action on our parts. Look at Naomi; even in her grief she knew she had to move out and find food and shelter. Moab wasn't that place. Could it be that she felt the gentle nudging of her God to go to Bethlehem?

We see faith in action in Ruth. She got up and moved by picking up grain left behind from the harvesters. When she did, she found out that God had placed her in a great place in the fields of Boaz. We will learn more about this man soon. But, for right now, let’s decide to move out in faith and pick up the grain God has provided for us. You’ll never know what He has in store for you when you go in faith.

What is your definition of faith? Is God trying to get you to move out? Are you willing to take the steps of faith that gets us moving? Are you waiting for something to happen? Believe that God is guiding you and will direct your steps.

Proverbs 20:24 The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

Let's move!