Joel M Bradshaw

19So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”–Ruth 1

Naomi had to leave her homeland to find food. On the way her husband and two adult sons died. The sons had married foreign women. Now Naomi was left with three mouths to feed. So she released her daughters-in-law, fellow widows, from any obligation to her and ordered them home. One accepted and the other clung to her. Naomi thus came back home.

I journey with people who have had a hard life. They are depressed and angry at God. Some even like Naomi here blame God for her situation. I often point them to Naomi. The book of Ruth centers on Ruth’s story, but it actually seems to present the great hope for broken Naomi.

Naomi here does two things.

1. NAME. Naomi changed how she wanted to be called to reflect her situation. Naomi meant ‘lovely’ and Mara meant ‘bitter’. She was bitter against God and she owned it to her core. Her story that she told others was one that focused on her pain and her issues. But her identity was not her struggle. She just didn’t see it yet. Her self-talk kept her trapped.
2. BLAME. Naomi literally blamed God for her situation. Naomi has half of the matter right. God is indeed sovereign and in control. But Naomi made God to be working bad and not good for her. And in her situation, many wouldn’t blame her for doing so. It’s for this reason that her bitter brothers and sisters today find hope in her story.

I love Naomi’s character. I don’t judge her. I have my own struggles in life and I appreciate her story. I am thankful for her brutal honesty for it revealed her heart. Because of Naomi, many bitter people have gotten to face their own feelings and address their heart issues.

I am grateful for Naomi because she continues to present a challenge to me. I have had MS for over half of my life. I have buried 4 of my 6 children. Life hasn’t been easy for me. But my story is that God is still faithful to provide. He cares for me and is working things out ultimately for my good. I trust God.

Now that is not Naomi’s story. But we are rooting for her. We will keep our eyes open to see God work through her story of brokenness and pain. Maybe bitter Mara will show a lovely faith again.—JMB