Ruth 1: 3-6 KJV „Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.”

The big dream of Naomi went crumbling down and shattered into pieces some time after settling down in Moab with her family. First of all, her dear husband died. The Bible does not tell us about the circumstances of his death. The simple fact that death stroke in so unexpectedly is sad enough for this family who was hoping for a brighter future and a more fulfilled life in Moab. Naomi was perplexed. “But God, this is not what you promised Your children. You said You will be with us in every situation to protect us.” But heaven was silent. Naomi had to face this new challenge and continue to look towards the future with hope regardless of the present circumstance. But little did she know that she was not at the end of her sorrows yet. Her two sons Machlon and Kiljon also died after getting married to two Moabites women. The joy and the hope that come with a wedding had rapidly fade away. Not only did her two sons also died, but she never had the chance to be at least a grandmother. Machlon and Kiljon died without giving their mother the joy to be called Grandma. What a pity. “But God why?”

Naomi kept asking herself this question and many others but without answer. Her predicament plunged her soul into a very deep sorrow. Why then was the reason for her to be alive? What could ever be her consolation in such tragic circumstances? Could she ever smile again? What was she supposed to do with her two daughters in law? Her house that once was filled with laughter had become a site of painful memories and mourning for three widows. Naomi kept thinking about her condition and decided that the only one to blame was herself. She should have convinced her husband not to go down to Moab in the first place, that land of idol worshippers whose ways were contrary to the expectations of the Holy God of Israel. Now it was way too late. She was being punished for partaking in such an adventure, she thought. What was her future going to look like in that foreign country? Could she count on her daughters in law to feed her in her old age? But she did not want to be a burden for these young widows who could still start from afresh and live happily in a new home. Apart from that, she missed Bethlehem so much…

One day she received good news about her native country: God had visited the land and there was no more drought. At that moment she knew in her heart that she needed to go back home where she actually belonged. So many years had passed. So many things had happened. So much pain, disappointment and disillusion. Her heart was filled with anxieties and sorrow. And she could hear the voice of her native soil calling her to come back home. At least she could figure something out there. At least it was her place of birth and she could not be stranded there. The glimpse of hope that sparkled her thoughts about Bethlehem gave her the courage to take the right decision. Naomi decided to return to the “land of bread”, Bethlehem. She took the only family that she had left, Ruth and Orpah and made her way back to Bethlehem.

A time comes in our lives where we must go back to where we belong, which means in the presence of God our Father. He always gives us a chance and an opportunity to make a u-turn, in other words, to repent and come back to Him. The prodigal son also thought that he was smarter than every body else. He requested his share of the heritage and left his father’s house with the hope of a happier life. But he was beaten by life because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing with the wrong people. But a time came where he responded to the call of the still small voice that compelled him to go back to his father’s house where he would find shelter, security and everlasting love (Luke 15: 11-32). There is a need for us to constantly check our hearts and make sure that we remain grounded in our First Love. God alone knows the very best concerning our lives and He will never lead us astray. We can fully trust in Him because His love is a sure foundation for our lives.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives His live for His sheep. He is constantly knocking at the doors of our hearts because He longs to enter in an dine with us. He is always ready to forgive us our sins and trespasses and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1: 9). We can only be blessed and enjoy life when we fully trust in and rely on the unfailing guidance of God Almighty. What Naomi and the prodigal son did by returning to their Father’s house is called repentance. Jesus promised that He will be close to those who are humble enough to acknowledge their faults. Psalm 51 17 says: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.” And Isaiah 57:15 says it even clearly: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” God elevates us and establishes us in His holy ways to secure our lives when we take the right decision to come back to Him. As soon as we decide to follow the right path, God is also ready to operate the miraculous in our lives, as we will see in the continuation of the story of Ruth the Moabite. mt