Naomi - when tragedy strikes! By Aije Barnes, April 2, issue 1, Vol 5

Naomi- what a beautiful name! It means 'pleasant'. Naomi is the godly woman who is the main character of the first chapter of the book of Ruth. Here is a brief synopsis of chapter one:

Naomi aka 'pleasant', chose to leave Judah  with her husband Elimelech, and their 2 sons, during the time of famine in the land. They went to an ungodly land - Moab. Whilst they were there, Elimelech died. Naomi's two sons married two Moabite women - Ruth and Orpah.

Ten years later, Naomi's two sons died. Having already lost her husband, Naomi was now left with no children or grandchildren. Looking back from the time she left Judah to this stage in her life, Naomi's  situation had changed from one degree of bad to worse.

All along, Naomi was not influenced by the idolatry of the Moabites. She kept her Jewish culture and continued to serve the Lord. The Lord had used two Moabite women to bless both her and her two sons, whilst they were alive. Her daughters in law continued to remain supportive to Naomi until she decided it was time for her to return to her own country because the Lord had started to change the situation there.

Naomi decided to return home. Her faith had already had a great impact on the lives of her two daughters-in- law. One of them - Ruth, decided to serve the same God as Naomi and enjoy the blessings of doing this that Naomi, who because of her bereavements, had lost sight of in the season of her despair and pain. It is so easy to lose sight of what God is doing in our lives when when we are going through tough times or rough patches in our lives)

Naomi found herself in a dark place having enjoyed the brilliance of God's favour prior to going to Moab. Her continued faith and the favour of God that followed her, impacted  her daughters-in- law so much that they were very reluctant to leave her and return to their people. Both daughters in law came from ungodly homes and cultures. They both suffered bereavement just like Naomi, but there was something about Naomi's faith and their observations of this, which drew which them like moths to a light source - very different from their culture which in contrast I would describe as darkness.

When the hard decision time came, each woman chose differently. Ruth decided to remain in the light and be forever part of it. Orpah on the other hand, enjoyed the light but not enough to remain in it forever. She made a choice though not easily, to return to darkness.

Being in a foreign country, I have no idea how Naomi got to hear about the things God was doing in her country but God, in His mercy, allowed Naomi to hear about how He had visited His people in Judah and had come to their aid by providing food. This is what made Naomi want to return home.

On returning to her homeland, Bethlehem-Judah,  Naomi was not easily recognised by her people. The suffering she endured in Moab had disfigured her and she changed her name to fit her circumstances. Naomi changed her name from 'pleasant' to Mara which means 'bitter'. At this point, my heart breaks with Naomi's. Can you imagine,  three bereavements, no husband to support her and no children or grandchildren to bear his name!. No wonder Naomi said she left Judah full despite the famines that drove them to Moab, but had returned empty.

At this juncture, so many questions cross my mind. Some of these are: would things have been different if Naomi and her family had not gone to Moab? Why did all the men in her family die? Was this God's judgement on them for 1) the head of the house leading his family to an ungodly land and or 2) the sons disobedience in marrying ungodly women?

I may not know the answers to my questions this side of eternity. However, suppose the answers to my questions was yes on the basis that our sinful nature is more likely to make us do things that we later regret and the therefore in the case of Naomi, that God in His righteous judgement, allowed them to reap the consequences of disobedience. However, Naomi's story does not end here and in the next ministration you will find that God looked after Naomi throughout her time in Moab and had greater things in store for her.

Let this be an encouragement to you that no matter what journey you have been on or are still going through, God is not done with you yet. He has greater plans for you - for good and not for evil.