Naomi Returns Home Ruth 1:6 - Equipped for Battle

Naomi has been through tragedy after tragedy. She left her home country with her husband Elimelech and her two boys Mahlon and Chileon and traveled to the land of Moab. While she lived in Moab her husband died, and even though her sons found wives and she lived in the land for ten years, both of her sons died also. Now she was alone other than having two daughters-in-law, and her circumstances have found her in a precarious position. What was Naomi to do? We will discover what she did in today's verse found in Ruth chapter one and verse six:

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

Just at the point of despair, Naomi discovers the next step in her life. “She arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab:” It was time to go home, and even though Naomi had lived in Moab, she needed to return to the place of her heritage. Sometimes when troubles occur one of the best moves we can make is to return to our roots, to the basics, and to the foundation of what makes us who we are. Naomi took a very natural step, and decided to go back to Bethlehemjudah.

There was a reason for Naomi's decision, “for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.” There was news from home. Bread was available, and though there once was a famine, food was now within Naomi's pursuit. Not only was bread available, but “the LORD had visited his people”. Although there was a famine, God intervened, and He did so naturally by simply providing bread. Remember earlier in this chapter we made reference to the fact that God was presiding over the circumstances in which Naomi found herself. In the background, and not seemingly visible, God was working. God was developing a plan, and although Naomi had no idea what God was doing, God did.

The news of the relief of famine spread to Moab, and Naomi heard about it. Without reservation she arose with what was left of her family, her two daughters-in-law, and decided to return home. Tragedy had taken it's toll on Naomi, and she only desired to return to the place that was the most familiar to her.

Although there is much more to this story, we shall end our discussion here today. If you'd like to know more, read ahead, and we shall join together next time.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore