FROM MARA, PLACE OF BITCH TO ELIM, PLACE OF JOY.

"So Naomi returned, and with her his daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess, who wanted to accompany her with all her heart. They returned, then, from the land of Moab at the beginning of the barley harvest. "

(Ruth 1:22)

Source

Naomi had a sad heart, she felt afflicted and bitter. She had lost her husband and then her two children. In the company of his daughter-in-law Ruth, she returned to Bethlehem in Judah. The city was elated to see her again, however, Naomi told them: "Do not call me Naomi. Rather call me Maritat-naswha (embittered soul).

She had gone full and years later, returning empty, I felt I had nothing. She thought that God had afflicted and punished her. However, despite the sad and negative things that happened in Naomi's life, something very good was about to happen. God worked in a beautiful way in the life of Ruth and Naomi. Ruth truly loved her daughter-in-law and obeyed her in everything she said.

God allowed Ruth to meet Boaz and to find grace before his eyes. This man at first showed solidarity, compassion and gave them food. Then when Ruth asks Boaz to spread the hem of his cloak over her, because he was a close relative, he agreed. Boaz redeemed her, married Ruth and sheltered Naomi. But for you to see the beautiful way in which God worked in the life of Naomi and how it took away the bitterness, I'm going to put the last verses that relate what happened ...

«13 Boaz, then, took Ruth, and she was his wife; and it came to her, and Jehovah gave her to conceive and bear a son. 14 And the women said to Naomi, Praise be to Jehovah, who made you not lacking today a relative, whose name will be celebrated in Israel; 15 who will be the restorer of your soul, and sustain your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given birth to him; and she is of more value to you than seven children. 16 And Naomi took the son, and put him on her lap, and she was his nurse. 17 And the neighbors gave her name, saying, Naomi is born a son; and they called him Obed. This is father of Jesse, father of David. "Ruth 4: 13-17 (Reina-Valera 1960)

How beautiful is our God, who does great wonders! He allowed Naomi to smile in her old age and that she was no longer bitter and Ruth rewarded her for her fidelity in such a way that our beloved Savior Jesus came from his lineage.

You may feel a pain so deep that it seems to you that you will never smile again that there is no chance of something good happening to you. But in Christ you have endless hope, not hope without end.

Trust and wait in God, he will take care of you so that you can smile again and enjoy the works he does.

---

---