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the story of Naomi from the Book of Ruth A change of name the story of Naomi from the Book of Ruth

A change Of name Living in hard times (Ruth 1) politically “in the days when the judges ruled” In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. (Judges 21:25)

A change Of name Living in hard times (Ruth 1) politically economically “there was a famine in the land”

…a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab (Ruth 1: 1)

A change Of name Living in hard times (Ruth 1) politically economically personally Now Elimelech, 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. (verses 3-5) 

A change Of name From Naomi (“pleasant”) to Mara (“bitter”) ‘Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.’ (verses 20-21) From Naomi (“pleasant”) to Mara (“bitter”)

FROM NAOMI TO MARA The root of bitterness Bitterness is a negative emotional response to unpleasant circumstances, expressed in feelings such as resentment, disappointment, anger and envy. A problem for many people for many believers

FROM NAOMI TO MARA Naomi acknowledges God is sovereign in prosperity “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me.  May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” (verse 8-9)  

FROM NAOMI TO MARA Naomi acknowledges God is sovereign in adversity “It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!” (verse 13)   ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.’ (verses 20-21)

FROM NAOMI TO MARA Bitterness – a issue for Christians: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:31) See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12: 15)  

FROM MARA TO NAOMI The remedy for bitterness 1. Return to the right place “When she heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there.” (verse 6) So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. (verse 22)

FROM MARA TO NAOMI The remedy for bitterness 2. Talk to the right person

FROM MARA TO NAOMI The remedy for bitterness 2. Talk to the right person Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

FROM MARA TO NAOMI The remedy for bitterness 3. Wait for the right time (Ruth 2-4) So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he went to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.  The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.’ (4:13-15)  

A HAPPY ENDING? The continuation of the story Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son!’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:16-17)  

A HAPPY ENDING? The culmination of the story This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:…(Matthew 1:1)   Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. (Matthew 1:5-6)   …and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. (Matthew 1:16)

A HAPPY ENDING? The conclusion of the story “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)  

THE HAPPY ENDING For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Becoming a family member Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)