Daily Devotion (English) – 09.07.2021 (Bible Characters Special)

Naomi 

“Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” – James 1:14 

In the days when the judges ruled that there was a famine in the land of Israel. From Bethlehem, “The house of bread” Elimelech with his wife and their two sons had settled in Moab. Elimelech died and his sons took them wives of the women of Moab. Naomi loved her daughters-in-law beyond measure. After a few years Naomi’s two sons passed away. She was desolate and in solitude. She thought long and hard. Naomi chose to move to Judah instead of living alone in a foreign country without any support. Though the decision was taken late, it was a very wise decision that she took after 10 years. She kissed her daughters-in-law and requested them to return to their mother’s house. They wept and stated that they would go with her to her people. Look, how the mother-in-law won a place in the hearts of her daughters -in-law. Out of compulsion one daughter-in-law left but Ruth did not part with her. She clave to Naomi.

When both reached Bethlehem, Naomi asked her people not to call her Naomi which means “sweet and pleasant daughter” but to call her Mara which means “bitterness.” Naomi blamed God for all her hardships. She made four accusations against God. She said “For the Almighty has made me very bitter; the Lord has brought me back empty; the Lord has opposed me; and the Almighty has afflicted me.” It was not the Lord but only Naomi was the cause for all her losses and misery. The family emigrated because of famine but they had no intention to return to Judah. They remained there even after the demise of Elimelech. In a foreign land her sons married Moabite women who worshipped idols. So, Naomi did whatever her heart desired but God was merciful towards them.

Even today many of us take wrong decisions according to our own will and desire and then when something goes wrong and if the consequences are unfavourable, we put the blame on God saying that God is testing us. But the Bible says, “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” But our Lord defends the cause of the weak fatherless and widows. Naomi became the first woman who supported widow’s marriage and assisted Ruth to get married to Boaz who was a relative of Elimelech. Ruth and Boaz were blessed with a baby boy who was called Obed. Jesus was the descendant of Obed. It’s astonishing that Ruth, the Moabite woman’s name was recorded on the list of the Genealogy of Christ. Naomi’s bitter life was made sweet. At times we go astray and live as we like but once we come back into God’s safe shelter, our lives become pleasant. Hallelujah. 

- Mrs. Bhuvana Thanabalan

Prayer Request:

Pray that the people who enter Gethsemane Campus for midday meals, come to know the love of Jesus Christ.

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