“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.” Ruth 1:6 (NIV)
One by one, all of the men in Naomi’s life disappeared: first her husband then her two sons. What once was a close-knit family of six quickly became a patchwork family of three. Naomi might have loved her daughters-in-law, but they were not her sons.
“Surely, the Lord has turned His back on me,” Naomi thought.
What once was a Hebrew, patriarchal family story becomes to a story of lonely women, women who must provide for themselves. In all likelihood, Naomi had never made any life-altering decision before. Imagine how she felt: abandoned, frightened, cornered, and hungry.
It is interesting that Naomi heard, “The Lord has come to the aid of his people,” without applying this to herself. She didn’t hear, “The Lord comes to the aid of Naomi.” We might infer that Naomi felt forgotten or dismissed by God. You can understand how she could’ve felt this way. Wouldn’t you?
Have you ever felt like Naomi? Have you ever felt forgotten by God? Felt as if God sat you in a corner and walked away? Felt as if you were the only One God did not love?
If you are feeling this way today, meditate on the following verses and ask the Lord to show you how much He does love you:
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16a (NIV)
I love how the Amplified translates this verse.
“Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each
of My hands.” Isaiah 49:16a (Amplified)
“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:
‘I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’” Jeremiah 31:3(NIV)
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