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Naomi goes to Bethlehem with Ruth

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So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.
[NIV] Ruth 1:22

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When the Judges ruled Israel, there were many years of famine.

That time Naomi left for Moab to avoid the hardship with her husband and two sons.

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However, the situation was different than her expectation

because her husband and her two sons passed away.

Naomi was left with her two daughters-in-law in Moab.

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After the years of famine, God cared for Bethlehem and it became plentiful with food again. The people who have lived in Bethlehem were so happy because they believed and waited for God.

People in sincere faith in spite of many trials surely will be blessed like

the people in Bethlehem.

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When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of His people

by providing food for them, Naomi decided to return to her hometown.

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She called and said to her two daughters-in-law,

 “Daughters, let’s go to Bethlehem with the fertility, Go back to my home.”

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Two daughters-in-law obeyed their mother-in-law so they left the place

where she had been living and followed Naomi.

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Naomi suddenly stopped and said to them,

 “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home.

May God show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead.”

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Then they said to her,

“We will go back with you to your nation. We won’t go back.”

They told her they will be with her.

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However, Naomi said to them again to return home.

As they heard, Orpah, who was one of the two, kissed her mother-in-law good-bye and returned to her home.

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But Ruth replied she would not leave.

Naomi said,” Your sister-in-law is going back to her people, go.”

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Then Ruth said to Naomi, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. I will be with you if anything but death separates you and me.”

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Ruth decided to believe Naomi’s God and go with her to Bethlehem.

After Naomi realized her decision, she stopped urging her.

So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.

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When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them.

“Can this be Naomi?”

The meaning of the words ‘Naomi’ was ‘Joy’.

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However, Naomi told them,” Don’t call me Naomi,”

 “Call me Mara, because I cannot be called Joy any longer.”

Mara meant bitterness and it showed that she lost her husband

and two sons in Moab.

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People who live in faith cannot be happy without God. Though Naomi left her home, she returned to God’s land. In addition, Ruth was a Moabite woman but she decided to believe God. Needless to say, it is a lesson for us. Please remember that we should follow God in every situation and do not be foolish enough to leave God! Since the life in God’s hand is the most beautiful and happiest life.