Mankind’s strength can seeming grow and materialize like a tree’s.

NAOMI’S ADVERSITIES BECAME RUTH’S UNIVERSITY

Following is a synopsis of Chapter One of the Book of Ruth recorded in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. I composed this prose rendition on February 5, 2005, according to my diary. The occasion came about because I was preparing to teach a Deaconess Workshop on the first chapter of Ruth to a group of women while on a church retreat sponsored by the church I attended in Rockville, Maryland, USA.

As I prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide me through my preparation as to how He wanted me to proceed, I begin to experience a rhythm in my spirit. Several typed words on the Bible pages were literally dancing off the pages. After re-reading Chapter One in it’s entirety, I started to make notes and the following verses spilled out onto the pages of my note book.

(Synopsis of Chapter One)

Naomi was an Israelite pilgrim, depicted in the Book of Ruth.
She shared the biblical storyline with a Moabite who came to know Truth.

Naomi, her husband, Elimelech, along with two sickly sons,
Left their home in Bethlehem-Judah in search of a distant, far away region.

What necessitated this journey?  Why did a famine engulf their land?  Was God punishing His people?
An unruly, stubborn and immoral clan.

Eventually, all arrived safely in Moab.  A land situated east of the Dead Sea.  But not long afterwards Elimelech died and what was once four became three.

Now, as the story goes, in due season, sons Mahlon and Chilion married.  One wife was Orpha,
the other Ruth.  Still ten years later, both were barren.

Death came calling claiming both boys, just as it had claimed their father.  Alone, Naomi 
sat to grieve and fret.  Her comfort:  two Moabite daughters.

By and by Naomi regained her strength and decided to return to Bethlehem.  The Lord had lifted the famine and both daughters took hold of Naomi's hand.

Naomi insisted that they not follow, but return to live with their own clan.  She thanked them 
for their loyalty and prayed new husbands they'd win.

So, Orpha kissed Naomi and said, adieu, but Ruth wept and clung mightily.  Ruth said,
"Where you go I will go.  Your people and God are mine, too."

The two ladies arrived at Bethlehem to warm greetings from far and near.  'Mara' was
the name Naomi chose to reintroduce herself to her peers.

God had dealt very bitterly with her by taking her husband and two sons.  She had to bury them down in Moab.  She couldn't bring them home to Judah.

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