Interestingly, “Bethlehem” means the house of bread. Yet we are told that Elimelech and his family from Bethlehem had to go elsewhere to seek for bread. While famine is the reason they could not find any bread in the house of bread, the real reason lies in the fact that God’s presence was no longer found there. How do we know? Verse 6 suggests so. We are told that in the land of Moab, Naomi, the wife of Elimelech, heard that the Lord had visited His people again. In other words, God’s presence was once again felt in Bethlehem. Where God is found, bread will be found. The church is the spiritual Bethlehem, the house where spiritual bread can be found. And sad would be the day if the people of God have to endure a spiritual famine while in the church. Collectively, both leaders and members form the church, the community of God’s believers. What we do corporately matters, for it will determine the spiritual condition of the church. When spiritual drought occurs, as a body of believers, we need to align our lives so that we together can experience His presence again.
The cause for spiritual drought is often caused by the attitude within us and not something external. A spiritual drought is an indication that a time of introspection is needed. In her dire situation, Naomi heard that the Lord had visited His people at home. Evaluating all her options, wisdom dictated that the most logical thing to do was for her to return home where the presence of God could be found. Besides, all the men of the house were dead and the means of support for her and her two daughters-in-law were gone. Returning to where God’s blessing could be found would certainly be the best option. So, taking the two daughters-in-law with her they then made their journey home. Like Naomi, there will be moments in our life where we need to evaluate our life, explore the options and make the tough decision. If we have to eat humble pie and swallow our pride, we just simply need to do so. She did the right thing, made the decision to return to the place of God’s visitation.
Though both her daughters-in-law expressed their decisions to stay with her, Naomi felt otherwise strongly, for she did not want to burden them. With sound and logical reasons, she persuaded them to return home, find a husband and start a new home. Naomi realized that she was already too old to provide a comfortable home for them, much as she wished she could. After a tear-jerking and emotional moment, Orpah was persuaded but not Ruth, her other daughter-in-law. She was so resolute and fully prepared to cling to Naomi, to follow her people and worship their God for the rest of her life. Verses 16-18 show us the total commitment of Ruth. Her action shows us what true loyalty and commitment look like. A good and firm decision is one that will not revert to one’s godless past, not even death will make one renege. It’s a decision to follow and worship the one and only true God forever. And that’s what Ruth had chosen and so must we.
These verses encourage us to rightly align our life so that we are in the queue for the presence and blessings of God. To make correct adjustment to life, we need to set time aside for personal reflection and self-examination. And like Ruth, we must stay loyal and committed to follow and worship God. An action that requires us to “forget what lies behind and press on towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” So, press on!
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