Naomi’s Return to Bethlehem
Naomi returns to Bethlehem after hearing that the famine is over.She had left Bethlehem during the famine, thinking they would fare better elsewhere.She realizes that leaving God was a mistake that cost her dearly.The townspeople recognize her and ask, “Is this Naomi?”Naomi asks them to call her Mara, meaning bitter, instead of Naomi, meaning pleasant and delightful.She feels that the Lord has dealt very bitterly with her.Grace on the Road Back Home
Even when one thinks they have lost everything, God sees the choice to return home and helps on the journey.Naomi says she “went out full, but he hath brought me back again empty.”There is grace on the road back to full.Many people feel they have gone too far from God to ever feel His presence again.When one chooses to head back toward God, He helps along the way.God was helping Naomi even before she left Moab.The very day she decided to return home, God began blessing her again.Help on the Journey
Naomi decides to return home and tells her daughters-in-law to go back to their families.Orpah returns, but Ruth refuses to leave Naomi.God gave Naomi a helper in Ruth, who loved her more than seven sons.Naomi didn’t realize that Ruth would be instrumental in bringing her back to fullness.Everyone needs help, and God provides it.God put “stick to it” in Ruth, who was determined to stay with Naomi.God’s Orchestration
Naomi is an elderly woman, beaten down by the loss of her husband and sons.She only has Ruth, a Moabite widow, with her.No upstanding Jewish man would consider marrying a Moabite.God moves for those who decide to return to fullness.Even if one feels half full, God wants them completely full of Him.While the choice to return is personal, it is God who ultimately brings one home.There is a drawing in the heart to return to God.The Holy Ghost never stops prompting one to return home.God doesn’t forsake His own and brings them back.Even if one arrives empty, God is already helping and working in their path.Naomi acknowledges that God brought her back.Emptiness and Filling
Sometimes God has to empty things in order to fill them again.Like emptying water from a fuel tank before adding good octane.God removes what isn’t supposed to be there to prepare for filling.Naomi couldn’t see that Ruth was the best helper she could have.The journey from Moab to Bethlehem is treacherous, about 50-60 miles, taking 7-10 days.Ruth and Naomi had to choose every day to continue the journey.God helps when one heads back home.God had to empty Naomi to fill her up for His glory.The Road to Fullness
The journey back to fullness is orchestrated by God.Naomi was still a landowner but had no husband or sons, so she had to sell.As a backslider, one never forgets the day they gained ownership of something from God.Ruth goes to glean in the fields and happens to end up in Boaz’s field.There are no coincidences when trying to get back to fullness.God orchestrates the needs for one to be full.Boaz arrives and notices Ruth.He has heard of her kindness to Naomi and her commitment to the Jehovah God.He tells her to stay in his field and eat and drink with his maids.Ruth asks why Boaz has shown her such grace.When one is on the way back to fullness, they have someone helping them.Boaz instructs his workers to let Ruth glean as much as she wants and to drop extra for her.God wants one to be full again.Heavenly Help
Ruth returns with a sack full of grain.She also brings Naomi food from Boaz’s table.Naomi asks about the man whose field she was in.When she hears the name Boaz, hope is rekindled in her soul.Hearing the name of Jesus restores hope.Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is a near kinsman.Ruth was just a piece in God’s plan for Naomi.Naomi advises Ruth to continue gleaning in Boaz’s field.Stay on the track and keep picking up the blessings God provides.God is the kinsman redeemer and will fill one up again.Naomi is starting to see the hand of God.Hope resurrects what was bitter, and faith begins to burn again.Returning to the Church
Every day, Ruth goes back to Boaz’s field and sits at his table with his people.Part of the process of getting back to fullness is returning to church.That’s where one gets the best nourishment, help, fellowship, and support.Ruth returns with another load of gleanings.Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz will be winnowing barley that night and instructs her on what to do.She tells her to bathe, put on her best clothes, anoint herself, and go to the threshing floor.She is to wait until Boaz sleeps and then lie down at his feet and cover herself with his skirt.Ruth follows Naomi’s instructions.Boaz wakes up and asks who is there.Ruth identifies herself as his handmaid and asks him to redeem her.There is a glad day coming when one can bow at God’s feet and ask for redemption.Boaz says there is a nearer kinsman but promises that if the other man doesn’t redeem her, he will.Ruth leaves with a promise that either way, she is a winner.God is in that road.Fullness Restored
Boaz loads Ruth’s basket again before she leaves.Naomi knows it’s a good sign when Ruth returns loaded down.Naomi says that Boaz won’t quit until he accomplishes this.God intends for one to live fully.Boaz goes to the gate and waits for the nearer kinsman.He asks the kinsman if he will redeem Naomi’s land.The kinsman agrees until he learns that he must also marry Ruth and have children to continue Elimelech’s name.The kinsman refuses, saying it would foul up his inheritance.Boaz takes his shoe off, confirming the transaction.He buys Naomi’s land and Ruth.The witnesses bless Ruth and Boaz.Boaz was a mighty man of wealth.His mother was Rahab, a Gentile from Jericho.God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.The Lord gave Ruth conception, and she bore a son.The women bless the Lord for not leaving Naomi without a kinsman.They name the child Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David.Naomi took the child and laid it in her bosom and became nurse unto it.Naomi was finally full.It took about a year for Naomi to be holding the promise of fullness.The road back to full is full of God.God restored Naomi back to full, and she rejoiced in His grace and redemption.One doesn’t have to be empty but must return to Bethlehem.One must be emptied of Moab and sin to head back to fullness.God will make one full again.
View all episodes
