In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. (Ruth 1:1-5, NRSV)
It seems like life for Naomi has gone from bad to worse. She was moved from her homeland because of famine and then after her husband died, her two sons marry, but then they died also. Now she has daughters-in-law to care for and no one to provide for her. Remember in this time, the men were the providers, so without a husband or sons, Naomi had no one to care for her. Add to that she is in a place where she has lived for many years but is still considered an outsider.
What will she do?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation like Naomi’s where it seems you have come to the end of hope?
What can we do?
Remember that God is always with us, there is never an end to hope…
aSacredRebel 