October 21 - She Said Unto Them, Call Me Not Naomi.

Ruth 1:20
“And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.”
 
She.
She went from bliss to bitterness.
 
She was willing to go alone so that her daughters could go their own way.
She was grieved over her situation.
 
Ruth 1:11-13
“And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.”
 
She went toward Bethlehem joined by her one of her daughters in law, Ruth.
When they got back to her home, the people of the city did not even recognize Naomi.
 
Ruth 1:19
“So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?”
 
Grief can change us into someone we do not even recognize.
She wanted to be called Mara, due to the bitterness that consumed her.
 
Ruth 1:21
“I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?”
 
There are several name changes throughout the holy pages of Scripture.
Many are given of the Lord, but Naomi’s was not.
She acknowledged herself that something drastic had transpired within her.
 
God had allowed circumstances to occur due to her disobedience.
Now she felt like a completely different woman because of the bitterness that had grown inside her. This was the fruit of her foolishness.
 
Naomi also serves as an example of how sorrow can change our character. However, when we acknowledge it and seek the Lord’s help, He is Faithful to give us just what we need.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 23-24  |  John 18  |  Psalm 31-32