Physical vs. Internal Appearance

Ruth 1:19–22 “So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.”

1. Her testimony was one of hardship

Naomi- “Pleasant”

Mara- “Bitter”

2. Her perception of circumstances was through the lens of a relationship with the Lord

Matthew 5:45 “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

3. Her decision to go home put her exactly in the place she needed

Proverbs 13:20 “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.””

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”