The Prayer of Faith - Naomi

Away from the House of Bread

Ruth 1:1-5

English Standard Version Chapter 1

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 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. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

The Book of Ruth? More Like Book of Naomi.

Genre = Historical Fiction/aka Literary Genre of Cultural Storytelling (Commonly agreed) but this does not mean its false, some of the people in the writing could and probably were entirely real people. We even have a small biography at the end which has people who were real in it and we expect that this part of it is factual. How the way its written is inline with how stories were written, it has a clear narrative arc so it is likely that the historical facts are real but the story is written the way it is to bring across a specific message.

What is the message?

A SUB narrative: Is if you have made mistakes, if you have are distant from God, there is hope and you can come back.

For some of us, we like Naomi find ourselves in a moment where God feels silent to us. Like our prayers aren’t answered. Wether of our own doing or, and I do mean this as a genuine option. We can be doing things as right as we currently understand and still scratching our heads. Attending church or in NAomis case being in Bethleham.

Bethlehem = House of Bread

What happens when we face drought?

The grass may look greener on the other side but without God, it is a place of death.

Geographic layout of Judah compared to trans Jordan with the dew of mt hermon, the cedars of lebannon. BUT IT IS DEATH.

Concept of the dowry or weddign ring. THat People viewed the land God gave them as like a wedding ring that showed their divine access and connection with God. Naomi abandoning the land of promise was like her throwing the ring back at God and saying you can’t look after me properly. So I’m going to look after myself.

I love how brutal that scene is in the pursuit of happiness “Go get happy Linda!”

BIG POINT - Have you ever felt like God can’t look after you? Are you in a space of your life where you have decided to take care of yourself? It could be financially, it could be job safety, it could be relationships, your childrens futures, your sex life, or just feeling happy or free from anxiety. When we take that weight on our shoulders to take care of yourself it is heavy isn’t it?

Matt 11.28

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. NRSV

See Naomi had chosen to shoulder that burden of her own safety, her wellbeing, her

HOW DO I BRING CHRIST INTO THIS?