Part 4: The Hard Road Home

Introduction

Tonight, we look at part 4 in the series on the book of Ruth. So far, we have looked at an introduction, a very costly move, three widows in Moab, and tonight, we are going to finish up with chapter 1 and look at the thought, “The Hard Road Home”.

We know that Naomi had left the land of Bethlehem-Judah with her husband Elimelech, to sojourn in the land of Moab.

This began as an intended temporary stay, but turned into ten long years of nothing but pain and heartache. Naomi has now heard that the Lord had visited His people in Bethlehem once again and she has decided to make the long trip home.

This trip isn’t going to be easy, but it would certainly be a beneficial one. Naomi would have to face the regrets of her past, but she had at least made the decision to go back to the land of her people and her God. She had left with her family and the hope of a better future, but Moab delivered no hope and she lost her family in that desolate place. Now she is coming home, broken and empty, but at least she is going home, she certainly traveled a hard road home.

We are about to see a woman coming home to a crowd of rejoicing, but we’ll see that it will be short lived as Naomi is going to allow us to be up close and personal with the bitterness of a broken person.

You know? We live in a world of broken people, many are backslidden on the Lord, and have even given up on the church, but they aren’t honest about their feelings...

As we see here in the text tonight, Naomi refuses to hold back as she unloads her pain and suffering upon those who have welcomed her home.

I want you to know that there’s an encouraging thought in all this for backslider. We know that the way of a transgressor is hard, that the way of Naomi ended in widowhood, want, and woe, but there is reception for those who will return to the Father’s house.

Luke 15 gives us the picture of the reception of the prodigal son. The father was more willing to receive his son than his son was to be received. If you’ve wandered away from God, return to Him…He wants you home…You’ll find a welcome from the hand of your Heavenly Father.

The devil will try to make you think that no one loves you, that there’s no sue to try, but if the Father could forgive the prodigal and feed him at his table, if God could forgive David and set him on the throne, if God could forgive many many backsliders and write their names in the Book of Heaven, He can forgive you.

We’re going to look at three things tonight…The Great Surprise, The Grievous Sorrow, and The Gracious Supply.

The Great Surprise (vs. 19)

Ruth 1:19 KJV 1900

So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

The 50 mile trip would have taken the two women quite a while. They would have had to cross the Jordan river and climb more than 2,000 feet, as it was mostly an uphill journey, to reach Bethlehem.

The homecoming was bittersweet. It had been ten long and laborious years since Naomi had left her hometown. Lots of things can happen in ten years and Naomi can testify to the truth of this statement. We were at a store in Galax this past Saturday and saw some folks we used to go to church with; I had both their boys in kids church, and it’s only been about two years, but oh man, we sit there talking about how much the kids had grown in that time. Things change, they change quick! and things were different, Naomi was different, and in all honesty, even Bethlehem would be different.

But, Naomi was home, she was home at last!

She was now a widow, but she was home. She was now childless, but she was home. She was ten years older, but she was home.

The Bible says that the entire city came to see for themselves and find out if it was really her

Bethlehem was just a large village; everyone in the village would have known everyone else and remembered those who had left years ago.

It had been ten years since they had seen her. The words here “moved about them” means that the city was disturbed and in an uproar.

Naomi’s return to Bethlehem alone, broke, and in the company of a Gentile made news all over the town!

Look at verse 19 again, “…and they said, Is this Naomi?”

Time and Moab had taken its toll on Naomi, to the point that some didn’t even recognize her. I’ve seen people leave the church and head to Moab so-to-speak. In time, some will make their way back home to God and the church, but it’s often different.

I’ve seen some backslide and you can’t do anything but shake your head in awe at the price they pay for it.

Naomi didn’t have to say anything to this crowd; they knew things were different.

Like I said, Moab took its toll on Naomi and everyone that looked at her had questions as to what in the world happened while she was gone...

The Grievous Sorrow (vs. 20-21)

Ruth 1:20–21 KJV 1900

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 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?

Thinking about these verses…We just talked about how Naomi had received a glorious welcome form the people of her hometown. Of course, they all questioned her about the Moabitish woman that she brought with her…Who was she? Where was Naomi’s husband and two sons? Why does she look poor?

When a person goes off the path of obedience then returns, they will not look the same and be the same as they were before they left the straight and narrow. There will be scars. One does not walk in disobedience without it changing them in many adverse ways.

Those questions, and even the thought of having to answer those questions would have stirred up bitterness within Naomi’s mind and heart.

Naomi is home, but not all is well. It seems that she had mulled over everything that had happened over the past ten years on her journey between Moab and Bethlehem.

They had asked in verse 19, “…Is this Naomi?”

Naomi wanted to assure them she was Naomi, but she wasn’t the same woman they used to know.

The former Naomi was called “pleasant”, but this wasn’t the case anymore as far as she was concerned; she was ready for a name change. She says, “…call me Mara...” Mara meant “bitter” and she had no desire to be called Naomi any longer.

Naomi wasn’t a phony. She wasn’t going to go home, pretend everything was fine, and be “pleasant.” She was going to be honest and say “Here I am and my life has been bitter.”

In the eyes of Naomi, the Lord had dealt bitterly with her and to an extent, this was true.

The phrase here, “hath dealt very” implies that God had moved in upon the family of Naomi in a very forceful manner. The word also implies “being branded or having the embers stoked.”

The Lord had turned up the heat on the family of Naomi. She was literally branded by the Lord and she is an emblem of a person who survived backsliding!

Look at verse 21...

Ruth 1:21 KJV 1900

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?

What a sad, but true statement…This is one of the most truthful observations a backslider can make.

Naomi left Bethlehem with her husband, her two sons, her joy, her spirit of gladness and eagerness, but she didn’t come back the same!

As she looks around, she has no husband, she has no sons, and as she looked within, there was no joy, bitterness had replaced gladness and all she had was gloom and grief.

How sad...

The Gracious Supply (vs. 22)

Ruth 1:22 KJV 1900

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

We see a turn here in verse 22. We move from bitterness to brightness!

We get to see the Lord pull her up close and offer her some encouragement.

The Bible refuses to change Naomi’s name…I don’t know about ya’ll, but I like that!

She will be called “pleasant” again because the Lord isn’t done with her.

The two women have returned at the beginning of barley harvest. It’s a new day and a new beginning for Naomi and Ruth.

Aren’t you thankful today for new beginnings? I know I am!

Sometimes we need a new beginning, a fresh start, a better and brighter outlook.

Ten years ago, when Naomi first left Bethlehem, there was a famine, there was no barley in the fields, but that’s not the case now.

One thing we can be sure of ya’ll. Life is a journey and today’s storms may bring tomorrow’s sunshine! Today’s bitterness may bring tomorrow’s barley! The tears today may bring tomorrow’s triumph!

Naomi had been planting seeds of sorrow and heartache, but God is going to introduce her to a new beginning and some new barley.

The Lord is about to give Naomi blessings and glories that she could never imagine!

We have got to learn to never get hung up on today! Because soon, today is going to be yesterday and tomorrow will be here before we know it and tomorrow will bring brand new opportunities!

All the good that happens in the future chapters begins here: With Naomi’s godly repentance and honesty. It will make a difference not only in her life, but in the life of her daughter-in-law Ruth – and in the destiny of the nation Israel – and in our eternal salvation.

Conclusion

Hey, where has this message found you today? Has sin stripped you of all the Lord has done in your life? Do you need a fresh start tonight?

Do you need forgiveness today? If so, then what you need is just steps away. Will you come?

Others need to come to the Lord for salvation. You have nothing but the sorrow of sin today and the prospect of Hell tomorrow. Jesus Christ died for you. If you will come to Him today, He will save you by His grace.