It’s been much too long since I’ve seen your face and I miss you fiercely. My heart yearns for you. I will dispense with the pleasantries of asking if you are well because I know the last decade has been a difficult one. Even the word 'difficulty' pales in comparison to the great heartache you have faced. The loss of your husband, and most recently your two boys is a suffering that I cannot feel as fully and deeply as you do but please know my heart grieves with you.
The 'what might have beens' can make us go crazy, but there is nothing that you or I can do about what lies now in the past. There is no benefit in trying to relive what got you to where you are now as there’s no way to fix what has now been permanently broken in the loss of your family. I know that if you were given the opportunity you’d choose differently but at the same time I firmly believe that even in these most difficult of moments Yahweh has a plan for His people. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, but even then the Lord was using it to save His people. Oh, how His steadfast love endures forever! He is a gracious God, full of compassion, and willingness to forgive.
Therefore, my beloved Naomi, I am writing to you with an appeal to action. The Lord has once again visited His people here in Bethlehem! He has given us bread. The wickedness of our culture pains me but in the midst of these turbulent times, God has not forgotten His promises. Leave Moab, my sister. Turn your back on it! Turn to Bethlehem and trust the God of our fathers. Don’t pretend you love Him while living your own way and doing your own thing. Come to Him. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings, you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Oh, Naomi! I know your pain seems unbearable but I write to remind you that my God is king! Don’t dwell in Moab any longer. There is no hope there. How often the grass seems greener the in the fields of sin, but we learn that it only leaves us hollow. I don't mean to pile on your grief, so hear me in live, but did you find what you were looking for in Moab? Of course not! The famine you found in Moab is far worse than the physical famine we briefly experienced here in the Promised Land. But I hold forth hope to you. Our hope is Yahweh Himself! He remembered Noah, sought out Abraham, never abandoned Joseph, revealed Himself to Moses from the burning bush, and strengthened Joshua. And despite the wickedness of our leaders and our people, I know that He will send us a Deliverer! I wait for Him to free us from our wretched condition and to fulfill all the promises that God has given. What we are experiencing now in this city is a foretaste of what is to come. Come to us, dear sister. Come and see what the Lord has done.
Yahweh has visited His people Naomi! He has given us bread to eat! What will you do? Out of your sorrow, bondage, and night come to Bethlehem. Out of your shameful failure and loss, come to Bethlehem. Let not pride, stubbornness, or any other sin stand in the way. Leave Moab now. Turn away from there and come and see God’s work here. Come rest in Him. He is still a gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Come and see for yourself!
I don’t know God’s specific purposes for you but I know this: while you breathe there is hope for you. What glorious purposes God might still have for Naomi! I know it seems like all is lost, but what might Yahweh do with you if you humbled yourself and sought Him? And even if your life did not end like Job's, would it not be worth it simply to find delight in the Lord Himself? Isn't He that worthy? Isn't our praise due Him? But please do not delay. I cannot bear to hear of another one whom I love so dearly being buried in Moab. In the Bread Yahweh has given us, there is life. Come and dine.
May God answer my prayer for you,
Eliana
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You can read Ruth 1:1-7 to help set the background to this imaginative letter. You can listen to our current sermon series through the book of Ruth here. Eliana means 'My God Answers'.
