Ruth 1:19-22 New Beginnings To End Bitterness

My commentary called this section "Bitterness:  Blaming God For Our Trials".  Naomi and Ruth left the graves of their husbands as they left Moab and headed back to Bethlehem where they were greeted warmly by friends who apparently had stayed there during the ten-year drought.

"We can't control the circumstances of life, but we can control how we respond to them.  That's what faith is all about, daring to believe that God is working everything for our good even when we don't feel like it or see it happening.  'In everything give thanks' isn't always easy to obey, but obeying this command is the best antidote against a bitter and critical spirit," it said.

Naomi believed that she had nothing to her name, but my commentary said she had her life, new opportunities surrounded by friends, her daughter-in-law Ruth, and Jehovah, the God of Israel!  "Naomi was about to make a new beginning, for with God, it's never too late to start over again."

Father, I thank You this morning so much for the new beginning You've blessed me with as a teacher.  Thank You for the opportunity to build up the lives of my students all week, not just on Wednesday nights.  Thank You for renewed friendships and new friendships with my fellow teachers, but most of all, thank You for being in charge of all this and for setting it all up when I was totally unaware it might ever happen!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford