Right Words

Upon Naomi’s return to Bethlehem from Moab, she tells her people not to call her Naomi but Mara, which means bitter, in light of her misfortunes. Ever notice that no one takes her up on it? And in the big picture, that’s appropriate, since even though she loses her husband, two sons, and a daughter-in-law (Orpah), she gains far more in Ruth as affirmed by the Bethlehemite women (4:15).  So Naomi may have thought that the Almighty had dealt bitterly with her (1:20), but in the larger picture, he was richly blessing her. See Ps. 105:17-22 also.