Tag Archives: naomi

Proceed With Caution

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Ruth 1

Naomi was broken. There was nothing for her in Moab, and life for a widow with no sons in Israel promised only poverty and disgrace. Maybe she hoped someone would have pity and provide for her. But there was no guarantee. My heart breaks for her.

Not knowing what was ahead, how could she bring the daughters-in-law she loved into such dire circumstances? They had homes and families and means to flourish in Moab. It seems Naomi thought they would be better off going home.

Liz Curtis Higgs (“The Girl’s Still Got It,” WaterBrook Press, 2012) is way too hard on Naomi, and without reason. I see Naomi as a woman beaten down, drowning in sorrow, afraid and lost. I actually think Ruth saw her that way, too.

I think Ruth also saw that, for all her brokenness, Naomi was determined to go back to God. It was Naomi’s faith – as weak as it may have been at the moment – that drew Ruth to believing in Naomi’s God. Her beautiful vow of love for Naomi and her pledge to embrace God for herself sealed the deal. Ruth was all in – a believer leaving behind her past and forging ahead toward the One True God.

Scripture tells us after Ruth’s vow, Naomi stopped talking to her. It doesn’t say why. It doesn’t say for how long. If we are going to read something into that, I’m going to read that Naomi was overcome, speechless in that moment. She had no more argument, no more reason to keep pleading with Ruth to return home.

Once again, I take issue with what Mrs. HIggs (The Girl’s Still Got It; WaterBrook Press; 2012) reads into this. She seems to think Naomi was giving Ruth “the silent treatment.”

“Is she angry, fearful, exhausted? All of the above, judging by her body language.” (p 52)

Are you scratching your head after reading that? What about it do you question? Is it the fact that Scripture says nothing about Naomi’e body language? How can we judge what we don’t know?

After citing this book yesterday, I have to say I’m not sure I can recommend it as a reliable commentary on the book of Ruth. I see it as more fiction with some spiritual truth thrown in. It’s an enjoyable read, but not something to base your theology on. (My opinion).

However, a book like this can test your understanding of Scripture. Can you separate opinion from fact? Can you tell where assumptions are presented as truth? Please don’t read this book, or any book or blog or listen to podcasts and sermons, and simply accept it as truth without sifting it through Scripture yourself. I’m including this blog in that list of reading materials you need to test before accepting what is said.

So, I’m going to ask you to go back to the beginning of this post and read it again. This time look for my opinions stated as fact. What do you see? I may be right about my opinions. I may be wrong. Scripture doesn’t say specifically what Naomi was thinking or why she quit talking. Can you identify what I said that came straight from the mouth of God, and what came out of my own interpretation?

This is what I want you to get from this: If you choose to read books about the Bible, read the Bible. If you like to get different viewpoints on Scripture, read the Scripture for yourself. There are some great books out there. But there are some questionable, and some downright heretical books out there, too.

Proceed with caution. Don’t let someone think for you. Don’t let someone fashion your theology with assumptions and opinions.. Read the Bible. Read it again. Memorize it. Love it.

We call the Bible God’s Word because these are the words He wants you to read and learn from. I’m thankful for scholars who have studied the Bible and can explain context and meaning in ways I can understand. But they are not the final word.

God was very clear to say we are not to add to or subtract from what He inspired men to write. The Scriptures are closed. And they are enough exactly as they were penned thousands of years ago.

So go ahead, read those books. Take those classes. Listen to those teachers. But proceed with caution.

It’s Not Your Choice

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Ruth 1:6-14

I’m doing something a bit different in my personal devotional time. I started looking at the book of Ruth as I read “The Girl’s Still Got It” by Liz Curtis Higgs. (WaterBrook Press, 2012). I think she’s a good writer, clever and amusing. She’s encouraged me to slow down as I read this part of God’s Word, and take a look at my walk with the Lord. Yesterday it was a question I had to ask myself about where I turn for answers when trouble comes. Higgs also challenged me to consider who I am in good times as well as in bad. It was a good first day in the book of Ruth.

But I think those of us who fancy ourselves writers need to be careful not to interject our own bias and/or hangups into our interpretation of Scripture. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of that, and will try to do better in the future. I want Scripture to speak for itself and not assume I know what’s going on behind the scene.

That being said, I whole-heartedly disagree with Mrs. Higg’s reasoning behind Naomi’s seemingly change of heart. From what I read in these verses, there is nothing to indicate she was afraid of the reception she’d receive upon return to Canaan with two Moabite daughters-in-law in tow. I don’t see that she was a menopausal emotional basket case. In fact, I see nothing of a self-serving motive for why Naomi seems to suddenly do an about-face.

The only thing we know for sure is that three women started out on a journey. Naomi stops and offers the younger women a chance to decide for themselves whether or not they will continue. I see selfless love in Naomi’s words, and I see a lesson all parents must learn.

You know that your decision to follow Jesus was a personal decision you had to make. The same is true for your children. We bring up those precious ones in the way they should go. We take them to church, pray before meals, talk with them about right and wrong, about Jesus and their need for the Savior.

You can take a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

And you know that.

Naomi chose to leave her life of sin and embrace the one True God. She brought her daughters-in-law as far as she could, but there came the time she had to let them choose for themselves. I see a loving mother setting her children free, knowing she couldn’t force them to choose her God or follow her path.

Some of you have experienced the heartache of watching a child walk away, turning a back on God and embracing a life of sin. Is that what Naomi felt as she watched Orpah walk away?

Some of you – I pray most of you – have known the joy of watching a child turn from sin, choose to embrace the God you love, and walk with you in relationship with the Savior. I think that’s what Naomi felt when Ruth clung to her.

Parents, you have the awesome responsibility to teach, to demonstrate, to model what it means to be saved by grace, and to walk with Jesus. Don’t take that lightly because the window for this ministry is fast closing. Your kids are growing up and learning to make decisions for themselves – right or wrong. Help them learn the blessings that come from choosing right, and the painful consequences for choosing the wrong.

As much as you’d like it to be different, their decision to follow Christ is their’s alone. I think Naomi wanted both her daughters-in-law to choose her God. (my opinion. Scripture isn’t clear about that). I think you want your children to choose your God, too.

But in the end, it’s not your choice.

Keep teaching. Keep praying. Keep following the Lord loud and strong. Keep loving. And keep hoping that one day they will choose to turn from sin and follow God. Keep believing that God’s Word doesn’t return void.

I’m praying for you.