Coming Home (Ruth 1:19-22)

On November 16, 1811, an unusual thing happened to the Mississippi River. (The name, “Mississippi” comes from an Indian word that means “big river.” The river flows some 2,348 miles from its source in northwestern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.) What happened in 1811 was unprecedented for the river. An earthquake hit the state of Missouri and had a strange effect on the river. For a short period of time the river’s direction was interrupted and it flowed backward.

There have been many that found themselves going backward in their Christian life. We find several such in the Bible: Peter (Mk.14:71), Mark (Acts 15:38), and the classic example of Jonah (Jonah 1:2-3). Instead of a cleaving to the Lord, there is often a leaving of the Lord. Robert Robinson expressed it so well in his great hymn, “Come Thou Fount.”

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love.”

Many could describe their spiritual condition in the words of Kirkpatrick’s hymn: “I’ve wandered far away from God.” If that be the case, may I suggest you say, “Lord, I’m coming home. The paths of sin, too long I’ve trod. Lord, I’m coming home.”

The story before us finds a believer coming home. As we have seen, Naomi has been away from home and away from God. Now we find her coming home and back to God. You can almost hear Naomi saying, “I’ve wasted many precious years, Now I’m coming home. I now repent with bitter tears; Lord, I’m coming home.”

[Ruth 1:19-22]

     19     So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”
     20     She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
     21     “I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
     22     So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

In Naomi, we see a disturbing example of failure. We see in her the bitter experience of being away from God. Yet, we also have in her a delightful example of forgiveness. We see in her the blessed experience of coming back to God. We read, “So Naomi returned” (vs. 22). Let’s notice her return.


First, think with me of:
1. THE TOWN TO WHICH SHE RETURNED
We read, “So they both went until they came to Bethlehem” (vs.19). Ten years have passed since we saw her leaving Bethlehem-Judah. Now we see her coming home. Naomi coming back to Bethlehem was the same as coming back to God. She illustrates for us a believer who has gotten away from God, but comes back to God.

A certain businessman was asked how he had become so successful. He replied, “Good decisions.” The questioner persisted, “But how did you learn to make good decisions?” The crusty old fellow answered, “Experience.” One more question then followed. “Well, how did you get the experience?” He answered, “Bad decisions.”

Naomi had made a bad decision when she left Bethlehem and God. But now we see her making a good decision as she comes back to God.

When we think of Bethlehem, we think of:

A. The Place of God's Praise
Bethlehem was in the land of Judah, which means “praise.” It was the place where God was glorified and honored. It was the place where He was extolled and exalted. Naomi was returning to the place where God could be and would be honored in her life.

A believer away from God does not bring glory to God. When one is away from God, instead of a life that is glorifying to God, it is grieving to God. Instead of living a life by which God is honored, He is dishonored. How sad it is to see people who once honored and glorified God with their lives, now living lives that displease and dishonor Him. I am sure that you who are hearing this can think of someone who once served God and lived for Him, but now that person is away from Him.

On the other hand, I am sure you can think of someone who came back to God. You may be thinking of yourself. Blessed be His name, we can come home and bring honor and glory to His name. To Him be praise!

Bethlehem also speaks to us as:

B. The Place of God's Presence
We read of how Naomi heard “how the LORD had visited His people” (vs.6). She was returning to the place where His presence was real. She was coming back to the place where she could be in God’s presence and experience God’s presence.

I think of when Jonah rebelled against God. His experience is described as running “from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3). A believer out of fellowship with God can no longer enjoy the presence of the Lord.  There is not only a dishonoring of the Lord, but there is a distance from the Lord. 

When a believer comes back to God, he can once again enjoy and experience God’s presence. The Psalmist said, “In Your presence is fullness of Joy” (Psalm 16:11).  Many can testify to the joy of once again being in His presence.

Bethlehem also speaks to us of:

C. The Place of God's Provision
Bethlehem means the “House of Bread.” Naomi had heard that God had visited His people in Bethlehem in giving them bread (vs.6). Bethlehem was the place where God was meeting the needs of His people. It was the place where God was at work in the lives of His people. It was the place of God’s provision.

When you are away from God, you live a life that is barren of God’s blessings. Whereas, there had been a time when God was working in your life and blessing your life; away from God, those blessings are no longer experienced.

If you have failed God, the devil tells you that you will never see God at work again in your life. But Satan has always been a liar. When you come home, you will find a forgiving God who will once again make Himself known in your life.

Bethlehem also speaks to us of:

D. The Place of God's People
Bethlehem was the place where God’s people dwelt. It was the place where God’s people were gathered. It was a place of kindred spirits and like-minded souls.

No doubt, you can think of someone who used to be in Church and assembled with God’s people. They never missed and their seat was never empty. But now, they are not only out of fellowship with God, but out of the fellowship of God.

Praise God we see Naomi coming home. We see her coming back to Bethlehem; the place of God’s praise, presence, provision, and people. When there is a return to the Lord, there will be a return to praising God; as well as God's presence, provision, and people.

Now that we have seen the town to which she returned,  think with me of:

2. THE TESTIMONY WITH WHICH SHE RETURNED
When Naomi returned they were stirred (“groaned or moved”) when they saw her. They asked, “Is this Naomi” (vs.19)? Notice how she answered: “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara” (vs.20). We earlier saw that Naomi means “pleasant.” Mara means “bitter.” She was testifying to the results and consequences of leaving God.

We see that Naomi testified of:

A. How God Brought Her Back
Naomi said, “I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty” (vs.21). She had been confronted by God. God had dealt with her sin. Now God has brought her home again. The Bible says, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num.32:23). One thing that is as certain as grass is green, water is wet, ice is cold, and fire is hot; God will bring the wayward believer home.

The New York Times carried an article entitled, “In Toronto, U.S. Fugitives Can Run But Can’t Hide.” The story told of Joyce Carolyn Stevens, who was wanted in Texas on charges of aggravated robbery and kidnapping. She was hiding in Canada like thousands of other fugitives from the United States. She was found and arrested by the Metropolitan Toronto Police Fugitive Squad. This special squad had been organized in November, 1993. Since its creation, there have been arrested more than 200 fugitives who fled to Canada, most of them Americans. The Fugitive Squad sent out the message to all fugitives, “You can run, but you can’t hide."

Jonah found out that you can run but you cannot hide. Actually, he found out that you can’t run from God and you can’t hide from God. Naomi discovered that even when she left God, He would not leave her. Somewhere, somehow, God will confront the believer that is away from home. One can be certain, God will bring them home.

She also testified of:

B. How God Broke Her Down
Naomi said, “The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (vs.20). She said, “The Lord has witnessed against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me” (vs.21).    She testified of how God had brought her back by breaking her down.

God knows how to get our attention. He knows how to bring us back. A preacher back home used to have a humorous way of putting it, but he got the point across. He would say, “If you live for God down here, He will take you to heaven and crown you. But if you don’t live for God, He will crown you down here and then take you to heaven.”

David said, “He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3).  David had in mind stubborn and rebellious sheep. A shepherd was known at times to take his rod and break the front legs of a stubborn and straying sheep. It taught the sheep a lesson and they never wandered off again.

There may be some of you who can testify of how God brought you home. You are home, but you were brought home. You can say “Amen,” to Naomi’s words, “the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. . .the Almighty has afflicted me” (vv. 20-21).

Having seen the town to which she returned and the testimony with which she returned, thirdly, think with me of:

3. THE TIME IN WHICH SHE RETURNED
         We read, So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest (vs. 22).  Here are some of the most blessed words in all the Bible; “So Naomi returned.” Praise God, one can come back home.

It is very interesting that she returned “at the beginning of the barley harvest” (vs. 22). This is a statement that is so full. I think it is so wonderful that the Holy Spirit included this statement describing the time she returned. It was the time the first grain was harvested. It was observed during the month of Nisan, sometimes also called Abib, which means “green ears.” It was a time when certain feasts were observed.

This was a time when there was:
A. The Application of the Blood
Leviticus 23 tells us that the beginning of the barley harvest took place at Passover time. This was the time each year that the Priest would take the blood of the sacrifice and carry it into the Holy Place to make atonement for sin. It was as if the Holy Spirit were saying that when you come home, you will find that the blood of God’s dear Son will cleanse you from all sin. Praise God there is forgiveness for the returning saint.

A group of 6 college students was traveling from New York to Florida. As their bus passed through New Jersey, a man dressed in a plain, ill-fitting suit got on and sat down in from of them. He never moved, never spoke, only sitting there chewing his lip, staring out the window. The students eventually introduced themselves; and as they talked, they learned of his story.

He had been in a New York prison for the past 4 years and was now on his way home. For the past 4 years he had had no contact with his wife and children. When he first went into prison, he had written his wife and only told her that he was going away for a long time; and if she couldn’t stand it, she could forget him and marry someone else. As far as he knew, she had done that.

He told the students how the week before, when he was sure his parole was coming up, he had written her and asked for forgiveness. He told her the whole story and expressed his desire to come home. There was a big oak tree on their place near the highway. He had asked her, that if she would take him back, to hang a white handkerchief on the tree. If she did, he would get off the bus. If there was not one there, he would know that she did not want him, and he would go on his way.

By this time, the bus was about 20 miles from his home. The students found themselves caught up in the man's anticipation. They were all looking out the window of the bus, waiting for a view of that oak tree. The closer they got, the quieter they got. As the bus drew near his home, suddenly the students were up out of their seats screaming, shouting, crying, and dancing in the aisles. There was not just one handkerchief, but the tree was covered in hundreds of handkerchiefs blowing in the wind like a banner saying, “Come on home.”

Yes, you can come home! God is waiting and will forgive of all sin. His blood will cleanse from all unrighteousness!

This was also a time in which there was:

B. The Anticipation of the Blessings
It was also a time when the Feast of Firstfruits was observed. The fields had been sown and the first of the crops had come up and had been harvested. A sheaf of barley would be waved before the Lord as an offering of thanksgiving for that which was to come. It was an act whereby praise and thanks were given to God for the blessings to come.

It was as if the Holy Spirit were saying, not only can forgiveness be found, but God will begin blessing the life again. Maybe you have failed God. You may be thinking, “God will never bless me again. I’ve blown it.” Oh, no, my dear friend. When a believer comes home, it will always be barley time.

Earlier I said that the beginning of the barley harvest was in the month of Nisan, or Abib, which would be our April. That’s springtime; a time when new life is blooming. It can be springtime for you. You can come home and start over with a new life.