“No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has gone out against me!”
Ruth 1:13
We are often ignorant of our idols, and that certainly seems to be the case with Naomi. In the time of the judges, God sent a famine to deal with the spiritual famine in the hearts of His people. Instead of responding to this fatherly discipline with repentance, Naomi and her family left Bethlehem (“House of Bread”) for the land of the Moabites—a people condemned by God for not giving His people bread in the wilderness.
Naomi seemed to view her problems primarily in physical, not spiritual, terms. God would have been perfectly justified in having her die in a foreign land, symbolic of His judgment. Instead, He brings death to her husband and two sons—her “breadwinners,” if you will—in order to bring her to the true Bread-giver.
John Calvin famously called our hearts “idol factories.” We are constantly creating new substitute saviors that can’t possibly satisfy our hearts. Such idolatry leads to bitterness and depression. Jesus is our Bread of Life. When we feed upon His forever sacrifice, our hearts are satisfied.
Naomi seemed to view her problems primarily in physical, not spiritual, terms. God would have been perfectly justified in having her die in a foreign land, symbolic of His judgment. Instead, He brings death to her husband and two sons—her “breadwinners,” if you will—in order to bring her to the true Bread-giver.
John Calvin famously called our hearts “idol factories.” We are constantly creating new substitute saviors that can’t possibly satisfy our hearts. Such idolatry leads to bitterness and depression. Jesus is our Bread of Life. When we feed upon His forever sacrifice, our hearts are satisfied.
Scripture Focus
Ruth 1:1-6
Insight
Pray today that the Lord would clear the idols that clutter your heart and nourish you through Jesus.
Bible In A Year
- Job 11-12
- Psalm 48
- Luke 11
