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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 rivers 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: Demas (II Tim.4:10), 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 Kirkpatricks 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.” 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). Lets notice her return. First, think with me of: 1. THE TOWN TO WHICH SHE RETURNED We read, “So they two went until they were come to Bethlehem” (Vs.19). Ten years has 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 that 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 that once honored and glorified God with their life, now living a life that displeases and dishonors Him. I am sure that you who are reading this can think of someone that once served God and lived for Him, but now they are 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, they can once again enjoy and experience His presence. The Psalmist said, “In Thy presence is fullness of Joy” (Psa.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 one is away from God, they live a life that is barren of God’s blessings. Whereas, there had been a time when God was working in their life and blessing their life, away from God those blessings are no longer experienced. There are times that Satan tells those who have failed God, they will never see God at work again in their life. But Satan has always been a liar. When one comes home, they will find a forgiving God that will once again make Himself known in their 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 that 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. Secondly, think with me of: 2. THE TESTIMONY WITH WHICH SHE RETURNED We read, “So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me” (Vs.19-21)? When Naomi returned they were moved (groaned) when they saw her. They asked, “Is this Naomi” (Vs.19)? Notice how she answered: “Call me not 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, “The Lord hath brought me home again” (Vs.21). She had been confronted by God. God had dealt with her sin. Now God has brought her home again. The Bible say, “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 Steven’s, 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 that 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." (1) 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 hath dealt bitterly with me” (Vs.20). She said, “The Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath 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 restoreth my soul” (Psa.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 that can testify of how God brought you home. You are home, but you were brought home. You can say “Amen,” to Naomi words, “the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. . .the Almighty hath afflicted me” (Vs.20-21). Thirdly, think with me of: 3. THE TIME IN WHICH SHE RETURNED We read, “So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in 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 “in 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 Abib, which mean “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 was saying that when one comes home, they will find that the blood of God’s dear Son will cleanse from all sin. Praise God there is forgiveness for the returning saint. A group of 6 college students were 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 wrote 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 mans 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, one 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 was 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. I said that the beginning of the barley harvest was in the month of 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.
1) New York Times, October 14, 1996 |
