Lay It on Me

W HEN THE U NEXPECTED H APPENS / 19

D EPRESSED P EOPLE G IVE THE W RONG A DVICE After all of her troubles in Moab, Naomi finally decided to return home. She would leave her past and go back to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:22). Instead of returning home joyously, however, she returned home devastated. Naomi was a strong woman who, instead of being broken, had become bitter. Naomi's bitterness was obvious in her interaction with those who loved her. It appears that when Naomi began to leave Moab, both Ruth and Orpah decided to leave with her: Therefore she went out from the place where she was, AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW WITH HER; AND THEY WENT ON THE WAY TO RETURN TO THE LAND OF Judah. THEY SAID to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people" (R uth 1:7, 10). Three times Naomi discouraged the girls from going with her to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:8- 13). In fact, the context seems to indicate that she was commanding them not to follow her. She commanded them to go back to Moab and find husbands among their own people. Why did Naomi discourage them? Because she was discouraged! In verse 20, Naomi revealed her emotional condition: