Healing for Bitterness

People of genuine faith in God are not immune from the blight of bitterness.  After Naomi returned to her inheritance in Bethlehem, she said to townsfolk who barely recognised her in Ruth 1:20-21:  "But 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, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"  Naomi returned from Moab embittered against God, and her demeanor was the opposite of her name which meant, "lovely, delightful, pleasant and friendly."  Blaming her afflictions for her bitterness, she spewed it on anyone near her.  She suggested a more suitable name be Mara, which means "bitter."

Naomi's name suggestion was a historical reference that went back to the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt.  While Mara seemed a fitting name for her bitter attitude, unwittingly this meant there was hope for her.  After God brought the children of Israel safely through the Red Sea, they looked for water and found none.  When they finally found water they were dismayed when it was found to be bitter and undrinkable.  That is how the waters of Marah were given their name.  But they did not remain that way, for God miraculously healed the waters so the people and their beasts could drink and their lives be sustained.  It took a miracle to heal the waters of Marah, and would take an act of God to change Naomi and us as well.

Exodus 15:23-26 says what happened:  "Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴ And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" ²⁵ So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, ²⁶ and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."  When Moses cried out to God in prayer, the LORD directed Moses to cast a tree into the water and they were made sweet.  God made them a promise He would heal those who trusted and obeyed Him even as the bitter water was made drinkable and delicious.

Trials, affliction, loss and sorrow can embitter us, but God is faithful to heal us.  When Jesus was crucified on Calvary, a way of salvation was provided by faith in Him that fills believers with the Holy Spirit, the Living Water Jesus promised to provide.  Having been born again, we are empowered to follow Jesus and walk in obedience to Him--our Good Shepherd Who leads us beside still waters.  No matter what happens to us, we ought not justify remaining bitter.  Naomi returned to Bethlehem empty, but we are filled with the presence of the Living God born in Bethlehem.  True to His word, the end of the book of Ruth does not end with Naomi bitter over her loss but celebrated a grandson Obed through whom king David and later the Messiah Jesus Christ would come.  How great is God's grace to heal us of our bitterness.