She and her daughters-in-law set out to return from the territory of Moab, because she had heard in Moab that the Lord had paid attention to his people's need by providing them food. She left the place where she had been living, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, and traveled along the road leading back to the land of Judah.

Ruth 1:6-7 CSB

When Abraham for example was on the move there was an extended family and staff and livestock. A picture of prosperity.

In this story there is no mention of any of that. 

Ten years+ after the family moved hoping for a better future, there's now Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth walking back. 

For Naomi it's going back to her place, her people. What will be going on for her? 

A sense of failure?

Loss?

Lost mana?

Hopeful that people she knew will welcome her back?

What about Orpah and Ruth? What grief are they carrying? We don't know how their husbands died, husband's from a different religion and ethnic group. How would they be welcome in a new country where they know noone apart from Naomi?

Life not only hurts, it can be tough. There can seem to be no great options sometimes, things hoped for haven't worked out. God's blessing seems to have been where they haven't been. 

I wonder how I would be in their shoes? What resources I'd have, what I'd be hoping for?

Or how I would see this crew if they arrived at my house, at my church, in my community? How would I respond?

Maybe you can see yourself somewhere in this story, doing the best that you can with what's happened in your world. 

Hopeful in a tough situation.

Walking, one step at a time...

#bookofRuth

#thebiblekeepingitreal

#monday

#ontheroadbacktojudah

#seen