“Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” —Ruth 1:21
In the book of Ruth, the name Naomi used for God in her angry outburst showed how bitter she was toward Him. El Shaddai, “the Almighty,” the All-Sufficient One, accentuated the depths of her disillusionment. Sure, you may call Him Almighty, All-Sufficient, Yahweh—but not me. He certainly hasn’t lived up to His name in my life.
A friend told me about a conversation she had with her sister who had experienced some significant losses—and sounded a lot like Naomi. Though a professing Christian, she felt God turned His back on her. So she lived independent from God and made decisions that were contrary to His Word. Though she didn’t acknowledge it, her bitterness had turned toward God.
What about you? Do you feel God has not lived up to His name in your life? Does it seem that He has been one thing in the sermons but quite another when you needed Him the most? Listen to yourself. What is your life communicating to others about Him?
Make it Personal
If someone observed your life closely, what would they say about your view of God?