The Blaming Theology

​As we prepare for the Shavuot celebration, I am studying the Book of Ruth. So, in this post, I would like to continue with my previous post discussion, Blaming GOD, that I posted on May 3. I want to bring out a few points surrounding heartbreak and GOD’s sustaining mercy that is mentioned in the Book of Ruth. I don’t know how far I will go into the latter – GOD’s sustaining mercy. But there are a lot of gems we can gain from Naomi’s and Ruth’s stories. 
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background

Before proceeding. Let’s get some background information.

The Book of Ruth starts by introducing us to Naomi. Naomi and her family, husband Elimelech, and two sons – Mahloh and Chilion, encounter a famine. The famine stemmed from (a natural by-product) of the people’s sin – their disobedience toward GOD’s laws and HIS ways. (See Deuteronomy 28:15-16; Hosea 4:1-3). As a result, Elimelech must decide how he will provide for his family during this tumultuous time.

So, without consulting GOD, Elimelech decides to move his family to Moab – a land outside of the divine protective canopy and provisions of GOD. This decision would lead to some disastrous and irreversible consequences for Elimelech’s family.
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We see in chapter 1, in verse 3, Naomi’s husband Elimelech dies. And then later, after her sons took on two Moabite wives, they too dies (Ruth 1:5). Shortly afterward, Naomi is devastated. Naomi is so heartbroken by her loss that she begins to exhibit behaviors many do when they experience such a tragedy – blaming GOD. She said to her two daughters-in-law.
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​… Even if I thought there was still hope for me…. (Ruth 1:12, NIV)

​​Naomi felt her situation was hopeless. She continues.
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​… It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has turned against me. (Ruth 1:13, NIV). 
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Naomi’s situation was so bleak to her that she described it as ‘bitter’ – a distasteful or distressing to the mind. She felt a level of resentment, anger, and pain. She was struggling to accept or even bear the plight of her husband’s and two sons’ death had emotionally done to her life. From her perspective, it was GOD who had come and stolen, killed, and destroyed her life as well as her livelihood. She was blaming GOD for her tragedies.

​But when we go back to the accounts in the prior Bible books, we see and understand that Naomi’s circumstances were not due to the hands of GOD, but men. The will of man to be exact. 
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1. A famine had come upon the land due to their disobedience, unlawful behaviors, and decisions made by man. Men prefer to go their own way so that they can indulge in their fleshly desires. While forsaking the will, plans, and ways of GOD. 

2. As a result of the famine, Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, decided independently from GOD, to go his own way in order to provide for his family and moved them from the place GOD had established for HIS people. Elimelech did not trust GOD. Instead, he took his eyes off of Christ and choose to not wait to see how GOD would direct him. Instead, Elimelech rested his eyes, his focus on the problem. Like Peter, who was in a boat when a terrible storm came along. At some point, they all saw Jesus walking on water toward their boat. They could not believe what they were seeing. But Peter. He called out to Jesus and asked him to allow him to walk on the water to Jesus. And Peter did. He walked on water. But it did not last long. For Peter eventually took his eyes off of Christ who was able to (1) sustain him and (2) provide him the power and ability needed to walk on water. Y’all the brother walked on water! 

​But Peter began to place his focus on the strong wind, the dangerous waves, the darkness of the sky, the terrifying sounds of the thunder, and the storm he was in and began to immediately sink (Matthew 14:22-31). 
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In this situation, when the famine hit Judah and the surrounding cities. Elimelech did the same thing as Peter. He took his eyes, his focus from Jesus, and proceeded to make the problems around him his focus. Resulting in him not waiting on the LORD to give him direction.
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Like Peter, Elimelech family's plight, their destruction was due to his own hands. The by product of Elimelech’s failure to look to GOD, to lean upon his own understanding, and the fruitage of giving place to his own will and plans. 
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Returning to the land of your protection and provision
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So now, Naomi find herselves with no male leading her household, while having to learn to fend for herself in a foreign land. So, after being in this foreign land for about 10 years, she decides to get up from her place of misery and return home (Ruth 1:6-7).
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Upon reaching her homeland in Bethlem, all in the city were excited to see her. But Naomi lamented by saying, “Do not call me Naomi…, which meant pleasant, delight, lovely. She said to them, “Call me Mara" – meaning ‘bitter,’ "for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20). 
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SIDEBAR: I want to stop right here for a moment to quote something I wrote in my first published book back in June 2015. This excerpt comes from chapter 9, which is titled, Forgiving Others And Myself. Let me set up the scenario a little bit before I state my point.

The pastor at the congregation I was attending at the time, had set up a meeting with his wife, another individual, and myself. When the pastor’s wife finally showed up two hours later. She walked into the room with a lot of baggage and the spirit of suspicion dripping off of her being. It was so thick, you could smell it in the air. Any ways, her spirit, attitude, and disposition did not make for a healthy or good environment. As a result, the meeting shifted from what should have been a productive meeting that revealed what the will of GOD was or wanted to do. To a disaster. All due to the lack of love and understanding of what GOD wanted to do, on the part of the pastor’s wife.

Despite this, one good thing did come out of this meeting. A divine rescue. It was in this meeting GOD showed me something about myself that would have led me to a death sentence to hell despite the fact I was living for GOD at that point in my life. Below is what GOD had shown me about myself and I quote.

… I did not realize how my past experiences had impacted me even today. It influenced how I responded and reacted to every mistreatment or injustice, I encountered in life….  Unbeknown to me, I had developed an unforgiving spirit, stemming from the years of abuse I had endured…. The… unloving reaction triggered a chain reaction, deeply rooted inside of me. It brought out many of my vulnerabilities and insecurities. Immediately, I, unconsciously, labeled that person as untrustworthy, and I sentenced them to a lifetime of banishment. My heart had hardened and became inflexible, unwilling to forgive them for the harm, discomfort, and pain they caused me.

The unforgiving cancer had spread throughout my entire spirit, yet I could not see it…. You see, sometimes Satan does not need to entrap you with the most common sins—lying, cheating, stealing, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, or other sexual offenses. Did you know that an unforgiving spirit could prevent you from inheriting God’s kingdom? Well, God showed this to me after my meeting with the pastor’s wife. He did it through two verses in the Scriptures. First Corinthians 6:9,10, lists nine well known sinful acts that could impede you from entering God’s kingdom. Galatians 5:19-21 states, “The acts of the flesh are obvious….” It lists twelve obvious sins, which could prevent you from securing a place in God’s kingdom. I want you to take a closer look at one of them—hatred. According to Vine’s Dictionary, hatred means bitter disdain. If you hold bitter disdain toward someone, then you are holding that person in contempt. If you hold someone in contempt, you have feelings of resentment toward that person. If you are harboring resentment, then you feel that person has wronged you. If you feel a person has wronged you and you are carrying these negative emotions for an extended period, then you are manifesting the spirit of unforgiveness. What does the first statement in 1 Corinthians 6:9 says? “Do not be deceived.” My brother or sister do not be deceived into thinking that obvious sins are the only kinds of sins that God can hold against you. In this season of my life, unforgiveness was at the root of my fallen state. We must be mindful that in the same way, Satan comes in many forms, and so does sin (2 Corinthians 11:14). Let it go and give it to God. Let go of your past hurt. Let God teach you how to forgive others. In turn, He can wash away all your sins (Psalm 51:2; Acts 22:16). End of quote.
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Like me, Naomi had become bitter due to her past experiences – the losses she encountered in Moab. Naomi said to the town’s people. “I went out full, and the LORD had brought me home again empty” (Ruth 1:21). She even took it a step further by saying, it was the LORD that afflicted her.

This is so far from the truth. The LORD Almighty was not the cause of her afflictions. But it was her countrymen, their sin and disobedience that lead to the famine that led to her husband’s decision to move his family to Moab.
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But it was GOD’s mercy that sustained her and her daughters-in-law through it all. It was HIS sustaining mercy that got her through the famine, her husband, and her sons’ death. It was GOD who gave her the strength she needed to keep going afterward. (Compare to 2 Corinthians 12:10). It was GOD who made available whatever provisions they had in the land of Moab during the 10 years after her husband and sons’ death. It was GOD who provided her guidance and a safe journey home for her and her daughter-in-law Ruth, upon Naomi’s return to her homeland.