Naomi & the Stranger: The God Who Doesn't Turn Up At All

Naomi & the Stranger
The God Who Doesn't Turn Up at All
August 2, 2020

The Old Testament story of Naomi begins with loss, grief, and broken dreams. Stripped of everything that gave meaning and purpose to her life, Naomi struggles with God’s apparent absence. Pain and devastating circumstances convince her that God has abandoned her; and on the surface, we see no overt evidence of His presence in her story. There’s no burning bush, no voice from heaven, no angelic visitation. There is only silence. Has God truly forgotten her? Maybe you can identify with Naomi’s story. Perhaps it’s difficult for you to see God at work in the circumstances of your own life. 

We are in the midst of a sermon series called Stranger Things. We’re taking a look at stories from the Bible that give us a glimpse at some of God’s more perplexing personality traits. As we look at Naomi’s story this week, there are important truths for us to glean. As we will see, just because God is silent doesn’t mean He’s not at work. The fingerprints of God’s grace are all over Naomi’s life. We just might need to look a little more closely.

In this season, it can feel like our days are full of change and loss. It can be overwhelming and exhausting trying to keep up with the restrictions, the data, the changing information, and the differences of opinion. It’s easy to develop a mindset, much like Naomi’s, that is focused on all that has been stripped away.

 

When uncertainty seems to stretch on endlessly, and it feels like nothing is “for sure” anymore, God is our firm foundation. Unshakeable, immovable, faithful. I trust Him.