Mara Hope

As I look into my granddaughter’s eyes, I am captivated by two thoughts. First, the

goodness of God. God in his goodness allows us to be co-creators of humanity. He gives

us the privilege of being parents and of then watching our children as they bring new

life into the world.

What a wonderful thing it is to hold the tangible expression of God’s goodness in your

arms, to count her tiny fingers and toes, to see her tiny lips purse in peace as she

slumbers and then pucker in anguish when she is hungry.

Every movement, every expression, every eye blink reminds me of God’s goodness and

love.

My second thought is that we live in a dark of the world. As she sleeps, I am reminded

that she has been born into a world of sin. Every day of her life she will be bombarded

by satan’s attempts to destroy every vestige of God’s goodness her life represents.

Through disease, threats, and temptations, she will face the reality of satan’s power in

the world.

Her name reinforces the dichotomy of my thoughts. In the book of Ruth, we read the

story of Elimelech and Naomi, a Jewish couple who along with their two sons, were

forced to flee to Moab to escape a famine.

However, in time, Naomi’s husband and her sons died leaving Naomi bitter or in Hebrew

‘Mara’. At that point, Naomi or Mara as she called herself was bitter and without hope.

Of course that is not the end of the story.

By the end of the book of Ruth, God’s goodness has been revealed. The story ends with

this,

Ruth 4: “13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and

the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi,

“Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his

name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of

your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven

sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and

became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A

son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse,

the father of David.”

Once facing a life of bitterness, Noami now has Hope. The hope of a king who will bring

God’s goodness to light. Even better the hope of a savior who‘s goodness will defeat

satan and the forces of darkness forever.

Mara Hope reminds me of God’s goodness in this world. But even more, she reminds of

God’s goodness for eternity. Our visit will end soon. Leaving Mara will be bitter, but we

have the Hope of eternity as we resume our life of sharing God’s goodness with our

Trinity Family.

I hope to see you on Sunday.

Pastor Marty