“We’ll find that even though she wants to benefit from the provision of the Lord in Bethlehem, she’s very angry at God. And she seems to be trying to excuse herself from her responsibilities and this precious opportunity to rescue two needy women from paganism. In the next verses, she’s going to call them “my daughters” three times.
And yet, what does she say here? “Go back to your mother’s home.” She knows in her heart that God has connected their lives together, but she says to them, “I’m not your mother. I want to be free of my responsibility to you.” Now, she tries to dress it up with spiritual talk. “May the Lord show you hesed. May the Lord grant each of you rest.” But this was not a heartfelt prayer. This was a phrase used in a technical sense to end their relationship.
Rest was a meaningful word to the Israelites. Rest was what God promised them on the other side of the Jordan. A place of peace and happiness. Additionally, James Smith writes, “The term summarizes all the qualities of an ideal marriage in which a godly woman can find strength, security, material wellbeing and love.”
There was no hesed in Moab. There was no rest apart from Yahweh. We’ll see in chapter 3 Naomi really felt it was her responsibility to find rest for her daughters-in-law, but right here? She’s angry. She’s bitter. She’s concerned about her feelings, not their future, and she’s still not trusting the Lord.”
