Women of the Word: Naomi

Scripture References 

The book of Ruth

Name Meaning

My joy, my bliss, or pleasantness of Jehovah

Family

Wife of Elimelech

Mother of Mahlon and Chilion

Mother-in-law of Ruth and Orpah

Introduction 

The story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi is a beautiful one showcasing love and loyalty. The relationship these two women have is what every woman hopes for from in laws. It is not only a good story, it is also inspirational.

Lesson

Naomi and her family originally hailed from Bethlehem. But famine hit the land hard and Elimelech had little choice but to pack up his family and leave their ancestral homes.  They found themselves in the lands of Moab where their sons married Moabite women (something that was forbidden in Israel). The area they settled in was about thirty miles from their original home. It was also a land that worshipped idols rather than our God.

Unfortunately, this is also where the three men died. Neither of the sons had any children and there were no additional family members readily available to provide for the three widows. Naomi decides to return to her native home, where she had heard the land was again productive. In her grief she tries to convince Ruth and Orpah to return to their families. She knew these foreign born idol worshippers would have no prospects for marriage if they went to Bethlehem. Orpah agreed to do this, but Ruth refused. Her devotion was strong and she would have no part of leaving Naomi.

Upon arriving at their destination people came to greet the two women. They cried, “Is this not Naomi?” She had been gone for ten years, but they remembered the pleasant woman and were likely a bit surprised to find not the happy, joyful wife of Elimelech but rather a weary, bitter husk of a woman who responded with, “… call me Mara” which means bitterness.

It makes you wonder what her life would have been had she not left Bethlehem so many years back. Had they stayed and trusted in God to provide, they might have had a different life. Perhaps her husband and children would still be alive.

Having no male to provide for them, Naomi sent Ruth to glean in the fields for their survival. Gleaning was the way widows survived. Land owners would ensure that there remained enough crops to provide for those who had no men providing for them. Ruth faithfully gleaned for the two of them each day.

What follows is a beautiful love story. Upon discovering that Ruth had been gleaning in the fields of a distant relative, Naomi seems to wake up and start living once more. She realizes that Boaz is a kinsman redeemer and knows that he can provide for them as a husband to Ruth. Naomi plays an important role in orchestrating the events, explaining to Ruth exactly what she is to do. It is through Naomi’s instruction that the story of Ruth and Boaz is born.

A child is born to Ruth and Boaz, and he is named Obed. He was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. Through the coaching of Naomi, Ruth becomes one of four women named in the genealogy of Christ. We can imagine the grandmotherly pride Naomi must have felt when holding baby Obed in her arms. She had lost everything and had returned broken and bitter, but God took their circumstances and transformed their lives.

Final Thoughts

The grass is not always greener on the other side. Sometimes we have to back track and return to where we started. Naomi faithfully followed her husband from their home, only to lose everything in the process. But she gained a devoted daughter-in-law who was better than seven sons. Though she lost a husband and two sons, she gained a daughter who bore her a grandson and restored her joy and probably rekindled her faith.