Originally posted 2/11/25
Naomi is a character we often overlook when reading the book of Ruth. Our focus always seems to be on Ruth. If you haven’t read my article on Ruth, you can read it here. Her story would have been very different had it not been for Naomi. Naomi’s name means “pleasant” in Hebrew.
The book of Ruth was written during the time of the Judges. The book for Ruth spans approximately twelve years. Moab was a country across the Dead Sea across from Judah. The Moabitites would have been considered an enemy of Israel. Even though the two countries would have been considered, enemies, there were no restrictions concerning marriage.
Naomi was married to Elimelech. They relocated to Moab due to the famine in their home. They had two sons, Mahlon and Chileon. Mahlon’s name meant “sick” while Chileon’s name meant “pining”. I am not sure how these names were selected. We have a clue based on the meaning of their names that there will trouble. If your name means “sick”, it is unlikely that you will live a long, healthy life.
Ruth 1:1-5 leads us into the tragic story of Naomi, “In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.”
By the end of the first five verses, Naomi finds herself a widow and loses both of her sons. At this time in history, women would have been dependent upon her husband and then her male sons. Her situation would have seemed even more hopeless with the loss of her male children. Noami was in a foreign land with two widowed daughters-in-law. Noami learns that the famine in her homeland has ended. She decided to return home. As Noami sets out with her two daughters-in-law, she urged them to remain with their people.
Ruth 1:8-13 tells us, “But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.””
Naomi expresses her homelessness and reminds them both that she cannot bare any more boys for them to marry. Orpah returns but Ruth remains.
We read in Ruth 1:16-18, “But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.”
We read of Noami’s hopelessness as she returns to Bethlehem in Ruth 1:20, “She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”
Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law does not waiver. She asks to go to go into the fields to glean the fields. Farmers often left a small portion of the field behind so he poor could go after the harvesters and gather the left over grain.
Naomi plays a crucial role in Ruth and Boaz’s story. Ruth 3:1-7describes it like this: “Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.”
This part of the story has always seemed strange to me. John Maccarthur puts it like this: Ruth 3:3–4 Naomi instructed Ruth to put on her best appearance and to propose marriage to Boaz by utilizing an ancient Near Eastern custom. Since Boaz was a generation older than Ruth (2:8), this overture would indicate Ruth’s desire to marry Boaz, which the older, gracious Boaz would not have initiated with a younger woman. Ruth 3:6.”
What can we learn from Noami? She was loyal and faithful. Noami was also unselfish. She sought to find ahusband for Ruth and not for herself.
First and foremost, this is a story of redemption. We saw that Naomi was feeling like GOd had abandoned her. She ultimately trusts the Lord. It is important for us to remember that trials will come to all of us. You are either in the middle of a trial, just coming out of a trial, or about to go into a trial. James 1:2 reminds us, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” It does not say “if”.
As women, we need to remember that we were made for community. Relationships with our sisters in Christ is crucial for us. Having a close relationship with a fellow believer is indescribable. Being abe to call a friend and ask for prayer is such a comfort. I am blessed to have many sisters in Christ who will pray with me and for me. I wish that for all of you.
We need to remember that God loves us even when our situations seem hopeless. Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see God redeeming His people. He can redeem you no matter what your situation is. The ultimate redemption was the sacrifice of His only son.
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