The time was during the Judges, ~1400-1000 B.C. The place was in Moab, a land across the Arnon Valley from Israel (Num 21:13; Deut 3:16).
One of the ways that God disciplined Israel for her sin was by bringing famine into the land, usually through drought but also by pests such as locusts (Hab. 3:17-18). During one of these episodes of famine, Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem, took his wife Naomi and his two sons to the neighboring country of Moab. During the ten years the family lived in the land of Moab, Elimelech died leaving Naomi a widow. However, her two sons grew up and married Moabite women. Then, the sons died. Naomi was left with only her daughters-in-law.
Though Naomi and Ruth were not actually biological mother and daughter, they had a beautiful spiritual relationship. Theirs is one of the most beautiful accounts in Scripture. We see true parental affection exemplified by Naomi (Ruth 1:8-9). This godly mother-in-law wielded such a strong influence for good that it extended to Ruth. Because of Naomi’s sweet influence and devotion to God, Ruth was blessed to leave the gods of the Moabites and follow the true God of Heaven. After studying this pair, we may be comforted that there are still good young women out there somewhere trying to serve in a humble and modest way even if they did not grow up knowing the God of Heaven.
In the Hebrew language, the name Naomi meant “pleasant, agreeableness, i.e. delight, suitableness, splendor or grace,” but after the death of her husband and two sons, she called herself Mara, or “bitter” (Ruth 1:20-21). In Ruth 1:13, we read what Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law “…nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.” Later, when she and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, Naomi said to the women of Bethlehem, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me” referring to the death of her husband (Elimelech) and her two sons (Mahlon and Chilion).
Naomi was indeed bitter. Added to the bitterness she felt for Ruth and Orpha, Naomi had to deal with the bitterness she felt in her own bereavement, dislocation and poverty. Naomi was a widow (Ruth 1:3). To lose who she used to be through age or malady was to experience a small death, but to lose her husband and sons as well was far more. There was grieving. There was anger and bitterness. When tragedy struck, Naomi had two choices—to deny her situation or to accept it and move forward. Only a few can rise and go forward with nobility the way Naomi did. In Naomi’s initial bitter reaction, we understand she took the first option—a natural choice. Eventually Naomi moved on to survive.
Two deeply depressing situations faced the people of God in Habakkuk 3:17-18 and Daniel 3:16-18. What was their reaction? Can that be yours? How was Naomi’s response ultimately like that? Fortunately, the faithful, noble Ruth was able to help in Naomi’s rehabilitation and finally bring her joy. Ruth and Naomi were good for one other and no doubt the Lord gave them to each other for that purpose.
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Naomi was thankful to Boaz (Ruth 2:19-20) for his kindness to her through Ruth. Under Naomi’s instructions, Ruth was able to claim from Boaz the duty of a kinsman (Ruth 3:1-9), and after Ruth’s marriage to Boaz and the birth of Obed, the women of the town said, “Naomi has a son” (Ruth 4:17). No doubt there was rejoicing all around—a happy ending to a tragic account.
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