I think Naomi's story is my favorite in the book of Ruth. Ruth and Boaz provide wonderful examples of godly living for us to follow. But Naomi’s story is a powerful one of transformation and restoration.
Naomi followed her husband on his ill-fated trip to Moab. The family escaped the famine that was in the land of Judah, but Naomi’s husband died there, leaving her with her two sons. The sons also died, leaving Naomi alone with her two daughters-in-law. This would have been a devastating loss for Naomi. Without any male relatives left, she had no one to provide for her. Women at that time were totally dependent on their fathers or husbands to take care of them.
It seems that, by the time she arrived back in Bethlehem, Naomi could only see all that she had lost. And she’s blaming the Lord for those losses.
She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?" - Ruth 1:20-21 ESV
Naomi is making a play on words when she tells the women of Bethlehem to call her Mara instead of Naomi. Naomi comes from a word that means pleasant, while Mara means bitter. Naomi was full of bitterness at this point.
But a beautiful thing begins to happen as Ruth loves on Naomi and God provides for these women through Boaz. Naomi again starts to see that the Lord is good. Look at her what she says to Ruth when she comes home after the first day of gleaning.
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" - Ruth 2:20a ESV
How differently she sees things now! Instead of blaming the Lord for her losses, Naomi is praising Him for His kindness. As she has been provided for, her thoughts turn to providing for Ruth. She arranges for Ruth to go to Boaz and request that he be her kinsman-redeemer. Boaz takes this responsibility willingly and this results in a son for Naomi to care for her in her old age.
Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 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.
- Ruth 4:16-17 ESV
What a beautiful transformation from bitterness to sweet joy!
Think About: How has God transformed bitterness to joy in your life? Ho can you show God’s love to someone struggling with loss today?
The living word of God could always be guiding us as we live our lives from day to day.