Naomi

Ruth 1

The story of Ruth feels like a movie. In the midst of deep loss, Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi go into a new place and seek refuge in a field with a leader named Boaz. Prior to meeting Boaz, Naomi loses her husband and two sons. In this context, there were some birthright and marriage traditions… If you were a woman and your husband died, tradition would lead you to marry another eligible man in that family (so a brother). Because both sons in this family had died, both women were “released” from that family and free to go and marry someone else. 

Ruth stayed with Naomi and was loyal to her, even when she didn’t have to. But Naomi was faithful to be obedient to God and to those who were with her. She obeyed God’s commands and sought safety in him, even though she had basically lost everything.

The book of Ruth is one that is focused on Ruth and Boaz, and the story is like a romantic movie, but it’s more than that. It would not have been accomplished without Naomi’s selflessness and care for Ruth and Orpah. Naomi’s steadiness leads to deeper trust for Ruth, and the rest of the story unfolds from there. 

In what ways can we be transformed by the story of Naomi?