Naomi: From Bitterness to Blessing
The Book of Ruth, though brief, stands as a profound testament to God's providence, faithfulness, and redemptive power, often through the lives of ordinary people. At its heart lies the journey of Naomi, a woman whose name, ironically, meant "pleasantness" or "my delight." Yet, circumstances would lead her to declare herself "Mara," meaning "bitter," a stark reflection of the deep sorrow that had engulfed her soul. Her story is a powerful narrative of how the Lord can transform profound despair into abundant blessing, demonstrating that even in the darkest valleys, His hand is at work, orchestrating a future filled with hope.
The Seeds of Sorrow: Famine and Loss
Naomi's tale begins amidst national distress. Ruth 1:1 tells us, "Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land." This famine, a severe test of faith and sustenance, prompted Naomi's husband, Elimelech, to make a fateful decision: to sojourn in the country of Moab, a pagan land. This move, though perhaps born of necessity, separated them from the promised land and the covenant community of Israel. There, tragedy struck repeatedly. First, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow in a foreign land (Ruth 1:3). Her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. For ten years, Naomi found some measure of companionship in her daughters-in-law, but then, "Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband" (Ruth 1:5). Naomi was utterly bereft, stripped of her husband, her sons, and her perceived security. She was a widow, childless, and a stranger in a strange land. This profound loss laid the foundation for the bitterness that would soon consume her.
The Bitter Return: "Call Me Mara"
Upon hearing that the Lord had visited His people in Bethlehem with bread, Naomi decided to return to her homeland (Ruth 1:6). Her two daughters-in-law initially set out with her, but Naomi, in her deep sorrow, urged them to return to their mothers' houses, believing that the Lord's hand was against her. She blessed them, saying, "The Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband" (Ruth 1:8-9). Orpah reluctantly departed, but Ruth, with a loyalty that echoes through the ages, clung to Naomi, uttering one of the most beautiful declarations of devotion in scripture:
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Despite Ruth's unwavering commitment, Naomi's heart remained heavy with grief. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole city was moved by their return. The women exclaimed, "Is this Naomi?" (Ruth 1:19). Her response revealed the depth of her despair:
And she said unto them, 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?
Naomi felt God had directly afflicted her, taking away her fullness and leaving her empty. Her bitterness was palpable, a natural human response to overwhelming loss, yet it obscured her vision of the Lord's continuing, though hidden, work.
The Unseen Hand of Providence: Ruth and Boaz
While Naomi languished in her sorrow, God's providence was already at work through Ruth. The book of Ruth beautifully illustrates the truth that God works through seemingly ordinary circumstances to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. Ruth, needing to provide for herself and Naomi, went to glean in the fields, a provision for the poor under the Law (Leviticus 19:9-10). By divine "hap," or chance, as Ruth 2:3 states, she "lighted on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." Boaz, a wealthy and upright man, noticed Ruth. His kindness towards her was immediate and generous, stemming from his knowledge of her loyalty to Naomi:
And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath been fully shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
When Ruth returned home with an abundance of grain, Naomi's hope began to stir. Upon learning that Ruth had gleaned in Boaz's field, Naomi exclaimed, "Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen" (Ruth 2:20). The term "kinsman" here refers to a "kinsman-redeemer" or goel, one who had the right and responsibility to redeem family property or members from destitution. This realization was a pivotal moment, shifting Naomi's focus from her suffering to God's faithful provision.
From Despair to Diligence: Naomi's Counsel
As the harvest season concluded, Naomi, now seeing the potential for redemption and restoration, took an active role in securing Ruth's future. She recognized Boaz as a potential redeemer and devised a plan, rooted in Israelite custom, to propose marriage and redemption. "My daughter," she said to Ruth, "shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?" (Ruth 3:1). Naomi's counsel was strategic and bold, guiding Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshing floor. This action demonstrated a remarkable shift in Naomi's spirit. No longer merely lamenting her emptiness, she was actively pursuing a future for her beloved daughter-in-law, which would, in turn, secure her own future.
Ruth, in obedience and trust, followed Naomi's instructions. Boaz, recognizing Ruth's virtue and her request for redemption, committed to fulfilling the role of kinsman-redeemer. Naomi, with a newfound sense of peace and anticipation, confidently told Ruth, "Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day" (Ruth 3:18). This shows Naomi's renewed faith and trust in God's providence, now evident through Boaz's character and actions.
The Fullness of Blessing: Redemption and Restoration
The climax of Naomi's journey from bitterness to blessing unfolds in Ruth 4. Boaz, in the presence of the elders at the city gate, fulfilled his duty as kinsman-redeemer. He legally acquired the property of Elimelech and, crucially, took Ruth to be his wife, "to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance" (Ruth 4:10). This act of redemption was not merely a legal transaction; it was an act of grace and love, restoring not only land but also lineage and hope.
The ultimate blessing came with the birth of a son to Boaz and Ruth, whom they named Obed. And the women of Bethlehem, who had once greeted Naomi with questions of her identity, now celebrated with her:
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
Naomi, the woman who had returned "empty" and desired to be called "Mara," now cradled a child in her arms, a symbol of fullness and renewed hope. "And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it" (Ruth 4:16). This child, Obed, became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David, placing Naomi, through Ruth, in the direct lineage of King David and ultimately, of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).
Lessons from Naomi's Journey
Naomi's transformation from bitterness to blessing offers timeless lessons for believers:
- God's Sovereignty in Suffering: Even when Naomi felt the Almighty had dealt "very bitterly" with her, God was working behind the scenes. Her emptiness was part of a larger divine plan to bring about a profound redemption, not just for her, but for the lineage of Christ. We may not always understand our trials, but God's purpose prevails.
- The Power of Faithful Relationships: Ruth's steadfast loyalty was a conduit of God's grace to Naomi. In our darkest hours, the faithful presence and selflessness of others can be a profound source of blessing and a reflection of God's love.
- God's Redemptive Character: The narrative highlights God as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer. He does not leave His people in their emptiness or bitterness. Through His divine providence, He brings restoration, even from the ashes of loss and despair.
- Trusting God's Process: Naomi's journey shows a gradual shift from despair to hope, culminating in active faith. Our faith is often a process, moving from initial grief to a renewed trust in God's ability to turn sorrow into joy.
Naomi's story is a powerful reminder that God is able to take our deepest sorrows and transform them into our greatest blessings. Her journey from "Mara" to the blessed grandmother of Obed, the ancestor of Christ, underscores the truth that with God, no situation is beyond redemption. He is truly the One who fills the empty, restores the broken, and turns bitterness into abundant blessing, for His glory and our good.