Naomi, Woman of Faith

GOLDEN TEXT: “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”—Ruth 1:16

NAOMI’S faith in her God, in his promises and in his people, is demonstrated by her decision to return to Judah and to her own people after her husband and two sons had died. The Scriptures do not indicate the extent to which she may have encouraged her husband, Elimelech, in his decision to leave the land of Israel in a time of famine and move to the country of Moab in an effort to secure a better living. This move evidenced a lack of faith in God and in his promises, and the fact that she expressed her belief that God had punished her for the move implies that at least she offered no serious objections to her husband’s plan to move to Moab.—Ruth 1:19-21

However, it is an evidence of faith, when one has taken a wrong course and is chastened by the Lord for it, to recognize the mistake and the providences of the Lord concerning it and seek to make amends; and we find that this was true of Naomi. As she testified, God had “dealt very bitterly” with her; but fortunately, her faith had enabled her not to become embittered against the Lord, but instead, to recognize his overruling providences in her life and seek to profit by them.

When the family moved from Judah to Moab, she of course had her husband, and besides, two sons. The sons married Moabitish women. This in itself was contrary to God’s covenant with Israel, and may indicate that Naomi and her husband had not been as faithful as they might have been in giving proper instruction to their boys. The move to a heathen country and their sons’ marriages to heathen women seem to indicate a measure of slackness with respect to the will of their God. However, the fact that as soon as Naomi was free to make her own plans she decided to return to her own people that she might share their blessings and join with them in the worship of the true God, seems to indicate that in moving to Moab she was to some extent a victim of circumstances and did not wholly concur in the plan.

Naomi’s influence over her daughters-in-law was a wholesome one. They loved her dearly, and while one of them took her advice and did not go with her to Bethlehem, the love of the other, Ruth, was so full and genuine that she could not be dissuaded from accompanying her mother-in-law and casting in her lot with her and her people. “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God,” is the way she expressed the matter.

Ruth’s decision to forsake her own people and the gods of the Moabites and to become an Israelite and worship the God of Israel also speaks well for Naomi’s example and influence. It indicates that Naomi had not concealed her faith in the God of Israel, but had told her daughters-in-law about him and about his laws.

Ruth was apparently of a deeply religious nature, and the convictions of such characters are not changed easily, nor without due consideration. Doubtless Ruth had given serious thought to the matter ever since her husband had died, perhaps even before, and when the time came, having thought the matter through carefully, was ready to take her stand on the side of the true God.

Naomi’s faith in her God doubtless had had a blessed effect upon her life, for Ruth loved her. Her testimony concerning Israel’s God would have had little effect upon Ruth had her life not been consistent with that testimony. This is true of the Lord’s people today. Effective witness work requires both the spoken word of truth and a life which gives evidence of having been purified by the truth.

RUTH 2:20—Naomi’s faith is further displayed in her recognition of God’s providence in connection with Ruth’s being led to glean in the fields of Boaz. Although the Lord had dealt bitterly with her on account of moving to the country of Moab, she rejoiced to realize that now he was smiling upon her because of her return. “Blessed be he of the Lord,” she said to Ruth, “who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.”

RUTH 4:14-17—Naomi was well acquainted with the customs of her people, and being quick to sense that Boaz was favorably impressed with Ruth, directed her daughter-in-law wisely in what to do in order to win his complete confidence as well as his love. When Ruth’s son Obed was born, there was great rejoicing on the part of Naomi, and a further recognition on her part of the Lord’s overruling providence in her life. The women with whom she was associated shared her joy, and they also praised God for his kindness.

While it is possible to draw many helpful lessons from the beautiful story of Naomi and Ruth, it is doubtful if their experiences are intended by the Lord to be typical. The vital value of the story so far as the plan of God is concerned is to establish a link in the genealogy of Jesus, for without this story that chain would be broken. Ruth’s son by Boaz was the grandfather of David; and it was from the Davidic line that the promised Christ was to be born. In this case, the Lord certainly made the study of genealogy interesting.

QUESTIONS:

Did Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, do the right thing by moving to the country of Moab?

How was Naomi’s faith manifested after the death of her husband and sons?

How was Naomi’s faith shown in connection with Ruth’s association with Boaz?

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