The Love of Naomi
It is impossible to live a life without some sadness, pain, and depression. Everyone goes through heartache, the times when you feel so black inside that you feel nothing will lighten your spirit. Maybe you feel overwhelmed by loneliness, you may feel there is no one that cares for or understands you. All of these feelings can be caused by many of life’s circumstances, arguments with a spouse or child, moving away from family and friends, wounds from a friend, and especially the death of a loved one. During these times of hardship it is impossible not to feel sadness or grief. God made us emotional. Yet, even in our times of despair, our love for God and people can remain in tact.
Naomi was a woman who loved deeply even through her personal grief. The book of Ruth begins with her family in crisis. Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons are forced to leave their homeland because of a famine. Can you imagine that? When I read the first verse of this story I think of Hurricane Katrina; thousands of families displaced because of horrendous circumstances. They had to leave their homes, leave their friends and start over with nothing. Think of the pain Naomi experienced. Not only did she have to leave everything familiar behind, but her husband took her to the land of Moab. The Israelites knew they were not to have anything to do with Moab, the Lord had made this command clear. Yet, this is where Elimelech takes his family. While there Elimelech dies and Naomi is left a widow. Not only was there great personal grief with losing a spouse, but in her day, the loss of a husband meant loss of security. Life is always difficult for widows, but for a widow in this time period it was particularly devastating. Her security was gone. Naomi is still fortunate though because she has two sons.
Her sons Mahlon and Chilion also choose to sin. They marry Orpah and Ruth, women of Moab. Again, to marry a Moabitess was strictly forbidden by God, and the sons would have been well aware of this command. It is speculated by scholars that perhaps the sons die in war, but regardless of how the sons died, they die premature deaths. Because of the deaths of her sons and husband, Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth are left alone. Losing your spouse would be bad enough, but losing both sons would break any woman’s heart. She is alone, without security, and with two daughters in law from the land of Moab. It is fair to say that her circumstances seem bleak at best.
At some point Naomi receives word that the Lord has blessed Bethlehem with food, and she heads home. As the custom of the day was, Orpah and Ruth accompany her towards Bethlehem, here we begin to glimpse the love of Naomi. She did not want those women to suffer as she had. She urges them to stay in their homeland, remarry, and live happy lives. Think how much easier it would have been for Naomi to have both women with her. They could have both gleaned from the fields which would have supplied more of her needs. She does not do this; she lovingly chooses to send them back to Moab. She had personally suffered by moving from her homeland and did not wish this pain on her daughters in law. She did not wish on them the pain of never having a family. How often do we as women love others this way, especially when we are grieving? Often when we are sad or depressed we want others around us to sympathize or feel our pain. Our emotions can often cloud our vision but this is not the case with Naomi. She portrays a beautiful example of love in the Book of Ruth.
I believe there is another example of Naomi’s love in the first chapter of Ruth. We often give credit to Ruth for loving Naomi and staying with her. I agree that Ruth was sacrificial and loving to stay with Naomi. However, I tend to think Naomi had shown her love before this turning point. It makes sense to me that Naomi had been a wise and loving influence on Ruth during the 10 years they were in Moab together. I believe the influence of Naomi prior to leaving Moab may have compelled Ruth to stay with her. If Ruth did not already love Naomi and her God, why would she so eagerly stay with Naomi? Could it be that Ruth turns from her country and her gods because of the loving God she saw through Naomi’s example? I believe that to be all together possible.
Pain in our lives does not have to cloud over the love of God in our hearts. Personal suffering does not have to take over our love for people. Naomi’s love for God and people is quite evident throughout this book but especially in this first chapter. Who are you showing the love of God to, regardless of your own personal struggles? Are you allowing God to shine through your life even though you are burdened? I hope the example of Naomi will help you focus on God’s love toward you and in turn you can show that love to His people.
