Learning From Naomi By Sarah Tummey.

Naomi’s family lived in Moab for roughly a decade. During a famine, they left Israel in favour of a place where there was food. Her husband died, but she watched her sons settle down and marry. Then they also died, leaving Naomi with just her daughters-in-law.

When Naomi decided to return to Israel, she was distraught about her life-choices. First, her family had put filling their stomachs above living in the land God promised to them. Secondly, her sons had married women from Moab instead of Israelites, which was contrary to what God wanted (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). Naomi obviously felt guilty about this because she told her daughters-in-law: “My life is much too sad for you to share, because the LORD has been against me” (Ruth 1:13). Not only had she lost her family, she’d lost her security in God. Nevertheless, Ruth wouldn’t leave her.

Back in Bethlehem, Naomi told the other women: “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very sad” (Ruth 1:20). Naomi is a name that means sweet or pleasant, but Mara means bitter. The widowed Naomi felt God was against her and had taken everything from her, so she was bitter. That can be a huge temptation, whether we’re in a relationship or not. A single person realises married life has its problems, but a marriage despite its challenges can seem far better than living alone. On the other hand, to someone in a difficult marriage, the single life with its freedom to go wherever whenever must be very appealing. We’re not told how the women responded to Naomi’s bitterness. Did they try to dish out unwanted advice? We know that Ruth, her daughter-in-law, supported her.

Now here’s what impresses me about Naomi. Ruth’s spent the harvest season working in the field belonging to Boaz, and afterwards Naomi tells her: “I must find a suitable home for you” (Ruth 3:1). There’s no holding back. She wants Ruth to have a home and family, even if her own home will be empty and Ruth might not be such a constant in her life. The Bible instructs us to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15). That includes when friends or family-members move on and we have to do some letting go.

Ruth marries Boaz, and they have a son. The women of Bethlehem say to Naomi: “Praise the LORD who gave you this grandson. May he become famous in Israel. He will give you new life and will take care of you in your old age” (Ruth 4:14-15). Then they name the baby Obed, which means one who serves. When Naomi takes him in her lap and cares for him, it’s a reminder of God’s care for her – giving her a grandson to serve her in her later years.

Whatever our marital status, when we reach the end of our lives, I think we’ll be able to see how God’s cared for us. It’s been my experience so far that even if we don’t have the life we long for, God’s still there in the life we do have, strengthening us and keeping us going. Maybe we’re single but have a loving family, good friends, or care staff to help with our daily needs.

Even if (like Naomi) we feel we may have contributed to the mess we’re in, we can trust that God’s still there to look out for us. Can we come to Him today, being honest about any mistakes we’ve made, and ask Him to be with us from now on? I’m sure He’d be glad to.