Naomi and Ruth
Open Your Bible
Ruth 1:1-21, Ruth 2:1-13, Ruth 2:18-20, Ruth 3:1-11, Ruth 4:13-17, Proverbs 31:10-31
BY Kaitlin Wernet
The height of a Disney princess ranges from five foot four to five foot seven—nothing more, nothing less. How do I know this, you ask? It’s the one fact that shattered all of my childhood aspirations in an instant. Standing at five foot ten, I’ve come to resent the last three inches that kept me from frolicking around the Magic Kingdom as Ariel, Belle, Snow White, or Pocahontas. It wasn’t just some childhood fantasy; it was a potential career path, guys.
I realize this is not that big of a deal. If I were five foot four, I probably would have had aspirations of being in the WNBA, falling several inches below the basketball hoop. Yes, we’ve all wished for more or for less, or just to step on over to the other side of the fence where the grass sure does look a whole lot greener.
We’ve all had those Goldilocks moments in our lives, times when the porridge is too hot or the chair is too small, the job is too difficult, the relationship too painful, or the circumstance too out of control.
After losing her husband and two sons, it’s no surprise that Naomi felt as if her life had become more than she could handle. And so when Ruth and Orpah, her daughters-in-law, offer to stay with her, Naomi tells them, “No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me” (Ruth 1:13).
Too bitter.
How often do we believe God has turned against us when life begins to feel like too much? And yet the overwhelming circumstances we find ourselves in, the ones that make us feel like we’ll never be enough or have enough—these are the richest soil for God’s redemption. He loves to meet us in the places where we’ve given up and then shower us with His abundance.
Ruth could have easily walked away from Naomi, leaving her mother-in-law alone in her bitterness, just as God could have easily rejected us in our unfaithfulness. Thankfully, that’s not how the story goes. Both women chose to travel together, dusting off their wounds and collecting their sorrows. They didn’t know what they would find next, but they left “Moab, because [Naomi] had heard in Moab that the Lord had paid attention to his people’s need by providing them food” (v.6).
If you’ve read this story before, you already know that God provided much more than food for these women. He gave Ruth a new husband, and in turn, Naomi also received a new son. But the story of Naomi and Ruth is about more than a God who will give us whatever we want and make all our dreams come true, if we’ll just muster up enough faith to believe in Him. This story, and all of Scripture, is about a God who is faithful when we are not.
Let us look to the One whose power is perfected in our weakness; He promises that His grace is exactly what we need—what our sin requires—and it is sufficient for everyone who leaves behind the ways of this world in order to follow Him (2 Corinthians 12:9). “Blessed be the LORD,” who redeems and restores (Ruth 4:14).
21 thoughts on "Naomi and Ruth"
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Yes! God is faithful
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It’s when times are tough, and we are bitter, that our faith is tested the most. Can we keep our faith in God, knowing He sees the whole plan, not just the snippet we are living in? We cannot begin to fathom what God has in store for us, but we can have faith He will see us through whatever comes our way.
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Today’s reading was an incredible reminder of God’s perfect love and redemption. I’ve been struggling with plenty weaknesses in the shape of temptations and sins and this morning as I prayed I cried out to God to help me move past my sinful life. I cannot do this on my own, I have no fight left. What a great reminder today that “his power is made perfect in our weakness.” And that’s the thing I needed to be reminded of that it is not my strength or fight that would help me stop sinning but it is his power and faithfulness and mercy that pull me out. He is my strength. He is the one I choose to cling to today and every day.
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I know this SRT study is not so much about individual people, as it is about God-
Who He is,
How He works in people’s lives,
How He loves…
However…, I love that these two women,
of different generations,
stuck together,
helping the other as needed.
Not only did God bless them then…
He put them in the linage of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
I also love the example it places for us today.This morning I picked up a newly widowed lady (76 yrs old) and we went to see another lady who has been widowed for many years (89 yrs old). Both ladies are lonely in different ways…one freshly figuring out how to transition into life alone, the other struggling with the dailyness of the aloneness for so long now. We represented three different generations and yet, we are sisters in Christ and had such a meaningful time together. We each brought different perspectives, graces, experiences together and it was a treasure.
I believe we honor God when we spend time loving and caring for others in the family of God. I also believe that whether we take the step towards generational friendships to bless or be blessed-the blessing and being blessed is reciprocal because God is honored.
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Absolutely. Connection is so important for people living alone. What you have done for those two women is priceless. I have a friend who is nearly twice my age, lives alone and is truly socially isolated. Visiting with her can feel like work but it’s not about me and my comfort.
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I love this story so much and I see so much of the gospel in this story. I love how Ruth lays herself at the feet of Boaz, it’s a reminder to myself to lay at the feet of my redeemer, Jesus! One of my favorite verses from Ruth is in chapter 3, verse 18. Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest until he has settled it today. Again, I’m reminded of my Jesus who I so often am putting my faith in while waiting for Him knowing that He will settle the matter at hand. Boaz was a good man, Jesus is a good Father.
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Good stuff for sure
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I am so grateful to have a God who is faithful even when we are not! ♡
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God’s faithfulness blows me away. Ruth follows Naomi, with no assurance of what lies ahead, only hearing that in this new location, God is providing food to his people. Wow! Ruth, must have had glimpses of God through Naomi, or maybe she just loved her mother in law so much…But then God goes above and beyond, providing not only for her survival, but gives her a husband and new family! God takes whatever little bit of faith we have and then blesses it, exponentially! My lesson from Ruth and Naomi? Stay in His word, stay close to others who love Him and trust Him with your life. Erika, it’s good to see you here!
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