Naomi: Women In The Bible Week 5

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"A man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion... they went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech the husband of Naomi died and she was left with her two sons, these took Moabite wives: the name of one was Orpah and the other was Ruth. They lived there about 10 years and both sons died." 

"But Naomi said to her two daughters in law, "Go return each of your to your mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me."... Orpah kissed her mother in law, but Ruth clung to her." 

"But Ruth said "where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. Your people shall be my people and your God my God, where you die I will die and there I will be buried." 

"Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favour." And she said to her, "So my daughter."

"Then the woman said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord who has not left oyu this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter in law who loves you is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." 

Segments from Ruth 1 v 1-22, Ruth 2v1-2, Ruth 4v 13-17

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Naomi had experienced grief three times over not only did her husband die, but then so did her two children, she had nothing left which would make life so easy to crawl up in a ball and let life pass her by. Her name meaning 'pleasantness' yet nothing is pleasant about her life. 

As part of her grief she took hold of it and changed her name, her identity. "Don't call me Naomi, but Mara." it can be taken two ways through rebellion or despair. 

Changing her name can be taken as a lack of faith, taking her circumstances and changing her name to see her shortsightedness, or her name change can come from despair, she's waiting for her life to be redeemed she's been through so much so it could be a case of new name, new lifestyle. 

At the end of the chapter we hear of Ruth and Boaz's baby, this is where the renewing takes place, Naomi's life takes on a new turn, a positive chapter. Not only had God renewed a family line, he also renewed his daughter Naomi. 

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Crown you with beauty and redemption, and place in your heart a promise of renewal.