Naomi and Ruth

I was thinking about something last night as I lie in bed…Ruth is the only woman in the Bible who was called virtuous…by name. The other two times virtuous was used, it was not about a specific person. So, I decided that I wanted to get to know Ruth a little better. Today, I just read chapter 1.

Elimelech was married to Naomi, and they had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Now for some reason, Elimelech packed up his family and moved them from Judah to Moab, although I am not sure why, because I get the impression that Moab might not have been a good place to live. Mahlon and Chilion got married to Orpah and Ruth. First Elimelech died, then Mahlon and Chilion died, and Naomi was left with the two girls. So, Naomi decides to go back to Judah.

It doesn’t tell us why Elimelech took his family to Moab, and it doesn’t tell us why he and his sons died. I mean, I know there was a famine going on, but I wonder if there wasn’t somewhere else he could have gone. I was wondering if moving to a pagan land and taking pagan wives was part of why God allowed the men to die, but as my hubby pointed out, it was part of the master plan.

Naomi decides that she wants to go back to Judah, and tells the girls that they should return to their homes. Then she says, “it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me”. It was as if Naomi felt like she was being disciplined by God for something, but I am not sure what it is, unless it was because they moved to a pagan land. Interestingly enough, even though she felt this way, she is returning to God, and not bitter because of the events that have occurred.

Orpah decides to do just that, but Ruth decides to go with Naomi. Ruth wants to follow Naomi’s God. When they arrived, Naomi decided to call herself “Mara” which means “bitterness”. I imagine that if I lost my husband, my children, and my home, that I could easily become bitter. But I get the impression that Naomi is not bitter, but rather is swallowing a “bitter pill”, moving forward, and doing her best in the face of adversity. Since Naomi tried to persuade Ruth to return to her family and her “gods”, I would think that Ruth was raised in a pagan home, and not a Godly one. But, since Ruth decided to follow Naomi and “her” God, that makes me think that Naomi must have been a Godly woman, who had a profound effect upon Ruth. I would think it must have been difficult for Naomi to even suggest to the girls to return to their homes, knowing they were going back to a pagan lifestyle. But, I also think that Naomi would not have wanted to force her beliefs upon the girls, but would want them to choose it for themselves. Fortunately, Ruth did.

But I think the verse that stands out for me the most is verse 4, which says, “And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.” If I am understanding this correctly, Ruth married Naomi’s son, and lived with them for ten years. But, Ruth didn’t turn to God until Naomi decided to return to Judah. So, even though Naomi may have been a Godly woman, living with Ruth for TEN YEARS did not have the effect on her that the decision to leave Moab had.