Women of the BibleShembull

Naomi

If you have ever put on prescription glasses that didn't belong to you, you know they distort your vision. Sometimes we find ourselves in difficult seasons, which can also serve to distort our vision. It is in one such season that we first encounter an Israelite woman called Naomi.

Naomi's husband and two sons had died in Moab prompting Naomi to head back to her home in Bethlehem, accompanied by her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Upon entering Bethlehem, the people greeted them favorably. Sadly, though Naomi’s name means “pleasant”, her heart had soured. She instructed everyone to call her Mara, "For the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me." She had arrived home, but she came empty-handed.

We have no record of anyone calling her "Mara"; Scripture consistently refers to her as Naomi. In fact, in Ruth 1 and Ruth 4 we read accounts of the people in Bethlehem celebrating Naomi’s return and her eventual restoration. Like having the correct prescription for our glasses, surrounding ourselves with the right people can help us see clearly and stay on the right path.

1. How have difficult seasons distorted your vision in the past?

2. Who are the people in your life who help correct your vision and point you back to Jesus?

Prayer: Father, thank you for promising to walk with us all the days of our lives. Guide me to surround myself with believers who point me to you.