Naomi (Part 2 of 3)

Ruth 1:3-5 (New Living Translation)

Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. ⁴ The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, ⁵ both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.

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Dear God,

I have been guilty of something regarding Naomi, and I am sorry. I judged her for feeling so rejected by you and the whole “call me Mara” thing she says a few verses later. But I have not appreciated the mourning of a woman now facing life alone. The intimidation of it—especially in a culture where women had little agency or ability to provide for themselves. One reason men had multiple wives is that the women needed someone to provide for them because they would not be able to provide for themselves.

But on a basic level, Naomi experienced tremendous loss. It is one thing to lose your husband. Even today, people get married with the knowledge that one of them will likely die before the other. There is a part of our heart that prepares for that. But to lose both of her sons too. Not only were they her hope for provision and sustaining her in the remainder of her life, but they were also her little boys. Even if they were men, they were her little boys. She lost them. She was a widow and a childless woman. Her pain must have been immense. Then there is the fear of not being able to survive layered on top of that. But it all starts with pain and mourning.

I am not familiar with this pain. My wife has lost both parents. Both of my parents are still living and only one of their siblings has died, and, frankly, I did not really know him. I have experienced pain as a parent, but I have not lost a child. Even when there is a broken relationship or concern, there is still hope that things can work out, that you will do something.

Father, help me to be more sensitive to the situations of people like Ruth. Love them through me. Love my wife through me. We are approaching the one-year anniversary of her losing her father. Help me to not overlook the significance of that and to be, through me, exactly what you need her to have from her husband.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen