She told everyone to call her Mara, which means “bitter.” But the Lord was not done with Naomi.
Liz Curtis Higgs joins us to share the heart of a woman broken by her circumstances but redeemed by God.
Liz gives some context for Naomi. Her story starts with a sad succession of “disappointment, death, desertion.” Due to a famine, Naomi, her husband and two sons traveled to Moab. In the course of time her sons married, her husband died, and her sons died. Three widows are now in a far country and Naomi decides to return to her home for support (and, Liz suggests, pity).
Even here, God is at work.
“Naomi is every bit as redeemed as Ruth is. Commentators say you could just as easily call this the book of Naomi… Ruth is beautiful. She does everything right. Which is why I love Naomi, because she doesn’t!”
Liz points out that many women relate to Naomi because we see her flaws, bitterness, and frustration.
Liz points out that God doesn’t forget this woman. He restores her faith and lineage through Ruth and Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer.
“Ruth gave birth to a son, and the women said to Naomi, ‘Praise be to the Lord who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer.’ Now she is redeemed. She has someone to provide for her. Not only that, this woman who had lost both her sons now has a [grand]son to hold. What a happy ending!”
Susie and Liz explore some takeaways from the story of Naomi:
• Sometimes God takes away our comforts in order to bring us closer to Him.
• We all end up in Moab at some point, intentionally or accidentally.
• When we get wrapped up in our circumstances, we need to remember God’s past faithfulness in our lives.
• Sometimes we have to borrow each other’s faith in seasons of hardship.
• A woman’s character is more beautiful than her outward appearance.
The entirety of Naomi’s story can be found in Liz’s book, .
Key Scriptures: Judges 21:25; Ruth
Theme Song: Songs in the Night by Matt Redman
