N is for Naomi (Women of the Bible)

N is for Naomi.

Scripture Reference: 

The book of Ruth.

Meaning of Name:

"My joy," "my bliss," or "pleasantness of Jehovah"

Family Connections:

Widow of Elimelech, mother of two sons, mother-in-law of Ruth and Orpah and grandmother to Obed.

Interesting Facts about Naomi:

• Naomi was sincere in her faith.
• Naomi's husband moved the family to Moab due to a famine in their homeland.
• She found herself in a strange land with foreign worship.
• Naomi's husband, Elimelech, died in Moab.
• Both of Naomi's sons died in Moab.
• Naomi was deeply loved by her daughters-in-law.
• Naomi returned to her native land of Bethlehem upon hearing that God had provided food there.
• Her faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth, begged to go back to Bethlehem with her and Naomi agreed.
• Naomi returned to Bethlehem empty and bitter.
• Upon her return to Bethlehem, she tells the women there to call her Mara which means "bitter."
• Naomi saw her life as bitter because of the death of her husband and sons, her dislocation in a foreign land, and her poverty.
• She thought the hand of the Lord was against her.
• Naomi advised Ruth in the steps leading up to Ruth's marriage to Boaz.
• Naomi once again utters words of blessing with the name of the Lord added, showing that her heart was turning from the bitterness that consumed her.
• Naomi's bitterness turns to joy upon the birth of her grandson, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David. 

What We Can Learn from Naomi:

• Seasons come and go in a woman's life.
• We can choose to remain faithful to God throughout the ups and downs of life.
• Do not let a root of bitterness take place in our hearts.
• We can find hope once again that will lift us up out of a bitter attitude.
• We can have a positive influence in the lives of younger women as we take them under our wing to guide them. 
• Our character and faith can be a witness to others around us.
• We can always return home.
• God has a divine purpose in everything.
• God's covenant love never ends.
• Even the bleakest of situations can turn out for our good when entrusted to the hands of our loving God.

Naomi, Obed and Ruth (Emile Levy, 1859)

Thanks for coming along with me in this #abcblogging series on Women of the Bible! It's hard to believe we are halfway through this Blogging Through the Alphabet challenge hosted by my friend, Marcy, at Ben and Me. You can read more posts from others who are taking the challenge with me by clicking on the image below.

Come and meet the other women I've chosen to highlight during this Blogging Through the Alphabet challenge. You can find all of my posts from this series on my Women of the Bible page.

Walking in His Grace, 
Laurie