Love Like a Mother -- Naomi and RuthSample

The Blessing Beyond

Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:16-17 NIV)

Naomi, who once shared in the sorrows and mourning of a lost husband with Ruth, now shares in the joy of motherhood. She was not forgotten on the day Orpah and Ruth were confronted with the choice to leave or to remain loyal, and she would not be forgotten or overlooked now for the hand she had in the blessing that was nestled in her arms. The faithfulness of both women had produced a descendent, from a mother’s wise instruction to a daughter’s willing obedience.

Scripture tells us that children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him (Ps. 127:3 NIV). To have been blessed with a fruitful womb, we can be certain God’s favor continued to rest on the virtuous Ruth. For honoring her mother-in-law, and by extension honoring God Himself, God’s promise reigned true that His love would show to a thousand generations for those who love Him and keep His commands (Ex. 20:6). Through a guardian-redeemer came the Redeemer of all mankind; the name of Elimelek would carry on through Boaz, and a mighty lineage was set in motion; a lineage of Kings.

The specific phrasing here should be noted: Naomi has a son. Rather than an address to the child’s actual parents, the women present during Ruth’s labor credit Naomi for his birth. They, too, recognized the fruit of her labor and her faithfulness to provide. They called the child Obed, which means servant of God. Perhaps they believed the child to be a symbol of the poverty his family was pulled from, or maybe they were speaking hope into fruition that the child, like the women before him, would grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. The name was prophetic, for this lineage would serve the father like never before in increasing measure. The blessing Naomi had given Ruth years before was now manifest in the child, palpable. Who present at his birth could deny that the famine was over or that a life in service of the Lord was way out of it? If Naomi and Ruth’s dedication to serving each other produced a blessing, then the little Servant of God would be a blessing indeed; a blessing not just for one family, but for nations and kingdoms.

The moment Naomi holds her grandson in her arms, we must wonder whether she finally saw the big picture. Did all her suffering and hardship finally make sense? Could she finally let go of the bitterness that had defined her life for so many years? Regardless, there was no way she could have known the fullness of the picture that we have. We can be reminded of a passage of Scripture from Hebrews 11. Verses 12 says this of Abraham and his legacy: And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore (NIV).

From Naomi, this one faithful woman, King David, and the King of kings would be added to her lineage. Despite poverty, tragedy, and anger towards God, she remained unwavering in her will to give hope and a future to her daughter Ruth. Out of her commitment to sow seeds amid a famine of which she saw no way out, in due time she reaped a harvest that changed the course of her family’s name, and mankind’s, forever. Because of Naomi, and the lineage that brought us Jesus, we are called chosen, forgiven, set apart, and redeemed. At the conception of tragedy, Naomi bore the amazing honor of sharing the genealogy that brought us a Savior.

Naomi never had the assurance that we have as we read her story. She had no guarantee when she set out for Moab that she would bring back the Messiah. Yet by faith alone, she endured, and so should we. If the road ahead appears anything like the desolation and impossibility that confronted Naomi, you cannot begin to fathom the blessing that awaits you on the other side. What we know is the victory that has been written, both for this life and the next. The best is truly yet to come! The only thing required from us is that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting in God’s process and perfect timing. A life in the hands of God is a life well cared for and this is exactly where we belong!

As we conclude this 8-day devotional through the book of Ruth, take a moment now to pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you in a supernatural way. Pray for the strength to remain obedient, eyes fixed on Him, and to stand firm no matter what life throws at you. Today is the beginning of a new season of your life, a season of breakthrough and boldness like you've never had before. A season of trusting God and resting in His continued faithfulness and goodness.