Grandma Naomi!

A follow-up on Naomi of the Old Testament:

I didn’t realize the story of Ruth in the Bible was so short! I finished reading it yesterday. I won’t review the entire story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, but the book of Ruth ends (spoiler alert!!) with a SON born to Ruth and Boaz!

Naomi is now the trusted grandmother who, it appears from scripture, treated Ruth’s son, OBED, as her own. Naomi was truly blessed by her new son-in-law (Boaz) and daughter-in-law (Ruth) and the new grandson that came into their lives! Perhaps you also are a grandmother and have experienced the great joy and admiration that enters our lives with a new grandchild! A new baby is a reminder for us and speaks so clearly of God's love and the HOPE that He provides us all!

After the birth of Obed, Naomi is blessed by the other women of her village, as they proclaim that, “a son was born to Naomi”! The women (friends, I gather) prayed that, through this new son, Obed, would be “a restorer of life and a nourisher of old age” for Naomi! What a wonderful blessing and proclamation! Even in her old age, God provided for Naomi’s needs!

*By the way...Obed (Naomi's grandson) later becomes the GRANDFATHER of David, who ruled as the second King of Israel (around 1000 BC)! David founded the Judaean dynasty and united all the tribes of Israel under his single monarchy. His son Solomon expanded the empire that David built. Talk about God's Provision!

The story of Naomi and Ruth is a reminder of God’s faithfulness to us; He never changes! He is still Provider, Protector and Keeper of our lives! May we live in that same assurance, knowing God's provision for Naomi is the same for us, even so many years later!