I was out to breakfast last December with my 12 year old GRAND-daughter, Naomi Ruth. Can you guess what her favorite book of the Bible is? The narrative of Ruth recorded for us in the Old Testament is one of my favorites as well.

And there is so much I’ve missed!

In the Ruth narrative, Naomi is a good illustration of identity, rather mis-understood identity.

The Biblical Naomi and her family lived in Bethlehem during the time of the judges. “In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 (underline mine). That phrase occurs four times in the Judges narrative: 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, and 21:25. Besides the great political upheaval, there was a severe famine happening. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, decides to protect and provide for his family by moving them to Moab, a gentile nation, where he heard there was food.

In the course of time, Elimelech dies and Naomi is left a widow in this foreign land. Their two sons take Moabite women to be their wives. Then both sons also died. A childless widow is in a very precarious position lacking long-term financial support. (ESV study Bible) Sorrow upon sorrow.

But hope was real. Naomi heard that the famine had ended and there was once again a long-anticipated harvest and food in Bethlehem. She returned to her own country, to the land of her faith. One of her daughters-in-law, Ruth, returns with her. 

It seems that Naomi’s understanding of God’s character was wobbling. She was thankful for God ending the famine. She acknowledges His sovereignty. But in her mind, God’s goodness is called into question. “… the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” Ruth 1:20. “Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” Ruth 1:21.

The name, Naomi, means pleasantness or delight. This was not describing Biblical Naomi at this point. As she returns to Bethlehem, and her friends recognize her, “… Is this Naomi?” Ruth 1:19, Naomi reacts. “She said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara’ …” Ruth 1 20.

Mara means bitterness.

Naomi gave herself an identity based on her circumstances.

Have you ever done that? I know I have.

For many years I looked around me and didn’t like my circumstances. Yes, I was a born-again believer, and I was believing God should be dealing differently with me. I compared. I based my identity on my circumstances. On some level I knew God loved me, but it wasn’t affecting my beliefs. It was not good.

Although I didn’t communicate a different name to my friends, I felt the distance, the bitterness that Naomi felt. Life shouldn’t be that way!

These words from John Mark Comer’s book, Being An Apprentice of Jesus, ring true. “It’s about being a person who not only is loved by God, but also is pervaded by the love of God.” To be pervaded, to be permeated, to be saturated by.

Naomi’s reality intersected with mine. We knew God’s love theoretically. We were not experiencing his love, being pervaded by His love. Our perceived identities spoke more loudly.

Naomi’s story invites me to trust, to trust all of God’s character, not just the pieces I understand.

My meditations have morphed over the years. I now start most days reminding myself of my God-given identity. I John 3:1 is a favorite passage for me,

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God. And that is exactly who we are!”

And then I pray, God, what would it look like for me to trust who you say I am today?

I want to be pervaded by the great love of God. I also pray it for my GRAND-daughter, Naomi Ruth. I want my Naomi to enter her teen-age years knowing her identity as God’s beloved child.

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2025