Background Before Blessing

As promised, this week we are looking at a special blessing given by an older widow, to two younger women, who are also widows. However, it is good to know a little background behind the blessing. For those who already know this, it is good to have it brought afresh to you.  

Before us is a tender, touching scene of three widows about to be parted. Here are some interesting facts to hold before you. These women are all widows who belong to the same family. They are of different years and ages, but they share one deep heart void. They know the unforgiving grief and final earthly separation of death, taking away their spouses. There is the oldest widow, Naomi, whose husband died away from their home in Bethlehem, Judah.

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his sons were Mahlon and Chilion – Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Ruth 1: 1 -2. 

Naomi’s husband died in Moab, a far land, where he had taken her and their two sons to have guaranteed life, since God’s Hand was against His people in Bethlehem. A vicious famine had threatened the lives of all God’s people in that, Place of Bread. There was no famine in the foreign land of Moab, so Naomi and her children were taken there. Yes, it is there, in Moab, that she lost her husband to death. However, it was there, in that same Moab, where her two sons found Moabite wives, hoping to build a family, no doubt. It is there in Moab that Naomi’s joys, hopes, and aspirations for herself and her family, her sons and daughters-in-law, crumbled and collapsed, as one by one, both her sons died.

Naomi was now left, an aging, widowed woman, with two younger widowed women, living together in Moab. They are all living together peacefully, lovingly and caringly. Albeit, one day Naomi is strongly convicted by her God, the God of Israel and cannot but return home to Bethlehem. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread. Ruth 1: 6.

Our singular point of interest however, in this receiving, is not about Naomi’s returning home, but about her motherliness, thoughtfulness, and goodwill to her daughters-in-law. They were the chief and main people with whom she shared companionship, communion, comforts and communication. 

Before we carry on any further, I’m personally inviting you and sincerely encouraging you to see Naomi in personal light, with every thought you receive and every word you accept.

May Teacher Holy Spirit, so charge you, as you receive these daily offerings that you will both receive this blessing of prayer and offer a blessing of prayer.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 145: 18.