What Naomi’s Imperfect Faith Teaches Us About Being a Titus 2 Woman
This is part of an ongoing series exploring the women of Scripture featured in my new study, Walking Her Way. Today I’m sharing some of what I learned while writing the Naomi and Ruth lesson, and why I believe Naomi still belongs in the conversation about what it looks like to live out Titus 2.
A Conversation That Sent Me Back to the Text
When I was writing my newest Bible study, I had quite a bit of dialogue with a friend about the Naomi and Ruth lesson and whether Naomi’s bitterness disqualified her as a woman to look to as a Titus 2 role model. It was such a good conversation to have because it drove me back into the text. I related so much to Naomi, and I have friends whom I see in her story.
Naomi’s Story
Her husband moved their family to Moab to find food during a severe famine. We don’t know exactly why there was a famine, but one possibility is that it was God’s judgment, since this took place during the time of the judges when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Regardless, they chose to leave the Promised Land and move to Moab.
As you know from the story, Naomi’s life became increasingly difficult and bitter. She lost her husband, her two sons, and became a widow in a foreign land without the provision and protection a husband would have provided. She lived there for ten years and gained two Moabite daughters-in-law.
Imperfect Faith That Still Pointed to God
What stood out to me, though, was that Naomi’s grief and lament did not turn Ruth away from the Lord. Something in Naomi’s life actually drew Ruth to leave her family, her culture, and her pagan gods to make Naomi’s God her own. Obviously, the Lord was calling Ruth to Himself, but I believe He used Naomi’s faith to do so.
Was her faith perfect? No, it wasn’t. But is any of ours? Thank goodness for Naomi’s story because we see that the Lord can work through even imperfect faith. The faith Naomi did have, though tested and at times overshadowed by grief, was still something the Lord used to draw Ruth to Himself.
Before her husband and sons died, I imagine Naomi had a faith in the Lord that made her noticeably different from the Moabite women around her. Something about her was compelling enough that both of her daughters-in-law clung to her and were desperate to remain with her.
I can only imagine that it was the Lord shining through her life. Naomi experienced unimaginable sorrow and wrestled with bitterness toward the Lord. Yet we also see the Lord remain near to her, patiently working in her heart and drawing her back into a right relationship with Himself.
What We Learn from Naomi and Ruth
There are so many lessons from Naomi and Ruth’s story that I loved exploring more deeply in the new Walking Her Way study. We see what it looks like to selflessly love someone who is bitter. That was Ruth’s heart toward Naomi as she faithfully worked to provide for her mother-in-law as a foreigner in Bethlehem.
We also see what it looks like to teach what is good as Naomi lovingly guides Ruth in making wise decisions as she pursues marriage to Boaz.
Finally, we see the steadfast faithfulness of the Lord as He redeems both women and graciously weaves them into the lineage of our Savior.
A Prayer for You
The Titus 2 model for women has so many practical applications for wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. My prayer is that this study blesses you, encourages you, and helps you cultivate a love for others so that Christ shines in and through your life.
— Lindsey
Author & Owner, Driven by Grace
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This lesson on Naomi and Ruth is just one of the studies in Walking Her Way, my newest Bible study built on the Titus 2 model for women. If this story resonated with you, I’d love for you to see what the study looks like for yourself.
