Ladies Bible Study: Naomi's Choices ... Lesson 4

Naomi's Choices

Lesson 4: Home at Last

Ruth 1:19-22

By Patsy Norwood © 2026.  All rights reserved.  Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited.  Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved.  This Bible study is written for women.

Last week we left Naomi and Ruth embarking on a journey back to Bethlehem.  Let’s see what happens once they arrive …

Naomi and Ruth arrive back in Bethlehem and everyone was surprised and maybe a bit dismayed at what they saw.  Verse 19 tells us that, “…all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

Naomi was ready with her reply in verses 20 and 21 allowing her bitterness to surface.  “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.  I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.  Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

It’s clear that Naomi blames God for her current circumstances and that she is bitter about it.  It would appear that Naomi feels like God is against her and that He has abandoned her.  Little did she know that God had not abandoned her at all but was working behind the scenes to make something good come from the difficult circumstances in which she found herself.

God is like that isn’t He?  He can take a bad situation and make good come from it, if we let Him.  Romans 8:28 gives us that assurance …

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

But Naomi’s situation occurred before the New Testament was written, so she didn’t have the complete written word as we do today.  Have you ever thought about how blessed we are today?  We have God’s completed and written Word, we don’t have to depend on word of mouth or bits and parts of God’s revelation for us.

Naomi lived under the law of Moses and was the recipient of the historical evidence of what God had done for His people, of how He had taken care of them.  Should she have known better than to get all up in her feelings?  Didn’t her heritage show God’s provision and care?

Conquering our feelings is one of the hardest things we’ll ever do, isn’t it?  It was that way for Naomi, and it continues to be that way for mankind today.  The devil wants us all up in our feelings making impulsive reactionary decisions … and when things don’t go as we want, do we blame God … like Naomi did?

However, we today can see what Naomi couldn’t see then … God was working behind the scenes!

Does God work behind the scenes in our lives today?  Here’s something I wrote several years ago along with a bit of background for context …

Several years ago, I spoke at a lady’s day event on the topic of hope and used the following poem I had written.  First, the background ...

During the presentation, I talked about three benefits of having hope:

1.  Eternal life  (Titus 1:1-3)

2.  God taking our mistakes and making good come from them  (Romans 8:28)

3.  God working behind the scenes in our lives (Romans 8:28)

I asked the ladies to think about one thing that they longed for other than their home in heaven and I shared that the one thing that I longed for, other than my home in heaven, was that my loved ones who have drifted away from God, would return to Him.

I then shared how I had been particularly burdened with thinking about this one night on the way home from a Bible class my husband and I were taking and how I had silently cried out to God in prayer yet again as I rode home that night.  I went on to tell the ladies that I suddenly felt the urge to start writing so I picked up my cell phone and started typing. 

Here's what I wrote that night …

on the way home …

in our automobile …

in the dark …

using my cell phone ...

 

I’m Working Behind the Scenes

By Patsy Norwood, All Rights Reserved

I know your heart is aching,

I hear your agonizing prayers.

These words are for you My child,

I’m working behind the scenes.

 

I know you love your loved ones,

Please know that I do too.

Just listen to My word’s dear child,

I’m working behind the scenes.

 

Your loved ones have gone astray,

How hard that is to bear.

Just remember these words dear child,

I’m working behind the scenes.

 

I know that you grow weary,

I see your tears when they fall.

Remind yourself of this dear child,

I’m working behind the scenes.

 

The things that you’ve asked for,

Are indeed according to My will.

Be patient while I work it out,

I’m working behind the scenes.

 

Keep on keeping on dear one,

For nothing is impossible with Me.

Just hold on to these words My child,

I’m working behind the scenes.

 

 Questions:

1.       What was everyone’s reaction to Naomi when she and Ruth arrived back in Bethlehem?

2.      What was Naomi’s response to everyone’s reaction?

3.      Who does Naomi blame for her situation?

4.      Who and what really had put Naomi in the situation she was in?

5.      Had God abandoned Naomi?

6.      Does God abandon His faithful children today?

7.       Go back to lesson one and look again at the verses we talked about that assure us that  God never forsakes His children.  Write out your favorite and post it somewhere you will be able to see it every day.

 

Next week, we start to see how God works behind the scenes on behalf of Naomi and Ruth.

Until then!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~ 

Ladies Bible Study: Naomi's Choices ... Lesson 3

Naomi's Choices

Lesson 3 … Two Choices

Ruth 1: 6-18

By Patsy Norwood © 2026.  All rights reserved.  Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited.  Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved.  This Bible study is written for women.

Last week we left Naomi grieving over her sons’ death and the all-important question of what to do now?

Naomi now has more choices to make … let’s pick up there …

Naomi’s first choice was whether to stay in Moab or go back to Bethlehem. 

It was the drive for physical nourishment that drove Elimelech and family from Bethlehem, will it be that same drive that sends Naomi back to Bethlehem? 

Nowhere are we told that spiritual considerations were taken into account in either decision making process, Elimelech or Naomi’s.  Naomi, upon hearing that the famine was over in Bethlehem, decided to return home.    It seems Elimelech and Naomi’s decisions were both based on their physical needs and not on what would be best for them spiritually.  Even though returning to Bethlehem was the best spiritual based choice for Naomi, it was not her reason for going home.  According to verse 6, Naomi’s reason for returning to Bethlehem was physical nourishment.

Ruth 1:6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited His people in giving them food.

 Naomi’s second choice was what to do about her daughter’s-in-law?

When Naomi had the conversation with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, she admonished both of them to go back to their families and start a new life.  Her reasoning was that she had nothing left for them and that she was going home.  After some urging Orpah relented and returned to her family, Ruth however refused to leave Naomi and was determined to return to Bethlehem with her.

Ruth 1:7-18  So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, but we will surely return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.”  14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.  15 Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

 Naomi is going home but she is going as a changed woman; she is going back without her husband and sons, with a whole lot of bitterness towards God and with a daughter-in-law who refuses to leave her side. 

    Questions:

            In this lesson we learn that Naomi had two choices, what was the first one?            

            What did Naomi choose and what was the reason for making the choice she made?

                   What was Naomi’s second choice?

                  Was Naomi’s decision to leave her daughters-in-law behind spiritually wise for them?

                  How did Naomi want her second choice to play out?  Did it go the way she wanted?

                 Verse 13 gives us a glimpse into Naomi’s heart, what does it tell us?

                 Verses 16 & 17 contain a beautiful promise and pledge that Ruth made to Naomi, what was it?

                 What was Naomi’s reaction to Ruth’s pledge?

                 Contrast the Naomi that left Bethlehem with the Naomi that is heading back to Bethlehem.  What is the difference? 

Let’s talk a bit about our decision-making process:

            Do we base our decisions on our feelings?  Is that good or bad?

Are we honest with ourselves about the reason for the decisions we want to make, or do we dress it up and hide it amongst other reasons?  God knows the real reason; would the real reason be pleasing to Him?

Do we asked God for wisdom, guidance and discernment before making big decisions, or any decision we’re not sure about?

Do we need reassurance that God is willing, waiting and ready to help us in our decision-making process?  Look at James 1:5 …

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

There you go, go ahead and ask God, you have His permission!

This concludes lesson 3 of our study on Naomi.  I hope you’ll choose at least one of the questions above and answer it in the comments below. 

In lesson 4 Naomi is home at last!

Until the next time!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~ 

Ladies Bible Study: Naomi's Choices ... Lesson 2

Lesson 2

Naomi’s Choices

By Patsy Norwood © 2026.  All rights reserved.  Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited.  Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved.  This Bible study is written for women.

In our last lesson we set the stage for what’s about to happen next!  Let’s see what that is …

Time-out!  Before embarking on this lesson, I want you to be mindful of what is missing ... what we have no record of ... 

Let's get started ...

Ruth 1:3 (NKJV) … Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.

We don’t know how long Elimelech and Naomi had been in Moab when tragedy struck, Elimelech died leaving Naomi and her two sons (age unknown) in this foreign land alone.   Naomi, however, did not choose to go back to Bethlehem after her husband’s death but chose rather to remain in Moab.  Could it be that they hadn’t been in Moab very long and the famine in Bethlehem was still raging? 

Could it be that the family had become entrenched in Moabite life and considered it home?  We are not told the reason why, but now Elimelech’s choice became Naomi’s choice, and she chose to remain in the land of Moab with her sons where foreign worship was all around them influencing their every choice.

 Verse 4 …  Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.

Mahlon and Chilion chose Moabite wives entrenching the family even more in the Moabite lifestyle.  Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah.  It certainly seems that they planned to stay in Moab long term. 

We need to take note here of who is making the choice to stay in Moab.  Who is it?

Verse 5 …  Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

Some scholars suggest that the death of all three of these men, Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion, was due to their leaving Israel and the young men marrying foreign women.  God had warned Israel about intermarriage with unbelievers in Exodus 34:12-16 and in Deuteronomy 7:1-4 because of the potential negative spiritual effects.  Could this be the reason?    This is a good discussion question.

Exodus 34:12-16  (NASB) … 12 Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. 13 But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 —for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God— 15 otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods.

 Deuteronomy 7:1-4 (NASB) … 7 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, 2 and when the Lord your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. 3 Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. 4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you.

Naomi, Ruth and Orpah are now all three widows in Moab with no visible means of support and Naomi, in the midst of her grief, is once again faced with a dilemma and must decide what to do.

 

Questions:

1.            After Naomi’s husband died, she has a choice before her, what is it?

 

2.           What are some spiritual implications of Naomi’s choice?

 

3.           The next big events in Naomi’s life that we read about are weddings, who got married and who did each marry?

 

4.           It seems that Naomi and her sons intended to stay in Moab long term, verse 4 gives us two indications that this might be the case, what are they?

 

5.           Why should staying in an area where one is spiritually in danger be a concern?

 

6.           Tragedy strikes again, this time with Naomi’s sons, what happened? 

 

7.           This lesson ends with Naomi facing the same choice she faced when we began this lesson, what is it?

     8.           What are some take-aways from today’s lesson?  I’ll get you started:

 

Spiritual Choices Matter!

Before we close out this lesson, did you figure out what was missing, what we have no record of ... we have no record of anyone consulting God on the choices at hand!  Hmmm ... are we ever guilty of not praying/consulting God in our decision making?

This concludes lesson 2 of our study on Naomi.  I hope you’ll choose at least one of the questions above and answer it in the comments below.  

In lesson 3, Naomi is faced with two choices.

Until the next time!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~