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 ~