Naomi is an older woman found in the book of Ruth. Along with her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chileon, they left their home in Bethlehem in Judah due to a famine and moved to Moab. While in Moab, Naomi’s husband died, and her sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. After 10 years in Moab, Naomi’s sons died (Ruth 1:1-5). After hearing that the Lord provided for His people in Judah, Naomi set to return home. Orpah and Ruth left with her but on the way, Naomi told them to return home. (Ruth 1:6-9).
Ruth 1:8-9 (Berean Standard Bible) “Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the Lord enable you to find rest in the home of your new husband'”.
Orpah and Ruth wanted to go with Naomi but listening to Naomi, Orpah went back to her homeland. Ruth did not (Ruth 1:14).
Ruth 1:15-17 “‘Look’, said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.’ But Ruth replied: ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.'”
While living in Moab for 10 years, Naomi had imparted into Orpah and Ruth. As an older woman, she was a godly example to them. She lived out her faith, her love and devotion to her family. She demonstrated a godly life as a widow and mother to them. In time, Orpah and Ruth faced the same loss that Naomi had faced in losing their husbands. In the midst of their loss, they had to decide which way they were going to go and the type of life they were going to live.
Naomi decided that she was returning home to Judah. Orpah and Ruth had to decide if they were going to return to home to their families and their old way of life.
Naomi had made such an impact in Ruth’s life that she did not want to return to homeland. She was willing to leave her father and mother to follow Naomi. Ruth chose to follow Naomi and to make the Lord her God.
Titus 2:3-5 (BSB) “older women, likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.”
Naomi taught what was good to Orpah and Ruth. She imparted faith, devotion to God and love for God and her family.
One thing that I want to mention is that the women that God places in your life may be for a season while others may be for a lifetime. Understanding the seasons are important in each relationship. It is important to ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance on what He wants you to do and what He wants you to impart in each relationship.
Naomi understood the times and seasons. She mentored the young women and taught them what was good. For Orpah, the mentoring season with Naomi was 10 years. For Ruth, the mentoring season with Naomi was for a lifetime. When it was time for the women to make a decision, she gave them the choice and did not force them to do what she wanted. This is an important lesson to learn. As older women, we must realize that the women that God allows us to mentor have their own free will. As we teach and impart God’s word, we must remember that they must still make the choice to follow what God’s word says or not to. We must simply be obedient to the calling and mandate that God has given to older women.
After 10 years, Ruth chose to follow Naomi and make the Lord her God. Orpah chose not to and chose to follow her gods. It takes time to build relationships and to teach what is good to younger women. It will require not only reading and teaching God’s word but also living it out in front of them. Naomi did this with Ruth and Orpah.
At the end of the Book of Ruth, God blessed Naomi and Ruth. Their lives were forever changed. God was glorified in their lives.
Ruth 4:14-16 “Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.’ And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him. The neighbor women said, ‘A son has been born to Naomi,’ and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.”
As older women, we have an awesome privilege and mandate, to teach younger women to love the Lord, and to love their families. The results are not up to us. We must have peace and rest in the Lord and leave the results to Him. We simply must be obedient to this calling. Let God use you to be an older woman in a young woman’s life. To walk out Titus 2:3-5, so that God will be honored and glorified in each of our lives.
Titus 2:3-5 Ministries 