The Book of Ruth is a neat little nugget tucked away in the historical part of the Bible. It’s only four chapters, told in the narrative. One of the interesting things about this book is that while the characters in the story mention God, the book doesn’t include anything prophetic, nor does it tell us what God says or thinks.
The story tells how God wove His purpose and His plan into ordinary people doing ordinary things. Ruth is the daughter-in-law of Naomi, whose Jewish family migrated to Moab when Israel was going through a famine, and in the years since, her husband and both of her sons have died. So far, no luck for Naomi, and now alone in the world, she decides to move back to Israel.
Ruth chooses to go with Naomi, promising to make Naomi’s people her people, and Naomi’s God, her God. When they get back to Israel, they’re just trying to survive. Ruth goes to the fields to pick up the grains of barley the harvesters have left behind. The field belongs to a man named Boaz, who is impressed by her integrity in not leaving Naomi, and marries her. Boaz and Ruth become the great-grandparents of King David, and ancestors of Jesus.
There are no miracles in this story, nor any supernatural events, but God’s hand is clearly in every part of the story. As Naomi and Ruth try to survive, as they live godly lives, God’s purpose for them was accomplished.
I believe that it’s often much the same for us. God’s will isn’t usually something that falls on us with great fanfare; it’s a purpose that is accomplished as we do our best to live according to God’s truth in our ordinary circumstances, doing everyday things. Some lives, like that of the great spiritual reformer Martin Luther, are interrupted with a sudden specific calling or mission, but for many of us, we will see God’s hand on our lives as we take each step daily, committing each day to His care.
Start to discover God’s plan for you by inviting His Son, Jesus, into your life today. You can pray this simple prayer:
Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died for me. I ask You to please come into my heart, forgive my sins, and give me Your free gift of eternal life! Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to love You and others. Amen.