12-15-2025 PART 1: Faith at Work Before We Can See It
Section 1
As we step into Ruth chapter 2, the narrative quietly but powerfully reveals how God works far ahead of human awareness. The introduction of Boaz is not casual or incidental; it is foundational. God is already preparing the path that will eventually lead to King David and, ultimately, to Jesus. While Naomi and Ruth are simply trying to survive, the Lord is orchestrating redemption on a generational scale. Naomi, wounded by loss and convinced that God has dealt her a harsh hand, believes she is seeing the full picture. Yet her pain blinds her to the truth that God’s purposes are unfolding beyond what her eyes can measure. This tension between what is felt and what is faithful lies at the heart of the passage .
Section 2
Naomi’s struggle is not disbelief but limited vision. She acknowledges God, yet interprets her circumstances strictly through loss and sorrow. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that walking by sight alone will distort spiritual reality. Faith requires trusting God beyond immediate understanding, leaning not on personal reasoning but on divine direction. Ruth, by contrast, quietly steps forward in obedience and humility. She asks permission to glean, honoring both Naomi and God’s law. The provision described in Leviticus shows the Lord’s care for the poor, the widow, and the stranger, but it also affirms the dignity of work. God provides opportunity, not entitlement, and Ruth faithfully enters into that provision without complaint or resentment .
Section 3
The phrase “as it happened” becomes one of the most profound statements in the chapter. What appears to be coincidence is, in truth, divine appointment. Ruth’s arrival in Boaz’s field and Boaz’s timely appearance are not random events but carefully coordinated moments under God’s sovereign hand. Just as Saul searched for donkeys while God prepared a king, Ruth gathered grain while God advanced His redemptive plan. Ordinary actions became extraordinary instruments of God’s will. This passage reminds us that what we often label as chance encounters are frequently God’s loving interventions. When viewed through faith rather than frustration, the unseen hand of God becomes unmistakably clear, revealing His care, His timing, and His unwavering love for His people
