Ruth 2:3, 19-20 (NIV)

³ So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.  … ¹⁹Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.  ²⁰ “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”

Ruth has always been a favorite book of mine in the Old Testament.  I love the devotion Ruth had for her mother-in-law.  Both Ruth and Naomi are widows and in Biblical times widows had nobody to care for their needs.  Ruth had the chance to leave Naomi and go back with her family but she, unlike her sister-in-law Orpah, chose to follow her mother-in-law back to a foreign land. In order for the two to physically survive Ruth was going to have to find a way to obtain food.  She chose to glean or pick up any grain that was dropped while harvesting.  This was not an easy task but Ruth was willing to give her all to care for Naomi.

In Ruth2:2 Ruth told Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”  Naomi could have directed Ruth to Boaz’s fields but according to scripture Naomi simply happened on the fields of Boaz.  Boaz was not just any land owner, he happened to be a guardian-redeemer.  This is a close relative that is willing to take responsibility for a family member who is in financial need.  God showed favor to Ruth for her loyalty.  It was not happenstance that Ruth happened to glean in the fields of Boaz. 

God’s plan for our lives does not always make sense at the time.  The fact that Ruth, her sister-in-law and her mother-in-law all three lost their husbands would cause any family to be distraught.  In a situation like this it would take a lot of faith to be able to see God’s hand on you while experiencing such pain and hopelessness. Enter Boaz, not only is he willing to step up to the plate and take care of a relative he’s a bit smitten with Ruth and her unswerving dedication to Naomi. If you want to read about their courtship check out Ruth 3 and the shenanigans that Naomi puts Ruth up to.

If you think that all of this just happened by accident check out the linage of David.  Boaz is listed in that very linage.  Ruth and Boaz gave birth to Obed who became the father of Jesse who was the father of David. It may have taken a few years but eventually we see this connection of David to Jesus.

No matter how difficult a situation may feel at the time God has the power to accomplish the impossible. Ruth and Naomi were important pieces to the bigger picture.  We too are part of a bigger picture, don’t let the struggles of life overshadow God’s victories.