Ruth 2:1-5: a reflection

1Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. 2Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. 4Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May the LORD be with you.” They answered him, “May the LORD bless you.” 5Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, “Whose young lady is this?”

Ruth, a poor widow in a foreign land, sets out to glean in the fields to provide for herself and Naomi, and the account notes, seemingly in passing, that she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, the very man who would become her redeemer. It looks like chance; she simply went out to glean, and happened onto Boaz's field. But behind that seeming chance was God's providence, guiding the humble, ordinary steps she took in faith toward a good she could not foresee.

Notice how God guided Ruth's ordinary, faithful steps toward a good she could not foresee. She was not seeking Boaz, or aiming at anything grand; she simply went out, in humble faith, to do what she could to provide, to glean in whatever field she might. And her steps, which seemed to fall by chance, were guided by God to the field of the very man who would redeem her and Naomi. She took an ordinary, faithful step, and God led it toward a blessing she could not have foreseen or arranged. What looked like chance was God's guiding of her faithful, humble steps.

That is worth taking to heart, for God guides our ordinary, faithful steps toward good we cannot foresee. When we step out in humble faith to do what we can, going about our ordinary duties and doing the next faithful thing, God can guide those steps toward blessings we could not have planned. Ruth simply went to glean, and God led her to her redeemer. Do not despise your ordinary, faithful steps as leading nowhere; take the next faithful step, do what you can in humble trust, and let God guide it, as he guided Ruth's gleaning to Boaz's field. God works his good purposes through the ordinary, faithful steps we take in trust; take yours, doing the next faithful thing, and trust God to guide them toward good you cannot foresee, as he guided Ruth to the field of her redeemer when she simply went out to glean.

Lord, Ruth, a poor widow in a foreign land, set out to glean in the fields to provide for herself and Naomi, and the account notes, seemingly in passing, that she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, the very man who would become her redeemer. It looks like chance; she simply went out to glean, and happened onto Boaz's field. But behind that seeming chance was your providence, guiding the humble, ordinary steps she took in faith toward a good she could not foresee. Show me how you guided Ruth's ordinary, faithful steps toward a good she could not foresee. She was not seeking Boaz, or aiming at anything grand; she simply went out, in humble faith, to do what she could to provide. And her steps, which seemed to fall by chance, were guided by you to the field of the very man who would redeem her. What looked like chance was your guiding of her faithful, humble steps. Take that to my heart, for you guide my ordinary, faithful steps toward good I cannot foresee. When I step out in humble faith to do what I can, going about my ordinary duties and doing the next faithful thing, you can guide those steps toward blessings I could not have planned. Keep me from despising my ordinary, faithful steps as leading nowhere; help me take the next faithful step, do what I can in humble trust, and let you guide it, Lord, as you guided Ruth's gleaning to Boaz's field. Help me trust you to guide my faithful steps toward good I cannot foresee.