Delight in the Word
For the third week in our Advent series, Pastor Chris helped us examine Ruth 3. On a quick read through the chapter, you might be left wondering what you’ve just read. There are surely some details that appear strange to us as modern readers. As we consider this passage and its context in the book of Ruth and in God’s grand storyline of redemption, we find God’s kind and sovereign plan to rescue His people is continuing to unfold.
Just as Ruth took initiative in Ruth 2, Naomi took some initiative in Ruth 3. Her hope in God leads her to action. In the early stages of this chapter, Naomi and Ruth work out a marriage proposal for Ruth to offer to Naomi. This plan could easily be considered risky and opportunities for misunderstanding abounded. Their plan could have easily gone sideways, but God used it to fulfill His providential plans to bring about redemption. We live in a world that can easily produce anxiety and discouragement. The actions shown by Naomi remind us that understanding God’s providence allows us to act faithfully and entrust the results to the Lord.
The risky plot of Naomi resulted in the Lord’s provision of redemption through the kindness and integrity of Boaz. Though the plan was successful, the provision was not immediate. Naomi and Ruth still had to wait for Boaz to fulfill his obligation to them. The story of Ruth serves as an incredible reminder to us of trust, faithfulness, and patience. Like Ruth and Naomi, God is at work in our lives, working out His plans and purposes for our good and His glory. So often, we want to rush God’s plans and provision. While we ought to take action at times, like Naomi, there are also days, weeks, months, and seasons that require us to patiently wait on the Lord. May we continue to trust in God’s providence, serve Him with faithfulness, and wait on His timing.
Resources:
Ruth: Strategic Righteousness—A sermon by John Piper
Faith in the Wilderness of Waiting—Scott Hubbard
The Pursuit of Holiness—Jerry Bridges
Reflection Questions:
How does your faith in God compel you to live a life of holiness and faithfulness?
Why are we prone to rush God’s timing? What happens when we do?
How does the story of Ruth encourage you to patiently wait on the Lord?