God’s Plan

by: Michael Wilcock

Enter Boaz! This man will make everything come right for Naomi and Ruth and rescue them from their troubles. Or, rather, God will. It is God who is working his purpose out. Boaz is his instrument for doing it.

So what are the elements in God’s plan? First, the custom of gleaning. Israelite law says harvesters must not be too thorough when they reap, so that poor people can collect what they leave behind. Next, the two women “happen” to arrive at Bethlehem as harvest is beginning, at the right time to take advantage of this custom. Furthermore, they are not too proud to admit that they will have to live on charity. Nor is Ruth too lazy to work hard to provide for herself and Naomi.

Boaz could not have organized all this. He didn’t even know them yet. Nor could he have planned it that Ruth, who didn’t know one end of Bethlehem from the other, should find herself, “as it turned out“ (!), working in a field that belonged to him.

“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11).