The book of Ruth is an intriguing book for a number of reasons: it is an ancient narrative written from a fairly feminine perspective with female main characters and a female example of virtue, it is a story of an obscure foreigner who ends up playing a key role in Israel’s and redemption’s history, and it is an ode to the courageous faithfulness of a young woman to her destitute mother-in-law. But my favorite feature of the Book of Ruth is that it is a behind the scenes record of hope in an otherwise chaotic and hopeless time. The book begins with two key contextual notes: It is the time of the Judges. And it is a time of famine. If you’ve ever taken a gander through the book of Judges, you know it’s not the best children’s Bible study curriculum. It is gruesome, brutal, and in some places quite disgusting. It is a bleak time in Israel’s history; indeed, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6). It was a period of disorder, confusion, and violence. Israel was in desperate need of a king to rule over them faithfully and righteously. And not only does the book of Ruth take place in this period of anarchy, but it also happens to be a time of famine. Talk about despair and hopelessness. God’s people are facing societal upheaval and physical deprivation. As one might expect from its contextual introduction, the book Ruth begins on a low note. It starts with multiple deaths. An Israelite woman named Naomi loses her husband and two sons in just the first 5 verses of the book. Things are bad.

But it is within this context that a story of faith, loyalty, mercy, and love begins. It is a glimmer of hope in the midst of darkness. It shows us the eyes of God as He governs history towards His ends and for His glory. It is a picture of His mysterious Providence in times of trouble. Indeed, it is a reminder that in the midst of a time where it seems He has abandoned His people to their own devices, He is the one working behind the scenes to provide for the very needs they currently face. Just as Israel persists in her sin and rebellion against God and so suffers the debilitating consequences of national anarchy, God is simultaneously making the way of redemption by establishing a stable monarchy through one faithful woman in one hard place. In fact, her great-grandson would become the greatest king of all of Israel’s history and a foreshadowing of the righteous reign of the Messiah. It would be her great-grandson, King David, that would receive the promise “your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam 7:16). How ironic is it that in a time of anarchy and government disarray, God was working to bring about the king who would inaugurate the line of the Savior King Jesus Christ? How wonderful is it to read Ruth’s name in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew’s Gospel account (Matt 1:5)? Little did Israel know. Little did Ruth know. Little did David know. Little do we know.

What is the lesson from this book’s theology of God’s Providence? The lesson is simple: you often don’t see it, but when times are tough, God is working behind the scenes for your good and His glory, to bring about His promises, and to fulfill your deepest needs in this moment. His Providence is often inscrutable. We rarely are aware of the grand Kingdom victories that are unfolding in the lives of faithful individuals before our own eyes. We are such a tiny puzzle piece is His Master Puzzle of Redemption. Take heart, faithful Christian, even when you don’t see it, He’s working.

Do you think America has been abandoned by God? Do you think our nation is disintegrating into chaos? Has CO-VID declared war on the kingdom of God? Is it winning? Has God forgotten His plan of redemption? Oh no. America is not God’s chosen people, but His church is. He will not abandon us. He will not forsake us. In fact, in the moments when we are most confused about what He is doing, He is doing something great. He is using the lives of faithful individuals to bring our salvation. Trust and obey.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?

 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).