Ruth 2 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. So Ruth the Mocabitess said to Naomi, ‘Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.’ And she said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.” Then she left and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.” Ruth 2:1-3

We live in a “Lottery” culture. I remember when there was no lottery in the US, except the military draft lottery. But today, there are many ways gamble from different “ball” lotteries, to scratch-off tickets. The lottery is based off the concept of luck. Statistically, there is almost no chance of ever winning a lottery, yet people still play the lotto, religiously. You hear them say, “I feel lucky”, or “I’m due for a stretch of good luck about now.”

On the other hand, many people feel they are stuck on the other side of the luck isle. They superstitiously believe they are cursed with bad luck and that nothing they do can change their circumstances. As the song of old goes, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no lock at all…born under a bad sign”. If Naomi and Ruth had been superstitious, they might well have blamed luck. Their compounded misfortune had forced them into a hand-to-mouth existence. It also cause Naomi a great deal of embarrassment before her former neighbors when she returned to Bethlehem.

Interestingly, although Naomi does not try to explain her difficulties by the concept of “luck”, the writer of Ruth appears to do so at the beginning of Ruth 2. The writer uses the term: It happened. If we skip through the narrative, it could be assumed that G_d believes in luck, that He is personally uninvolved in our lives. The verse could be taken to mean: As luck would have it, she happened upon…” But thank G_d, we have verse 12!

“The L_rd repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord G_d of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Ruth 2:12

When the dust settles on the story of Ruth (and on our personal stories), we are left with a sobering, yet hopeful reminder that G_d is not a G_d of “luck”. He is the G_d of providence! And what seems like unrelated events leading us on, is actually the providence of a G_d in control, despite the decisions of others, and in harmony with faithful decisions at the same time. (Romans 8:28) So, make your choice to chose the G_d who has chosen you! And rest in the knowledge that He is in control and we are responsible for seeking Him while He unfolds His plan by His wisdom, in His timing.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins
Daily Devotional, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014