Ruth 2:1–23 (NLT)

1 Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.”3 So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

4 While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said.“The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied.5 Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?”

6 And the foreman replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi.7 She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She’s been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.”8 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field.

9 See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.”10 Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.”

11 “Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband.12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

13 “I hope I continue to please you, sir,” she replied. “You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers.”14 At mealtime Boaz called to her, “Come over here, and help yourself to some food.” So she sat with his harvesters, and Boaz gave her some roasted grain to eat.

15 When Ruth went back to work again, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her.16 And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time!”

17 So Ruth gathered barley there all day, and when she beat out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket.18 She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal.

19 “Where did you gather all this grain today?” Naomi asked. “Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!” So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.”20 “May the Lord bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.”

21 Then Ruth said, “What’s more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is completed.”22 “Good!” Naomi exclaimed. “Do as he said, my daughter. Stay with his young women right through the whole harvest. You might be harassed in other fields, but you’ll be safe with him.”

23 So Ruth worked alongside the women in Boaz’s fields and gathered grain with them until the end of the barley harvest. Then she continued working with them through the wheat harvest in early summer, and all the while she lived with her mother-in-law.

Ruth 4:13–17 (NLT)

13 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel.15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own.17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

1. There are no coincidences in God’s kingdom, only providence.

• Ruth 2:3 – “So Ruth went out… As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz...”

  
  

• Proverbs 16:33 – “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

  
  

• Esther 4:14 – “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

2. Sometimes God leads through open doors we don’t recognize until later.

• Revelation 3:7–8 – “What He opens no one can shut... See, I have placed before you an open door...”

  
  

• Acts 16:6–10 – Paul’s journey changes due to God’s redirection.

  
  

• Proverbs 3:5–6 – “In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

3. Even in silence, God is sovereign.

• Ruth 1:20–21; 2:3 – Naomi feels abandoned, but God is moving.

  
  

• Habakkuk 2:3 – “Though it linger, wait for it...”

  
  

• Isaiah 46:9–10 – “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”

4. Faith trusts that God is weaving a bigger picture than we can see.

• Romans 8:28 – “In all things God works for the good…”

  
  

• Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

  
  

• Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

5. Your obedience today is part of God’s strategy for tomorrow.

• Ruth 3:5–6 – “I will do whatever you say...” So she went down to the threshing floor.

  
  

• Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much...”

  
  

• Galatians 6:9 – “...at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do