Ruth and God's Hidden Providence in the Old Testament

Introduction: God's Apparent Absence in Ruth's Story

The Old Testament is filled with stories of mighty works between God and humanity. In supernatural ways, God seems intimately involved with his creation — revealing himself in people's lives and weaving himself into their history. Moses, Joshua, Abraham, and Elijah were mighty leaders guided, and sometimes pushed, to great deeds through intimate interactions with the Creator of the universe. So when Ruth appears on the scene, apparently living a quiet and self-directed life in the middle of what seems to be someone else's plan, the question arises: where is God?

Why is this person left to fend for herself when God can be dramatically active in the lives of his people? Is she somehow less important? If so, why is her story included in the Bible at all? Surely other people lived more outwardly inspirational lives than the Moabite woman named Ruth. This paper examines Ruth's life and the economic and social factors that were all part of God's plan. Through Ruth, YHWH reveals something about himself that he shows in few other passages of Scripture.

Ruth's Background and the Context of Naomi's Family

Ruth is a Moabitess. As a descendant of Lot and his daughters, she came from a people outside the community of God's chosen nation. Ruth was woven into the biblical narrative not because of a great calling, like Deborah or Sarah, but because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. To set the stage: Naomi, her husband, and their two sons — all Israelites — left their homeland during a famine. This was the first in a series of tragic choices that bring us to the story of Ruth. According to the Old Testament covenant, the Israelites were not supposed to leave their Promised Land during times of difficulty. When famine or trouble came upon the land, they were instructed to seek the Lord YHWH with their whole hearts so that favor might be restored.

Naomi, her husband, and their two sons disobeyed God and went to settle in the land of Moab. While there, the sons married Moabite women — a second step away from God's revealed will. God had called his people to remain separate from the surrounding nations, to be a "called out" people, his peculiar treasure. Nevertheless, these circumstances introduced Ruth to this wayward family, and she became part of their heritage and their future.

Ruth's Loyalty and the Revelation of God's Character

For reasons not fully explained in the text — possibly the hand of divine judgment on disobedient people — the men died, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law to fend for themselves. At this point, Naomi remembered that in Israel the community was commanded to care for widows. She decided to return to her homeland and grieve what fate had brought into her life. One daughter-in-law remained in Moab, but Ruth displayed a character of remarkable devotion. This is the first revelation of God's nature in the story. Perhaps Ruth perceived the emotional distress of her mother-in-law. Perhaps she had no strong ties to her own land and simply wanted a new beginning. Whatever her reasons, her words to Naomi are a striking display of love and loyalty:

"Do not entreat me to leave you or to forsake you. I will go where you go. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God." (Ruth 1:15–16)

Ruth is an example of God's commitment to his people made visible in human form. She had made a commitment to Naomi when she married Naomi's son, and even though adversity had befallen them all, Ruth chose to remain part of Naomi's family, faithful to her promise. She is not simply a self-determined individual acting outside God's sovereign plan; rather, she is a living example of God's own character of faithfulness. For this faithfulness she was rewarded — but more significantly, her choice to remain faithful was not experienced as a choice at all. She did not consider that she had another option. Even though she had been raised apart from the Law and the direct influences of YHWH, her heart was tender to his purpose.

Conclusion: Providence, Redemption, and God's Hidden Hand

There are times when we cannot see the direct guidance of God in our lives. There are times when the consequences of our choices are set into motion, and one would more easily hold back the sea with a broom than stop the just consequences of those actions from coming to pass. The final lesson of Ruth — and of God's interaction with mankind — is that regardless of what we have done or how much trouble we have suffered, when God is first in our hearts and lives, he will work things out for our redemption and for his ultimate purpose: the revelation of himself to the hearts of all people.