Nothing Just Happens
Selected Scriptures
Ruth’s Roux: equal parts pain and hope
Ruth 1:3-5 (NIV)
Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
Ruth 1:14 (NIV)
Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
Ruth 1:16 (NIV)
For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.
Ruth 2:1-2 (NIV)
There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess 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.
Ruth 2:3 (NIV)
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.
Providence: “In God’s wisdom, power, righteousness, and love He is hastening slowly to work out His own eternal purposes for His own glory and for our eternal good.” (Baker’s Dictionary of Theology)
Ruth 2:3 (NIV)
And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz…
Ruth 4:13 (NIV)
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
Ruth 4:18-20 (NIV)
This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.