Daring With Ruth: 7 Days Of CourageSample

Change, opportunity, divine intervention – these come into our lives in all sorts of ways.

After the scene of Ruth and Naomi’s entrance into the city of Bethlehem, we can assume that news spread to everyone about her misfortune, and also about the unique loyalty of the daughter-in-law who followed her home.

Now, as we step into Chapter 2, the writer of Ruth does not want us concerned with everyone in Bethlehem. Instead, we are shown a single character: a man by the name of Boaz.

We learn three things about the man in just the first verse. First, he was a relative of Naomi. Second, he was a relative from the same clan as Naomi’s husband. 

Third, he was a “man of standing” which translated other ways implies that he was wealthy, capable, and possibly a war hero. Naomi and Ruth have no idea how this character will soon impact their story; and, at this point, neither do we. 

There’s a literary device writers use when telling stories called deus ex machina. It’s a technique where the author of the story inserts something unlikely or even impossible to save the day. For example, a hero finds the only weapon that can kill the monster in front of him. Or a mysterious source comes forward and gives the reporter exactly what she needs to finish the story. 

When it’s done well, it can be incredibly gratifying for the audience. But when it’s done poorly, it can feel like a cop-out by the storyteller.

As we will see, Boaz is a sort of deus ex machina – an unlikely subject who dramatically changes the direction of the story for the better.

What I want to take a minute to ask is, why don’t we ever look for these instances of God’s intervention in our own lives? I was raised with the idea that God helps those who help themselves. But what if this isn’t the entire picture?

As we read through Scripture and watch the patterns of how God interacts with his people, what we see is that deus ex machina, or unlikely interventions, are one of God’s favorite ways to dramatically change the lives of his chosen ones. 

Abraham heard a voice out of nowhere; Jacob wrestled with God; the young boy David had the most renowned prophet in Israel tell him he would one day be king, and the disciples had the Son of God personally invite them to help him build a new kingdom. 

God loves to do the unlikely and the impossible. He shines brightest when things are at their darkest, because that is when there can be no other explanation but His goodness.

Takeaway: God wants to show up for you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe in your miracles. Remind me today that You are above all things, and that all things must answer to You.