It was about the middle of the twelfth century B.C. during the era referred to biblically as “the Judges”. This was a time of widespread famine, and with good reason; in fact we are told why in Judges 21:25 when it says that, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

The book of Ruth follows Judges. It is only four chapters long, but it unveils some important principles concerning what God expects of us, and what we should expect of ourselves as His children.

If we are honest with ourselves, we are quick to say that God works in mysterious ways, but we are often slow to actually trust Him to do so. We fail to accept that “mysterious” means that we won’t always understand what He is doing, and that we often won’t even sense His presence. But Ruth shows us how we ought to work and how we can trust God even in the mundane affairs of life in a fallen world.

As we approach the prospect of a new year in an age where people are increasingly doing what is right in their own eyes no matter how immoral or sinful it may be, we need to glean from the incredible story of Ruth. She shows us that if we remain faithful to God no matter what, He, in His own time and way, will take us from despair to delight!