RR Ruth And Esther by David Harwood
Shavuah Tov,
The books Ruth and Esther, provide examples of the hidden hand of Adonai as He moves through circumstances. Neither record miracles, or report prophetic oracles, or provide examples of spiritual worship. Both reveal God’s nature as He works behind the scenes.
The coincidences in these books are signs. In themselves they are not miraculous wonders. They are “it just so happened at the right time and the right place that this apparently perfectly natural thing took place that changed the course of a woman, or a nation’s destiny.” These coinciding events point to the God who is working.
This is going to ultimately happen.
Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Right now, the way things are working together are harbingers of this ultimate outcome.
We can see evidence of God moving beneath the surface of what appears to be reality. These coincidences are evidences of the providence of our compassionate God.
Consider Ruth and Naomi’s story. Ruth the Moabitess had turned away from worshiping Chemosh, “the Destroyer”. Abominable Canaanite practices were part of the religious rituals which helped form Ruth’s childhood. But Ruth just so happened to marry a Judean from Bethlehem.
After years of marriage, she was childless. Her father-in-law died. Her brother-in-law died. Her husband died. Her mother-in-law, bereft of husband and sons, and without grandchildren despite years of her sons being married, was broken and embittered. However, Ruth had faith in Israel’s God and, although it seemed like they were under heaven’s curse, nothing got in her way of covenant loyalty to Naomi and her husband’s family’s God.
Ruth accompanied Naomi, who returned to Bethlehem. They were impoverished. Encouraged to glean in nearby fields to bring in some sustenance, Ruth just so happened to pick a field owned by a close relative, Boaz. It just so happened that Boaz was in line to marry her, and it just so happened that he wanted to do so.
God worked in the midst of the worst circumstances to rescue Naomi and Ruth from poverty and provide a husband for Ruth. Boaz and Ruth just so happened to be the grandparents of Jesse, King David’s father, and distant ancestors of Yeshua.
We know that this was the hand of God, but there was no word from the Lord throughout the book. No miracle. No theophany. But there were signs that He was working. Things just so happened to fall into place.
Esther’s experience was similar.
It just so happened that Queen Vashti rebelled and was deposed. It just so happened that Esther was chosen to replace her.
Esther was queen of an exorbitantly wealthy, powerful empire. But her life was in danger. As a Jewess she was subject to an edict that stated that on a certain date, every Jew was to be slaughtered.
Meanwhile, her cousin Mordecai just so happened to be in the right place at the right time to notify the emperor of a plot to assassinate him. Then, it just so happened that one night the emperor happened upon the record of that intervention. And it just so happened that Mordecai’s enemy, the conniving genocidal Amalekite, Haman, was forced to proclaim the emperor’s favor over Mordecai. It just so happened that the stake upon which Haman planned to impale Mordecai was actually a preparation for the Agagite’s demise.
No miracles are mentioned. No oracles. No prophets. No signs and wonders. However, there were a series of coincidences that revealed the hand of God working, tweaking circumstances and relationships that just so happened to be the means of delivering every Jew subject to this empire.
Perhaps you can trace the providential favor in your life, too. As with Naomi and Ruth’s experience, it may have looked as if you were under a curse, but circumstances just so happened to fall into place. Perhaps you still feel like life is stacked against you. Hold on, it just so happens that God’s still at work. He hasn’t changed. Circumstances that seem like obstacles may just so happen to be the keys Adonai is using to deliver you and bring you into your destiny.
Maybe you’re like the average Jewish citizen of the Persian empire and it looks like you’re in a helplessly vulnerable situation. It just so happens that there is a Mordecai and an Esther who are positioned to make a way of escape. Hope in God.
If you look carefully, in faith, you may discern the activity of God behind the scenes. It may not be dramatic, but God’s favorable providence is already silently securing your deliverance.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun5-July 202620th of Tamuz, 5786
Nu 30:1[2]-31:12Ez 14-15Neh 9Eph 2 (Lk 14)
The books Ruth and Esther, provide examples of the hidden hand of Adonai as He moves through circumstances. Neither record miracles, or report prophetic oracles, or provide examples of spiritual worship. Both reveal God’s nature as He works behind the scenes.
The coincidences in these books are signs. In themselves they are not miraculous wonders. They are “it just so happened at the right time and the right place that this apparently perfectly natural thing took place that changed the course of a woman, or a nation’s destiny.” These coinciding events point to the God who is working.
This is going to ultimately happen.
Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Right now, the way things are working together are harbingers of this ultimate outcome.
We can see evidence of God moving beneath the surface of what appears to be reality. These coincidences are evidences of the providence of our compassionate God.
Consider Ruth and Naomi’s story. Ruth the Moabitess had turned away from worshiping Chemosh, “the Destroyer”. Abominable Canaanite practices were part of the religious rituals which helped form Ruth’s childhood. But Ruth just so happened to marry a Judean from Bethlehem.
After years of marriage, she was childless. Her father-in-law died. Her brother-in-law died. Her husband died. Her mother-in-law, bereft of husband and sons, and without grandchildren despite years of her sons being married, was broken and embittered. However, Ruth had faith in Israel’s God and, although it seemed like they were under heaven’s curse, nothing got in her way of covenant loyalty to Naomi and her husband’s family’s God.
Ruth accompanied Naomi, who returned to Bethlehem. They were impoverished. Encouraged to glean in nearby fields to bring in some sustenance, Ruth just so happened to pick a field owned by a close relative, Boaz. It just so happened that Boaz was in line to marry her, and it just so happened that he wanted to do so.
God worked in the midst of the worst circumstances to rescue Naomi and Ruth from poverty and provide a husband for Ruth. Boaz and Ruth just so happened to be the grandparents of Jesse, King David’s father, and distant ancestors of Yeshua.
We know that this was the hand of God, but there was no word from the Lord throughout the book. No miracle. No theophany. But there were signs that He was working. Things just so happened to fall into place.
Esther’s experience was similar.
It just so happened that Queen Vashti rebelled and was deposed. It just so happened that Esther was chosen to replace her.
Esther was queen of an exorbitantly wealthy, powerful empire. But her life was in danger. As a Jewess she was subject to an edict that stated that on a certain date, every Jew was to be slaughtered.
Meanwhile, her cousin Mordecai just so happened to be in the right place at the right time to notify the emperor of a plot to assassinate him. Then, it just so happened that one night the emperor happened upon the record of that intervention. And it just so happened that Mordecai’s enemy, the conniving genocidal Amalekite, Haman, was forced to proclaim the emperor’s favor over Mordecai. It just so happened that the stake upon which Haman planned to impale Mordecai was actually a preparation for the Agagite’s demise.
No miracles are mentioned. No oracles. No prophets. No signs and wonders. However, there were a series of coincidences that revealed the hand of God working, tweaking circumstances and relationships that just so happened to be the means of delivering every Jew subject to this empire.
Perhaps you can trace the providential favor in your life, too. As with Naomi and Ruth’s experience, it may have looked as if you were under a curse, but circumstances just so happened to fall into place. Perhaps you still feel like life is stacked against you. Hold on, it just so happens that God’s still at work. He hasn’t changed. Circumstances that seem like obstacles may just so happen to be the keys Adonai is using to deliver you and bring you into your destiny.
Maybe you’re like the average Jewish citizen of the Persian empire and it looks like you’re in a helplessly vulnerable situation. It just so happens that there is a Mordecai and an Esther who are positioned to make a way of escape. Hope in God.
If you look carefully, in faith, you may discern the activity of God behind the scenes. It may not be dramatic, but God’s favorable providence is already silently securing your deliverance.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun5-July 202620th of Tamuz, 5786
Nu 30:1[2]-31:12Ez 14-15Neh 9Eph 2 (Lk 14)
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
Recent
Archive
2026
January
RR Psalm 42:12(11) Part 8RR Psalm 43:1 Part 1RR In Praise of Milk By David HarwoodRR Psalm 43:2 Part 2RR Psalm 43:3 Part 3RR Psalm 43:4 Part 4RR Psalm 43:5 Part 5RR Psalm 44:1-5(1-4) Part 1RR “The Priority & Power of Relationship” by Jerry MillerRR Favor on top of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:6-9(5-8) Part 2RR Psalm 44:10-13(9-12) Part 3RR Psalm 44:14-17(13-16) Part 4RR Psalm 44:18-22(17-21) Part 5RR The Throne By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:23-27(22-26) Part 6RR Psalm 45:1-3(1,2) Part 1RR PPsalm 45:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 45:5(4) Part 3RR Psalm 45:6(5) Part 4RR Psalm 45:7(6) Part 5RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Doubting Favor by David HarwoodRR Psalm 45:8(7) Part 6RR Psalm 45:9(8) Part 7RR Psalm 45:10(9) Part 8RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 9RR Favor and Calling By David HarwoodRR YESHUA BEYOND THE BIBLE By Dr. Raymond Finney RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 10
February
RR Psalm 45:14-16(13-15) Part 11RR Psalm 45:17,18(16,17) Part 12RR Psalm 46:1,2(1) Part 1RR Psalm 46:3,4(2,3) Part 2RR Charismata - Signs of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 3RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 5RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) – Part 4RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 6RR Psalm 46:9-12(8-11) Part 7RR THE ONE AND ONLY YOU (Part 1) The Amazing Mystery of Light and You By Dr. Raymond FinneyRR Favor and Sanctity by David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:9-12 (8-11) Part 8RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 1RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 2RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 3RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 4RR Gratitude for Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 47:6(5) Part 5RR Psalm 47:7(6) Part 6RR Psalm 47:9(8) Part 8RR Psalm 47:10(9) Part 9RR Psalm 48:1-3 Part 1RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 3” by Jerry MillerRR Some Favorite Verses (1) By David HarwoodRR Psalm 1:1 Part 1 (rerun)
March
RR Psalm 48:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 5RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 4RR Psalm 48:5-7 Part 3RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 6RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 7RR Some Favorite Verses (2) Generosity and Enabling Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 48:13-15 Part 8RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 1RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 2RR Psalm 49:6(5) – Part 3RR Some Favorite Verses (3) Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:7-9(6-8) Part 4RR Psalm 49:10,11(9,10) Part 5RR Psalm 49:12(11), 13(12) – Part 6RR Psalm 49:14(13) Part 7RR Manifestations of Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 9RR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 8RR Psalm 49:19-21(18-20) Part 11RR Psalm 49:17,18(16,17) Part 10RR Psalm 50:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 50:3 Part 2RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 5” by Jerry MillerRR Yeshua’s Enriched Speech and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 50:5 Part 4RR Psalm 50:4 Part 3RR Psalm 50:6 Part 5RR Psalm 50:6 Part 6RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 7
April
RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 8RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 9RR Yeshua Provides a Pattern By David HarwoodRR Pasach 3 Torah Lesson – Exodus 33-12-34:26 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Let's Celebrate Yom HaBikurimRR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 10RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 11RR Sh’mini Torah lesson – Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Psalm 50:22,23 Part 13RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 12RR Yeshua Grew By David HarwoodRR Psalm 51:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 51:3 Part 2