Settled by the Lord

"When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her. She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”— Ruth 3:16-18 (NASB1995)

Ruth's Backstory

In the story of Ruth, Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth return to Judah after the loss of their husbands. Ruth, a Moabite and now widow, has chosen to follow her widowed mother-in-law back to Naomi's homeland rather than stay where she is, while Naomi is returning embittered, saying, “Call me Mara” (Ruth 1:19-21) due to the sorrow and loss that have shaped her spirit.

While they are back in Judah, Ruth begins to glean from the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi, of whom Naomi later reveals is a “kinsman-redeemer” (גֹּאֵל, go’el)—a man who, according to Israelite law, has the right and responsibility to redeem a widow by marrying her to continue her deceased husband’s lineage (Leviticus 25:25, Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Though Ruth does not know it at first, her presence in Boaz’s field is not by accident but is divinely orchestrated.

Boaz quickly notices Ruth and is moved by her faithfulness to Naomi. He extends great kindness to her, ensuring her safety among his workers, giving her extra provisions, and instructing his harvesters to leave behind grain for her to gather (Ruth 2:8-16). When Ruth returns to Naomi with an abundance of grain, Naomi recognizes Boaz’s favor as a sign of God’s provision. She exclaims, “May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn His kindness to the living and the dead” (Ruth 2:20, NASB), realizing that Boaz’s role as a go’el could offer Naomi, Ruth, and her family lineage security and restoration.

Naomi, seeing an opportunity for Ruth’s future, instructs her to take a bold step—to present herself to Boaz at the threshing floor after the harvest, signaling her openness for him to redeem her. This act was a symbolic and legal request for protection and provision, as Ruth humbly lays at Boaz’s feet and asks him to “spread his garment” over her (Ruth 3:9), a phrase that echoes the language of covenant and marriage (Ezekiel 16:8).

Boaz, honoring Ruth’s integrity and faith, is deeply moved by her request. He praises her for seeking redemption from him rather than pursuing younger men (Ruth 3:10). Yet, in his righteousness, he reveals that there is another closer kinsman-redeemer who has the first right to claim Ruth (Ruth 3:12-13). Rather than rushing ahead, Boaz ensures that the matter is settled lawfully and fairly. However, he does not send Ruth away empty-handed—he gives her six measures of barley, a symbolic gesture of his intent to care for her and Naomi, showing that he will not leave them destitute in the waiting (Ruth 3:15). Upon returning home, Ruth recounts everything to Naomi, leading to this pivotal moment in Ruth 3:16-18.

A Command to Settle

As Ruth returns to Naomi after presenting herself to Boaz, she receives a command from her mother-in-law that carries deep theological significance: “Wait, my daughter” (v.18). At first glance, this might seem like a simple instruction to be patient, but in Hebrew, the word used for “wait” is יָשַׁב (yâshab)—a word that means far more than just sitting idly.

Yâshab means to dwell, remain, or even to marry. It is used throughout Scripture to refer to being settled in a place, inhabiting a home, or taking a position of trust. This is not just a call for Ruth to physically remain still; it is a divine command for her to be settled in faith—to inhabit the certainty that God is working on her behalf.

This isn't cruel irony that Naomi tells Ruth that she should "be established" or "inhabit" before she knows her future. Rather, she commands Ruth to “be established” in and “inhabit” faith, not as a passive waiting, but as both a foreshadowing of what is to come and a promise of what God is already doing. Ruth has yet to be physically married, yet she is commanded to yâshab—to take a spiritual posture of being settled by the Lord. Naomi, through divine wisdom, is speaking something greater than Ruth’s immediate circumstances—she is declaring that the Lord is giving her rest in His establishment for her, even as it is not yet accomplished in her circumstance. Even before Boaz makes his formal commitment, Ruth is being spiritually settled by God, already positioned in His covenant plan.

Boaz’s Holy Restlessness

While Ruth is called to settle in faith through stillness, Boaz is divinely compelled toward action. Naomi declares, “For the man will not rest until he has settled it today.” The word here for “rest” is שָׁקַט (shâqat), which means to be quiet, tranquil, undisturbed, at peace. Yet Boaz will experience none of that until he fulfills what God has placed on his heart.

This is a powerful distinction:

Ruth’s role is to rest in faith.
Boaz’s role is to move in obedience.
Naomi's role is to speak spiritual wisdom and insight.
God's role is to bring it all to completion through the individual calling and obedience of each person.

Boaz is not acting out of obligation alone—he is driven by divine urgency. God has placed the matter upon his heart so strongly that he cannot be still (shâqat) until it is resolved. This holy restlessness is a sign that God is orchestrating His plan, moving Boaz to act at the appointed time.

How often do we find ourselves trying to take control of situations that are not ours to handle? Naomi’s wisdom here is profound: Ruth does not need to strive. She does not need to pressure Boaz or make something happen. God is already stirring the right hearts to take action.

The Completion of God’s Work

Finally, Naomi assures Ruth that the matter will be settled (כָּלָה, kâlâh). This word means to complete, accomplish, fulfill, or bring to an end. It is often used in Scripture to refer to God’s finishing work—the way He sees His plans through to the end.

Naomi is speaking prophetically: God has already set things in motion, and He will bring them to their intended completion. This is the essence of faith—believing in what we do not yet see because we trust the One who sees all.

God Speaks Through Naomi

Naomi’s role in this passage is crucial. She went from “Mara” (bitter) to “Naomi” (pleasant one) in a moment when she saw that “God had not forgotten the living or the dead”. When her sons were living, they were barren, the family line would have ended with them regardless. And when they passed away, she was all that would be left of her household. Her lineage and destiny were dead.

But suddenly, she saw that God was orchestrating a resurrection plan for her life and she was ready to join as He revealed His providence and remembrance of her and her family.

So here, she is not merely giving practical advice—she is acting as God’s mouthpiece, speaking divine truth over Ruth’s life as it has been revealed to her. Through her, God declares three essential truths:

yâshab- Ruth is to dwell in faith. She is being settled before she is physically established. This is a call to spiritual trust rather than anxious striving.
shâqat – Boaz will not have peace until he acts. This is a sign that God is moving, stirring hearts, and putting things into motion that Ruth cannot control.
kâlâh – God will complete the work. The resolution is already assured in His hands.

Through Naomi’s words, we see a divine pattern:

Naomi is spurred to speak hope.
Ruth is settled in faith of God’s provision.
Boaz is stirred to action for covenantal redemption.
God is providentially orchestrating and bringing all things to completion.

Our Circumstantial Obedience within God's Divine Providence

This passage teaches us a beautiful balance between faith and action.

There are times when we, like Ruth, must be settled in faith, waiting on God to move.
There are times when we, like Boaz, will feel the holy unrest that drives us to obedience.
There are times when we, like Naomi, must lay down our bitterness of circumstance as we recognize the movement God in our lives and spur ourselves and others on in obedience of faith.
But at all times, we get to trust in the faithfulness of God as HE brings His providences to completion.

Naomi’s wisdom calls us to trust God’s order:

We must not try to stir up what God has already settled.
We must not try to settle what God is stirring.
And above all, we must be spurred on and trust that what God begins, He will finish.

Ruth’s story is ultimately about more than just her marriage to Boaz. It is a foreshadowing of Christ, our Redeemer, who does not rest until His work is complete. Just as Boaz took on the responsibility of redeeming Ruth, Christ took on the weight of redeeming us.

When Boaz went to the next of line for Ruth's redemption, the kinsman quickly backed out once he learned that he would redeem Ruth's late husband's family line and "jeopardize" his own (Ruth 4:6). Uncoincidentally, he is the one who remained nameless in the story while Boaz, who gladly took this responsibility, is named in the book of Ruth and credited in Jesus's lineage even over her original husband (Matthew 1:5).

Ruth was settled in Boaz’s provision before she physically saw it, leading to the fulfillment of children when she had previously been barren.
We are settled in Christ’s promise before we fully see its fulfillment, as He takes the barrenness of our lives to bring redemption and restoration for His glory.
Naomi, once convinced her story had ended in bitterness, was fully restored. She returns to Bethlehem as Mara ('bitter'), yet she finishes her story as Naomi ('pleasant one'), reclaiming her true identity through God’s faithfulness. The story concludes with her joyfully holding her grandson, the child of Ruth and Boaz, as the community praises the Lord's restoration over her life and prays blessings over him. This child would become the grandfather of King David and part of the lineage of Christ. Through Naomi, we see that God’s redemption is never partial—it is abundant, generational, and eternal.

Application:

The same way that God did the impossible for Naomi, He can do the same for you! Naomi went from a barren situation, to a complete loss of living relatives. But He resurrected her lineage from the dead and did something so much more beautiful in the scheme of eternity. No situation is too far gone for His redemption.

So today, where is God calling you to settle in faith before you see the outcome? Where is He stirring you to take obedient action vs. calling you to inhabit faith in His providence? Are there places in your life where bitterness or fear are keeping you from being spurred into trust and obedience?

Repent and trust that He will complete the good work He has begun in you, for you, and through you for His Eternal Purpose.

Prayer

Lord, help me to be settled where You have already spoken. Forgive me for allowing circumstances or emotions to define my identity instead of You. Heal these areas and help me to believe what you have spoken and spur others towards obedience in You. Give me the faith to rest in Your promises, knowing that You are already moving. If You are stirring my heart toward action, give me the boldness to obey. Lord, I declare trust in Your perfect completion—that what You begin, You will bring to perfect fulfillment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.