Arriving in Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was beginning (1:22), Ruth goes out in search of food – to “pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favour” (2:2). By the end of the day, she has returned home overloaded with grain, a guarantee of work for the season and of protection from those who might harm her. The person in whose eyes she has “found favour” is Boaz, who – unbeknown to Ruth – is a close relative of Naomi. And it is in Boaz’s field “as it turned out” (2:3) that Ruth ended up working in. Boaz ascribes to God the blessings that come to Ruth that day, and in the days to come: “May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (2:12). Where is God in our times of trouble – is he absent or is he working in the details? As we long for change in our circumstances, where – ultimately- do “favour”, “blessing” and “refuge” come from?