According to the American Worldview Inventory 2025, the percentage of Americans who believe in the God of the Bible has declined significantly “from 73% in the early 1990s to just 40% today.” Dominating the current cultural landscape is “the practical expression of Syncretism”—handpicking and mixing a variety of beliefs from conflicting worldviews.

What we believe about God matters, and the book of Ruth reveals much about the true character of God. In it we see His hesed love and sovereign salvation plan. Throughout the story of Naomi and Ruth, the Lord is at work—often “behind the scenes”—orchestrating circumstances, arranging timing, and directing people for His redemptive purposes.

So today we look at another important passage where the Apostle Paul describes God’s sovereign role in our salvation. Paul opens his letter to the Ephesian church with a profound call to worship the Lord. He reigns over all and has ordained every detail of our redemption from “before the creation of the world” (v. 4). Before time began, God chose us in Christ “to be holy and blameless in his sight.” His choosing was not random. It was relational. He adopted us as sons and daughters “in love”—another act of hesed—and “in accordance with his pleasure and will” (v. 5).

The theme of God’s sovereignty continues in verse 11. Our adoption comes with an inheritance from the God who “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (v. 11). Nothing is outside of His control. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together for our salvation. The Father chooses (v. 4). The Son redeems (v. 7). And the Spirit seals (v. 13). We are the beneficiaries of God’s divine love and sovereign grace—not because of our effort, but because of His unchanging will.

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