Few books in the Bible elicit more interest or questions than the Books of Ruth and Esther. Located in the historical books of the Old Testament, they are the only books in the Bible that are named for women. These books depict dark days in the history of Israel. Written during the time of the judges, the Book of Ruth is the love story of King David’s grandparents and explains how a Moabite woman ended up in the lineage of King Jesus. It is a book about love lost and love regained, and it provides a most excellent example of the beauty of God’s redemptive work, both then and now. Esther, on the other hand, is written during Israel’s captivity in Persia. It recounts the near genocide of the Jewish people, and God’s miraculous rescue through the efforts of the young Jewish queen, Esther. It is a spy-thriller—full of political intrigue, assassination attempts, and sexual debauchery. Interestingly, this book never mentions God’s name at all. Yet, few books in all of Scripture provide a better picture of God’s meticulous providence as he works out his sovereign will for his people and the world.