The position was one of relational-rescuer, someone able to restore what had been lost. Now the question lay with Boaz. Would he be willing to act as kinsman-redeemer and did he have the financial means to do so?
Even before Ruth met Boaz, her story of devotion honored God. Living in a pagan country away from her beloved Bethlehem, Naomi lost first her husband Elimelech and then both her sons Mahlon and Chilion. Few fates could be worse for a woman at that time than to be left without a husband or sons.
It signified the loss of income, position, and support. Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. Although Naomi convinced Orpah, to return to her village, Ruth could not be dissuaded. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Her declaration promised faithfulness not only to the mother of her deceased husband but to another people and to the One True God.
Such profound loyalty eventually brought Ruth to be named in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The Hebrew word, hesed , brings abundant reward into their romance. Translated into English as love, mercy, faithfulness, loyalty, goodness, and lovingkindness hesed is an attribute of God shown in action throughout the book of Ruth. She demonstrates it when she leaves behind the Moabite gods and embraces the God of the Israelites.
Ruth displays it as she works diligently in the field. She exhibits it in her actions of obedience and humility at the feet of her kinsman-redeemer. However, a closer relative existed. Graciously Boaz promised to see Ruth redeemed whether through the nearer relative or by himself. When the nearest kinsman declined his role as kinsman-redeemer, Boaz bought the land and pledged himself to marry her.
Boaz did the right thing in the right way. The inspiration for Christian couples also flows through the parallels of our redemption by Jesus Christ. We too were empty-handed and lost. Jesus Christ willingly paid the price for our salvation. He became like us, taking on humanity but without sin. While once we were destitute and broken, we now have hope. We too are wooed and embraced by the lovingkindness of God through His Son Jesus. Naomi, once impoverished and desperate.
What can we in the modern era take away from the story of Boaz when customs are so different? Naomi and her husband had fled to Moab to escape famine and there their sons married Moabite women. Then disaster struck. One of the daughters-in-law insisted she would go with her.
This was Ruth. God positioned Boaz to rescue the women from their trouble. In his obedient and upright character, Boaz not only met the requirements of the law, he embraced the spirit behind it. When Ruth came to glean from his fields, Boaz ensured there would be more than the usual harvest gleanings. He encouraged the young women of his household to show Ruth kindness and he dissuaded the young men from giving her any kind of hard time.
All this he did before he knew he was the kinsman redeemer. When Ruth approached Boaz, he revealed to her that another held precedence before him according to the law.
Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough. Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you! And she lived with her mother-in-law. Commentaries for Ruth 2. Ruth 3. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.
Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. Lie here until morning. Then he went back to town. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today. Commentaries for Ruth 3. Ruth 4. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.
You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel. Today you are witnesses! May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. May he become famous throughout Israel!
For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Commentaries for Ruth 4. Matthew
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