(Ruth 4:1-22) Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the redeemer of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Come over here, friend, sit down here.” And he came over and sat down. 2 Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 And he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, has to sell the plot of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 So I thought that I would inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me so that I may know; for there is no one except you to redeem it, and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, otherwise I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, since I cannot redeem it.”
7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the way of confirmation in Israel. 8 So the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 Furthermore, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be eliminated from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” 11 And all the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. 12 Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the descendants whom the Lord will give you by this young woman.”
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. 15 May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. 17 And the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 and Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed, 22 and Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Boaz proclaimed his intentions to the entire city, without being at all embarrassed or self-conscious of the fact that he was going to marry a Moabite woman. And in all of this, he denied himself - his own inheritance and his own future - in order to fulfill the inheritance for his kinsmen. A very selfless act! And it was nice to see that the city was not only in full support of this union and action, but they blessed them all with well-wishes.
So what was this redeemer to be? I recently learned this in my Bible study. He had to be closely related, able, and willing. Looking at the reactions of the unnamed closest redeemer, was it really that he could not, or would not? The closest redeemer didn't want to buy the field after hearing that he'd be responsible in carrying on another man's legacy. He was more worried about his own inheritance and legacy. Interestingly, his name is not even mentioned once, and so, any bit of legacy that he might have had, died with him.
Meanwhile, Ruth continued to be a blessing to Naomi's life. She was considered better than seven sons, which would have been the epitome of blessings. To the Israelites, the number seven symbolized perfection and completion. Ruth had married well, and both Boaz and Ruth provided that son, which was like a replacement "son" for Naomi, as her redeemer. This son would be the one to carry on the family name and inheritance (once he was old enough).
Notice that it was the Lord that enabled Ruth to conceive. I understand that many people desire to have children and are desperate to do so, but we should not make this our "god". Neither having a husband or a child will complete anyone. Pray about these things and trust that if it is God's will that we marry, He will send the right person at the right time, and if it is His will that we have children, He will make that possible. The most important thing in life is that we find our hope and joy in the Lord, and keep our focus on Him.
Fame and fortune can also become our "god", but it is obvious that even though Boaz had great wealth, he did not love money or status. Willing to give up his own inheritance and legacy in order to save these women from a life of destitution and build on another man's inheritance, God blessed Boaz in all of this. Boaz is not only named, but he is included in the genealogy of king David, and ultimately, the earthly genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings (Matthew 1).
Jesus is the Redeemer of all who put their faith in Him. The Lord was willing to leave His throne to come to earth, born in flesh, so that He could be fully man, and legitimately be a kinsmen - close to us. While still being fully God, Jesus was able - to pay the price of our sins on the cross and rise again to conquer death! AND because He loves us all, He was willing! Even though He knew the cost!
(Luke 22:42) saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Jesus has already paid the price! All anyone has to do is believe in Him, which is to accept His redemption, the free gift of salvation. Repenting and giving up our old, sinful self, we gain a new life, reborn into God's family. With this we are able to have a close, personal relationship with our Redeemer who saves us from a life of destitution and despair. And with Him we gain an eternal inheritance and legacy as children of God. Our names are written in the Lord's book of life, which can never be erased!
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