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May 15 - The Kinsman Redeemer
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Lessons from the Book of Ruth: The Kinsman Redeemer
By Jim Laffoon
Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!" Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working.
"The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz," she said.
"The LORD bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added, "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers." Ruth 2:19-20
Ruth was amazed. Naomi had told her that under Israelite law, widows were allowed to pick up the grain which the workers had left behind in the fields. This, however, was more than she had ever expected.
This man, Boaz, had allowed her to gather the finest grain in the fields and had even fed her.
“Why was he so kind? What did he want?” she wondered to herself.
When Ruth returned home to Naomi that evening, her heart was filled with this man’s kindness. “What was his name?” Naomi had asked. “Boaz,” Ruth whispered.
The moment Naomi heard his name her eyes were flooded with tears. It was as if her whole countenance was momentarily transformed with an unearthly glow of amazing joy.
“God has not forgotten us!” Naomi sobbed. “Boaz is one of our kinsman-redeemers.”
The story of Ruth and her kinsman-redeemer is one of Scripture's most beautiful stories of redemption.
Under Israelite law, one of the responsibilities of a close relative (kinsman-redeemer) was to marry and care for any impoverished widow within his relations. This responsibility could be passed to another family member if the closest relative was unable to fulfill his duty toward the widow.
Therefore, although Boaz was later to fall in love with Ruth, his kindness to her in his fields was based on the very laws of God.
Although Boaz’ care for Ruth was amazing, you and I have Someone far greater to call on as our Kinsman-Redeemer.
Hebrews 2:11b says that Jesus is not ashamed to call us His very brothers and sisters. Do you see it yet? Jesus Christ Himself is your Kinsman-Redeemer!
He has promised to care of you with all the resources and power of heaven at His disposal. Whether you have been widowed, impoverished, afflicted, or abandoned, your heavenly Kinsman-Redeemer is waiting to help you today.
As you come to Him in faith, He will fulfill every obligation He has made to you through the promises of His living Word.
© Copyright 2005 by Jim Laffoon
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