Here in the South we have a chain of restaurants named Bo Jangles. And their commercials end with “It’s Bo Time.” as a way of saying all your hunger cravings can be filled right now by visiting their location. In fact, the time is right now. Today we are going to see that Naomi and Ruth experienced their own “Bo Time.”
Last week we left Naomi a bitter woman by her own design. She had returned from Moab with no husband, no sons, and no grandchildren. All she had was a Moabite woman that came from a people cursed by God and a land that would be destroyed by God. She had left “pleasant” and returned bitter.
They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring which was the beginning of the barley harvest. When Naomi returned to her home town she would not have had any place to stay. Her husband would have sold his land before leaving and not been there to claim his land after seven years according to the law. “But if the original owner cannot afford to buy back the land, it will remain with the new owner until the next Year of Jubilee. In the jubilee year, the land must be returned to the original owners so they can return to their family land.” (Leviticus 25:28) Someone would have allowed her to stay with them or have given her a place to stay. And also the Moabite woman.
One day the Moabite woman asked if she could go out into the harvest fields to pick up stalks of grain that were left behind. That was, if she could find someone kind enough. Naomi basically said “Sure. Go ahead. Give it a shot.”
I love the way the scripture puts the next verse, “So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.” (Ruth 2:3) The “as it happened” was totally orchestrated by God. Please remember this. Any “as it happened” that takes place in your life is being totally orchestrated by God.
While she’s working in the field Boaz, the owner of the field arrives. He asked the foreman “Who is that young woman over there?” The foreman replied “She is that young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi.” (Ruth 2:5-6)
Boaz had a problem. He knew what the Torah instructed concerning the Moabites. “As long as you live, you must never promote the welfare and prosperity of the Ammonites or Moabites.” (Deut 23:6) So one can imagine the fear of this Moabite woman as Boaz approached her.
What did he say to her? “Stay right here with us. Follow the young women already working in the field. The young men are to treat you with respect. And when you are thirsty, drink from the well.”
She is shocked. She fell at his feet in submission. She reminded him of how undeserving she was because she was a foreigner. She asked “What have I done to deserve such kindness” (Ruth2:10)
“----Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” (Ruth 2:11-12)
Something happened that superseded that commandment. What was it? Was it her kindness? Was it her sacrifice? These things were certainly important. But the thing that over-rode this commandment of God was her willingness to except him as her refuge. “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant. I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations. For the Sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says: I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.” (Isaiah 56: 6-8) From this point on in scripture she is referred to as Ruth.
Boaz invited Ruth to have dinner with him. When she went back to work Boaz told the young men to purposely drop some of the good grain for her to gather and “keep their hands off.”
When Ruth returned to Naomi it was with a basket filled with grain and the left-overs from her dinner with Boaz. Naomi was amazed. “Where did you get all this?” she asked. Ruth told her about Boaz and how he invited her to come back to gather when she desired to do so. Naomi then explained to her the concept of a kinsman-redeemer.
She would have explained that if a brother died without a son, his wife was not to marry outside the family but rather was to marry her brother-in-law and be intimate with him. Their son would then inherit the property of the brother that died so that his name would not be forgotten in Israel. (Deut 25:5-6) If their was no brother than a close relative could step in to redeem her.
To be a kinsman-redeemer, a man had to meet four specific criteria. 1) He had to be a close relative. The scripture does disclose the relationship of Boaz and Naomi’s husband. 2) He must be free, and not a slave to someone else. Boaz was certainly a successful land owner. 3) He must be able to perform the redemption. (This was a problem at first because there was another who was a closer relative. Boaz used a little trickery to convince this man that he did not want to redeem her thus making Boaz eligible. 4) And he must be willing to perform the redemption. This would be Boaz’s choice.
So Ruth worked in Boaz’s field through the wheat harvest in early summer, continuing to care for her mother-in-law.
Then one day Naomi said to Ruth “It’s Bo’ Time.” She instructed Ruth to take a bath, put on perfume, and dress in her nicest clothes. She told her to go Boaz’s place and stay out of sight. She was to watch where he lay down for sleep and then, after he was asleep, she was to lie down at his uncovered feet.
Around midnight Boaz woke up to find Ruth at his feet. When he asked “Why are you here?” she replied “You are my kinsman-redeemer.”
So Boaz agreed to redeem her, married her, and gave her a son who would regain all the properties that Naomi’s husband had lost. Their son was named Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father of David, who became the king of Israel, and who’s lineage that Jesus came through.
And it is Jesus that has become our kinsman-redeemer.
Remember? Naomi came back bitter because she was empty. We also live empty lives. Without Jesus there is emptiness in our soul. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (1 Peter 1:18-19) A ransom has been paid. Ransom’s definition is; the release of a person in return for payment of a demanded price. We are released from a life with no meaning to a life filled with purpose and joy. The demanded payment was the blood of God’s Son. Naomi’s life had a purpose. Through her example we see the evidence of Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Noami became “pleasant” again. God restored her family. Ruth’s life had a purpose. Through her life we see God’s acceptance of us.
Jesus fulfills the 4 requirements necessary to be our kinsman-redeemer.
1) He had to be a close relative. He had to become a human like us. In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. (John 1:1,14)
2) He had to be a free-man and not a slave. We are enslaved to sin the moment we are born. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, ----(Gal. 3:22) Therfore, we can not redeem ourselves. But Jesus can.
First, his mother became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Matt 1:18) This eliminated him from being contaminated by sin through a natural birth. And as far as his life on earth, Peter says “He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.” (1 Peter 2:22)
3) He had to be able to perform the redemption. He had to have the legal right to do so. God gave him that legal right.
“The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.” (Romans 8:3) What the legality of the law could not do, the legality of the perfect sacrifice did. And if any doubt remains as to the qualifications of Jesus to perform this redemption take a look into the future. “Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Rev 5: 1-5)
4) He had to be willing to perform the redemption. And He was. “He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” (Titus 2:14) He gave his life to free us from the bondages of every kind of sin. He gave his life to clean up our messes. He gave his life so He could brag on us and declare us his. And all He asks in return is that we will love and take care of each other.
Naomi desired to see Ruth redeemed. She had something to gain by it. Do you desire to see a loved one redeemed? You have something to gain. You have the knowledge of knowing that you have led them in the direction of finding a life filled with joy and purpose. Tell others about the kinsman-redeemer.
Ruth desired to be redeemed. Imagine her excitement when she learned the details of a promise that would fill her empty life with joy and purpose. There are others out there who desire to be redeemed but needs guidance. Ruth had to go to Boaz to be redeemed. She had to ask.
Boaz desired to redeem Ruth. He cared for her the moment she caught his attention. He provided for her. He protected her. And his actions drew her to him.
Jesus desires to redeem those who needs redemption. Jesus invites us to remain in his presence. Jesus directs on the right path. Jesus protects us from harm. Jesus invites us to drink from the well of living water. Jesus invites us to dine with him. Jesus provides for us even when we don’t recognize or acknowledge his provision. Jesus says “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
So I leave you with this final word. “For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” (2Cor 6:2) It’s Bo Time.
