Ruth, Boaz And Redemption Series

Why is it so important for us that we have a book of the Bible named Ruth? Why are the last verses of the book of Ruth almost the first ones opening the New Testament?

The first three chapters of Ruth start to answer these questions, but chapter 4 gives us clarity on the reasons why. The Book of Ruth begins by introducing us to Elimelech from Bethlehem. His name means the Lord is my king. The story takes place during the time of the Judges when there is a famine in Bethlehem.

Elimelech and his wife Naomi go to Moab because there is no food for them in Bethlehem. Naomi has bitter experiences in Moab. Her husband dies. Her two sons marry Moabite women and then both of her sons die. Naomi says, "The Almighty has dealt bitterly with me." (Ruth 1:20)

Naomi has experienced bitter tragedy with the death of her husband and two sons, but there is a bright spot in her daughter-in-law, Ruth. She is an unlikely person to be the heroine of this story. She is a Moabite woman. The Moabite women and their Moabite idols have been a stumbling block for Israel in the past. Because of this Ruth and her people are cursed to the tenth generation.

Ruth remains faithful to Naomi. Ruth puts her faith in the God of Israel and returns to Bethlehem with Naomi. Her vow of faithfulness has become a proverbial saying for faithfulness several thousand years later to this day.

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17)

We also find out at the very end of chapter 1 that Ruth and Naomi arrive to Bethlehem at the time of Barley harvest. This is going to change their lives. This is the story of Ruth’s redemption unfolding. The Lord is directing the steps of Ruth and Naomi.

We by now have already seen just how unlikely Ruth is to become the hero. But God uses the unlikely. We see grace and kindness from Ruth, Boaz and most of all from God. It says that Ruth “happened” to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz. By “happened” we understand that God is orchestrating everything.

Boaz made arrangements that Ruth get exceedingly more grain that would ordinarily come from gleaning. He fed her and provided water for her. Naomi was overwhelmed by what was unfolding. Now Naomi is asking God to bless Boaz who has shown them such kindness. (Ruth 2:20).

Naomi has a plan to bring even more blessing, to all of them, from the kindness of Boaz. She sees a way for Boaz and Ruth to get married. Naomi knows that Boaz is the kinsman redeemer for their family. He has a right and even a responsibility to redeem the property of Naomi. In this case it means he would need to marry Ruth also. Boaz is all in, but there is another man who is first in line to be the kinsman redeemer.

Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. 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.” “I will redeem it,” he said. (Ruth 4:1-4)

It all went according to how Naomi told Ruth this would go. Boaz has gone right away to the Bethlehem town gate to settle this matter. He had the first in line kinsman redeemer and the ten Bethlehem elders all gathered together to settle this matter of Naomi’s property. The first in line is ready to redeem the property.

But wait. There is more to this kinsman redeemer transaction than just property. You are also needing to marry Ruth the Moabite woman, the widow of the man who would have legally owned this property, but he is dead now.