Ruth a Woman of CharacterEsimerkki

Redeemed

The definition of “redeem” is “to gain (or regain) possession of something at a price.” Ruth’s story is a story of redemption. She and her mother-in-law Naomi had lost their husbands and their lands, but Boaz redeems Naomi’s heritage and takes Ruth as his wife.

The decision to marry Ruth was costly for Boaz. There is another possible redeemer who is first in line. He agreed to redeem the land but then passed when he discovered it required marrying Ruth. Raising a son for Ruth meant the land would go to Naomi’s heirs rather than his own. But Boaz chooses to marry Ruth and redeem the land for Naomi’s descendants. He looked beyond what was comfortable, preferring to cast his lot with women of great character.

The result of the union of Boaz and Ruth was a son, Obed. Obed fathered Jesse, who fathered King David, from whose line Jesus was born. Jesus embodies a life of redemption. He is the Boaz-like Redeemer for all of us who, like Ruth, need saving. The Bible promises that when we follow Jesus as faithful servants, He will reward us by including us in His kingly lineage. He will reward us as servant kings.

Ruth did not know what God had in store for her. As she chose how to live and love, she had no idea of the massive impact her choices would have. Her loyalty, commitment, stewardship, self-discipline, and courage impacted her own story, but they also had a part in a larger narrative, a bigger story.

Our choices matter, even if they may seem minor or ineffectual. Our commitment to truth may not make sense to outside observers. The hard work of stewardship and self-governance is more complicated than blaming and complaining. Sometimes our courage feels dangerous and the results uncertain.

What we do, however, has far-reaching implications. Our choices matter. Our character matters. God notices when we are faithful. When we are humble, He promises to lift us, just as He did for Ruth. We all have the opportunity to follow Ruth's outstanding example and enjoy great blessings—God’s reward, in due time.

The Yellow Balloons Devotionals are a daily reminder of the great opportunities of life, connecting age-old biblical truths with our modern-day lives in a way that is simple, practical, and easy to understand. If you are interested in getting a free copy of the Yellow Balloons book and additional devotional resources, visit https://yellowballoons.net