[Ruth] Recognizing the Covenant RelationshipНамуна

The Kinsman-Redeemer of Grace

Anti-heroes are a staple in action films. They consistently oppose and complain about the hero and do everything to discredit them. They spend the whole movie complaining about this hero, until BAM! The superhero puts his life in danger to save them, changing their entire perspective. This is exactly what we see in today’s reading.

Naomi blesses Boaz by calling him “he of the Lord.” This means she recognizes the Lord is blessing them through him. In 24 hours, Naomi went from calling herself Mara, or bitter, to understanding that she was being shown the Lord’s kindness—all because she was exposed to grace!

In the Bible, the phrase “close relative” is translated from the Hebrew word goel, which can also be translated as “kinsman-redeemer.” The old covenant said that when a husband died, his brother could marry the widow, and they could have children to continue the family name. This was how God protected His people. That “savior brother,” or goel, would buy back the deceased’s property and care for his family, legacy, and name. Boaz is Ruth and Naomi’s goel, their superhero.

Boaz took care of the outcast and told her to stay close to his men until they finished all the harvest. This meant Ruth worked approximately six weeks, bringing home perhaps 30 pounds of barley daily. The goel was making sure she was fed in abundance! Later, we find out that Ruth not only gleaned with Boaz during the barley harvest, but she also stuck around for the wheat harvest. Thanks to the goel, she gathered enough food to last Ruth and Naomi a whole year.

Boaz of Bethlehem was the first goel. The Last Goel, our Redeemer, would be born from another outcast in this same town.

God showered His grace onto Boaz, who then did the same with Ruth, who did the same with Naomi. The goel of grace is the One who says to us: “I am Jesus Christ, your Redeemer. I redeem the whole of you. I am the Redeemer of all.”

The Goel of Grace, our Redeemer, Jesus, is right where you are, showering His blessings upon you. Will you open your arms to Him and thank Him for all He has done?

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