Kinsman Redeemer

To me the main emphasis of the story of Ruth and Naomi is the Kinsman redeemer, which not only represented Boaz but also our redeemer, Jesus Christ.  This is a very interesting story and one that should encourage the readers, if you understand the meaning of the story.  

This story unfolds at the time when there were judges in the land.  This was a time where every man did his own thing, whatever he thought was right in his own eyes; it was a very evil time to live.  It seems like in the evilest of times there were always some that followed the true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Naomi was one of them.  At this time there was a famine in the land so Naomi’s family left Juda and went to Moab.  Her husband’s name was Elimelech and her two son’s names were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Beth-lehem-Judea.  They stayed there in Moab for a time and then Naomi’s husband died, leaving her with her two sons who ended up marrying two Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth.  As time went on her two sons also died, leaving Naomi with her two daughters-in-law.  

Then in time Naomi decided to return to her own country where she heard the famine was over because God had provided for them.  To make the story a little shorter, Ruth decided to go with her and Orpah stayed in Moab.  As you read this story you might think the same way Naomi did, she went away full and returned empty and that God had forsaken her, but you would be wrong just like Naomi was, she wasn’t rejecting God, she was expressing her hurt. Read what she said in Ruth 1:19-21, “So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?"

How many times do we go through devastating times and, because of our pain, we blame God, thinking that it is all over and God doesn’t love us, if He did He would not have allowed these things to happen to us.  If that was what she was thinking she was wrong and so are we if we love and follow the Lord.  Read what it says in Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”

So many times we are like Naomi, and I will call this stinking thinking, because God is always working behind the scenes and like Naomi we don’t realize it and we jump to the wrong conclusions.  In Naomi’s case God was working and He hadn’t given up on her and if you are God’s child he is working in your life too.  

Ruth loved Naomi and the first thing she did was to start providing for her.  She went out in the field and started to glean.  It is no surprise that she gleaned in Boaz’s field, who just happened to be a close relative to Naomi.  Some might call it luck; I call it the hand of God.  Ruth was a very hard worker and she caught the attention of Boaz and he asked about her and was told only good things about her and knowing that he was a very close relative of Naomi’s he took a liking to her.  She had left everything she had and followed Naomi and helped her.  For Ruth to leave everything behind, Naomi must have been a good witness and example of God in Moab where Ruth worshiped other gods.  Read what Ruth said in Ruth 1:16 -17, “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”       

In the end, Boaz went the extra mile and redeemed both Naomi and Ruth; without a relative to take them in and provide for them, neither one of them may have survived.  In those days there was no such thing as welfare like we have today.  God’s hand and guidance was there with Ruth and Naomi all through this story although He isn’t mentioned.  And like His Word says, “All things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”!!

Now how does this relate to Jesus?  Think about the whole human race, God’s Word says that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, there is none righteous no not one, we are all like sheep and have gone astray going our own way and doing our own thing.  And, without God’s intervention we would all be lost.  But read what John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Just like Naomi and Ruth, we all needed to be redeemed and God chose Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the sacrificial Lamb of God because without the shedding of blood there can be no remission, or forgiveness, of sins.  Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, a man that knew no sin became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of Christ.  If you are being convicted because of your sins and you would like to have a relationship with the Lord, what Jesus called being born-again, do what it says in 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

If you truly repent of your sins and ask the Lord to forgive you, you can receive His gift of grace.  But take your time and don’t be in a hurry, tarry before the Lord and let Him fill you with His perfect peace, love and joy, then go forth rejoicing and share what the Lord has done for you with others; then find a Bible teaching congregation and start growing in your new found faith!! Something to think about and may you and yours have a blessed day!! PS Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!