It Starts Small

The story of Ruth is a warming story to our hearts. A wicked pagan woman who makes a profound decision, is rescued by our hero Boaz, and their story ends in great happiness. Their story can be our story. Jesus brings us out of the darkness, invites us to be filled with all of God’s love and greatness, and through a close relationship with him we discover God’s redeeming love.

This story started with a funeral and ends in a wedding. It starts with a famine and ends with fullness. It starts with weeping and ends in joy. Jesus is our redemption. Jesus is our fullness. Jesus is everything we need.

And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. Ruth 4:4

Redemption is used five times in the verse above. Jesus is our redeeming Lord.

God gave his people land and wanted the land to stay within the family. Sometimes, owners would put the land up as collateral on a loan. They would go bankrupt and have to sell the land. In Hebrew law, a kinsman could go and redeem (buy back) that land. A bit odd for our modern times, but if a married couple owned land and had no children, when the husband died, the brother would take that woman as his wife. Then when they had children, the land could be passed to the children. I know, it’s odd in today’s modern terms, but you can see why. This helped carry the brother’s name on.

Boaz was kinsman to Naomi. He could redeem the land of Naomi and Ruth’s dead husbands. Boaz could marry Ruth because he was kinsman to her dead husband. In order to redeem the land Boaz had to qualify three criteria:

He had to have legal qualification and be a kinsman

In Ruth chapter four, Boaz tells Ruth, I’d be more than happy to buy the land back and marry you, but I am not the nearest kinsman. There is one in front of me that is nearer, BUT if he doesn’t then I will.

Jesus became human so that he could be our nearest kinsman.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Hebrews 2:14

Jesus became flesh and blood with us. He is our brother and our nearest kinsman. Jesus is legally worthy. He could not redeem us as God, but through God as a man. Revelation 5 is the determination of our history. A book of names must be opened. No man is worthy to open the book, except the Lion of Judah. That Lion of Judah is Jesus. Jesus redeemed us and is the worthy Lamb!

He had to have the money to buy back all the land.

Jesus is wealthy!

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:18-19

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Revelation 5:9

Jesus is our nearest kinsman! He paid the debt we owe. He bought me and paid my debt so that I could be redeemed to my Heavenly Father! he paid for my life in blood. He did not pay with silver or gold which is corrupt. He paid with his pure blood.

He had to be willing.

Jesus lovingly and willingly redeems us! Jesus is constantly chasing after the lost. He’s constantly with the saved. His desire and heat is to bring redemption, a true redemption, to our lives. Jesus was not forced to love me. He chooses to love me!

What an amazing picture of Christ Jesus! Jesus has all power and authority to claim us as his, enough to buy back our lives and was completely willing to die for us!

Through the power of redemption we have a renewed life!

Before Boaz redeemed Ruth, she had three major problems we face today.

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Past (sin): Ruth was cursed, and alien to the common wealth of Israel.

Present (sorrow): she was a stranger to the Promises of God.

Future (death): she had no hope and was condemned.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Ephesians 2:19

Through Boaz, Ruth was redeemed! She was bought and set free! Only through Jesus are we bought and set free! The nearest kinsman said I can not buy the land or Ruth and he took off his shoe and gave it to Boaz (Ruth 4:7). Jesus stands in our shoes and takes the place of our lives.

Finally, our redemption through Christ restores our legacy!

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. Ruth 4:10

Ruth is brought into the family. We are brought into the family of God. Ruth received her dead husband’s fortune. We become heirs to God! Ruth received fame.

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: Ruth 4:11

The name of Ruth will be forever remembered. My name is famous! Jesus knows my name! I even have a new name I do not know.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:17

Ruth received fruitfulness. Jesus brings the fruit of the Spirit through us! He makes us fruitful. Ruth received a future.

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth 4:13,17

Just as Gif was paving the way, through Ruth for his son Jesus, God paves the way for us to serve him. What an amazing story of redemption! God took this pagan woman and placed her perfectly into the lineage of Jesus. Ruth was King David’s great Grandmother.

Jesus completely changes our legacy. He changes our past, our present and our future. It all starts with a choice. A choice to choose true redemption. I struggled to define what redemption is. In the book, A Long Obedience in the Right Direction, Eugene Peterson writes:

Redemption is not an emotion. It is not feeling sorry for your sins. It is a decision. It is deciding that you have been wrong in supposing that you could manage your own life and be be your own god; it is deciding that you were wrong in thinking that you had, or could get, the strength, education, and training to make it on your own; it is deciding that you have been told a pack of lies about yourself and your neighbors and your world. And deciding that God I Jesus Christ is telling you the truth. Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing the same old things, thinking the same old thoughts. Repentance is a decision to follow Jesus Christ and become his pilgrim in the path of peace.

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Eugene H. Peterson. Pg 23-24

Our true repentance and turning away from this world, tearing the death clothes off and putting on righteousness and salvation leads to Jesus’ redemption in our lives. It’s life changing. Sadly, many of us never hear the message of true redemption. What it means or what we must do. Instead we jump on the hamster wheel of doing the same old or even worse, take the same thoughts and doing worse with them. Jesus’s true redemption is life changing.

The only way to get the true happy ending is to accept and receive his redeeming love. To allow his redeeming of our lives to give us a new life and legacy.