Living for God in an Uncertain World

Studies in the Book of Ruth

Boaz – Kinsman-Redeemer

Ruth chapter three begins with Naomi’s realisation that God was now playing a part in their lives, so she expressed her desire to follow His will. She said to Ruth, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” (Ruth 3:1). This was a question which, if translated into modern speech could mean: ‘Shall I not seek a home for you where you will be well provided for?’ Ruth, the converted Gentile needed, and was given, practical instruction in the customs of Israel, especially that of the law of Levirate marriage. The Law recorded by Moses states: “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. And if the man does not wish to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.’ Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him, and if he persists, saying, ‘I do not wish to take her,’ then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal pulled off.’ ” (Deuteronomy 25:5–10).

There was also another provision, the law of the kinsman-redeemer: “If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his nearest redeemer shall come and redeem what his brother has sold” (Leviticus 25:25). Since she identified Boaz as their kinsman, and she was obviously aware of the provisions of the Law, Naomi instructed Ruth to place herself under his protection. Clearly it was with a view to him being Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, her Go-el. Naomi was concerned that Ruth should be provided for in four areas:

1. Boaz would function as the ‘wings of God’ and provide protection and safety in the very uncertain world they lived in.

2. The reproach of her widowhood would be taken away, and she would have a different status in society.

3. Her poverty would be removed.

4. Her future would be secured.

Boaz had thought of these things himself but had refrained from action because he was not the nearest of kin. Naomi, knowing that the providence of God had brought Ruth and Boaz together, decided on a plan. Ruth must present herself to Boaz, but discreetly. Naomi told her to prepare herself for the encounter. She was to wear her ‘simla’ (a long garment that covered her from head to foot, but leaving her face uncovered). This meant that Ruth would need to put off her widow’s clothes – that is, to end her period of mourning for her husband and then find an appropriate time when Boaz was alone to make an appropriate gesture that would signal her willingness to be taken as his wife. After sundown, when the work of the harvest had finished for the day and Boaz was resting after his evening meal, she placed herself at his feet beneath the corner of his cloak. It was after midnight when he realised her presence. Startled he asked for her identity, to which she replied “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer” (Ruth 3:9). The word ‘wing’ sometimes translated by the word ‘skirt’ is the same word that Boaz used in 2.12 where he said, “The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (Ruth 2:12). Ruth was asking him to answer his own prayer. And by speaking of herself as his servant, and asking for his protection, she put herself in the position of needing the help of a kinsman-redeemer.

Boaz immediately understood the implications of Ruth’s actions and words. Ruth was using the accepted idiom meaning ‘marry me’ (cf. Ezek.16.8; Deut.22.30, 27.20) which reflected the custom of a man throwing a garment over the woman he had decided to take as his wife as a gesture of protection.

Although he had already considered and rejected the possibility because of another kinsman who had prior claim, yet he decided to take it further and test the intent of the nearer relative. The following morning Ruth was sent home with more grain from the harvest while Boaz sought out his kinsman. Gathering ten of the town elders and calling the family member to attend, Boaz offered the position of kinsman-redeemer to him. The nearer kinsman rejected it because his own family commitments precluded him from taking on the responsibility. Boaz immediately took the office on himself.

Boaz and Ruth were married and were blessed with a son whom they called Obed (Servant, Worshipper). For him it was prayed, “may his name be famous in Israel!” and again, “… may he be to you (Naomi) a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him” (Ruth 4:14–15). Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David, who was Israel’s great leader and the driving force behind the Temple and the revival of the worship of Jehovah. Ruth was the bridge over which Israel travelled to become a nation under David under God.

The responsibility to family in this way is of long standing in the Bible. Abraham took responsibility for Lot and redeemed him from slavery and the power of the Eastern kings. Joseph performed the role of redeemer for Jacob and his brothers. But it is in the Mosaic covenant that it is most clearly delineated. The Go-el amongst the Hebrews was the nearest male blood relation alive. Certain obligations devolved upon him toward his next of kin. If any inheritance was lost through poverty, it was the duty of the kinsman to redeem it (Lev.25.25,28). He was also required to redeem his relation who had sold himself into slavery (Lev.25.48,49) and he was required to be the avenger of blood in the case of the murder of the next of kin (Num.35.21).

Jesus – Kinsman-Redeemer

The great need of the human race is also for redemption. The Bible describes humanity’s problem as being in slavery, indeed Jesus said: “everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34) and Paul said we are: “... sold into bondage to sin” (Romans 7:14, NAS). This means we need to be redeemed – we need a kinsman-redeemer. Our nearest relatives, fellow humans, cannot help us, since they also are in like difficulty. The Psalmist said: “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life” (Psalm 49:7). Since there is none who could be kinsman-redeemer to us from among our fellows, then where can we look? We can look to God for he offers Himself as a Go-el. “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer (Go-el), the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god” (Isaiah 44:6). But how can God be a kinsman-redeemer, since the difference between deity and humanity is so great? There is more light given in Isaiah’s prophecy. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The child, Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem, was also Son of God – more than that – Isaiah speaks of him as “the Mighty God”. Here is the great mystery, Jesus is God revealed in flesh (1 Tim.3:16). This is reinforced by Jesus claiming the very title of Godhead used in the Isaiah 44:6 text which says, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god”. Jesus said, “Fear not, I am the first and the last” (Revelation 1:17). Man was made in the image of God so that God could be made in the image of man. It was always God’s intention to provide a Kinsman-redeemer for us.

There would be some that might think that Jesus was kinsman to just the Jewish people since He was born a Jew. However, Isaiah also indicated that Christ’s work of redemption had to be effective for more than just the nation of Israel. Bringing a message from the throne, he wrote of the Suffering Servant of Jehovah: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). God has spoken – He said that to confine the redemption that Jesus purchased to just the Hebrew nation was too “light a thing”, that is ‘too small a thing’. This great salvation is designed to reach the end of the earth. This means that Jesus has become the Kinsman-redeemer (Go-el) for all people, everywhere. Hebrews 2:14,15 states “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14–15).

One of the most well-know passages relating to kinsman-redeemer is in Job. In his dire condition he could not find relief in any direction. He said, “My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me” (Job 19:14). Yet he still believed that God would provide him a kinsman-redeemer, for in verse 25 he said “For I know that my Redeemer (Go-el) lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another” (Job 19:25–27). He was referring to that ‘Mediator’ he mentioned in 9.33 “Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both” (Job 9:33, NKJV). He was speaking of a relative of his who would also be a relative of God and therefore be qualified to umpire his dispute with God. The New Testament tells us that Jesus is that Mediator, with the titles ‘Son of Man’ and ‘Son of God’; He is the Redeemer, the Go-el, that Job anticipated. Indeed, because of the uniqueness of the qualifications of Jesus, He is the only possible Go-el, as Paul declared: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

It is no wonder that heaven sings the praises of Jesus the Go-el (Redeemer): “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9, NKJV). Hallelujah!