Hope Fulfilled in the Redeemer’s Grace

It is not always easy to set proper priorities on some tough calls. There is a humorous story that illustrates this: A group of friends who went deer hunting separated into pairs for the day. That night, one hunter returned alone, staggering under an eight-point buck. The other hunters asked, “Where’s Harry?” The man told them, “Harry fainted a couple miles up the trail.” The others couldn’t believe it. “You mean you left him lying there alone and carried the deer back?” The man answered, “It was a tough call, but I figured no one was going to steal Harry.”

Kinsman Redeemer

This portion of Ruth will help us develop eternal values that can properly evaluate our priorities and show us what is worthy of our time, talent, and treasure. In this section, we will consider:

The priority of redemption – Ruth 4:1-5

The purpose of redemption – Ruth 4:6-10

The power of redemption – Ruth 4:11-12

The issue of redemption is always God’s main concern. Boaz lived up to God’s priorities as a kinsman-redeemer. He was ready, willing and able to redeem. Boaz’s work for Ruth’s redemption is seen as his highest priority by his initiative, diligence, and patience. He brought all his authority to bear. There was nothing else of greater importance to Boaz and God.

Even though it was harvest time, the busiest and most lucrative time of the year, Boaz dropped everything to be an instrument of redemption. The harvest of grain was secondary to a harvest of souls. He put the redemption of Ruth the Moabitess above his own business.

Ruth 4:1 – “Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So, they sat down.”

Gathering at the Gate

Boaz went to “the gate” of Bethlehem, because it was a place of business and judgement for the city. (Normally, elders would gather there to provide counsel for the community. If elders were not at the gate for settling disputes, this was a sign that a catastrophe had occurred in the community as described in Lamentations 5:14).

Boaz had acted faithfully and now he waited on the Lord to bring the plan of redemption together. Boaz did not have to wait too long for the text states, “Behold!” In Hebrew the word “behold” is hine and it has an implication of getting the attention of the listener, as if to exclaim: “God is at work!”

God’s Business is Priority!

When the closer relative passes by, Boaz tells him to turn aside. Boaz does more than encourage him to sit down. The phrase “turn aside” is one word in Hebrew, sur, and it is in the imperative, which implies that the person must listen. One can almost sense a plea from Boaz that this other man turn aside from his own priorities and put God’s business first. In Ruth 4:2 Boaz says, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” The Hebrew word for friend is peloni almoni and literally means a certain someone or a certain so-and-so. In all likelihood, he was a well-known person in the community, however, his name is not mentioned to graciously keep him from shame. Further in this chapter we will call the closer relative, Peloni, as he is also known traditionally.

Redemption Made Public

According to the law of the levirate marriage from Deuteronomy 25, the widow needed to initiate a process of redemption and was to approach the kinsman, and then the elders. Boaz probably knew this man well enough to know that he would turn Ruth down. Rather than have Ruth face the public rejection, Boaz interceded on Ruth’s behalf. Boaz used his influence and authority to gather “the witnesses” (Ruth 4:9).

He told the elders to “sit here” in command form. “And they sat.” It certainly seems that Boaz was a man of authority, for they did it without question. He rounded up ten elders, though two witnesses would have been enough for an ordinary case, even a murder trial (Deuteronomy 17:6). Boaz took this transaction very seriously. He wanted to make sure that everything was done properly, since Ruth was a Moabite woman and it could become a sticking point in the transaction.

In principle, the righteous desire a public witness. Whereas sinners love the dark. Our redemption is made public by God in Romans 3:24-26,

Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Messiah Yeshua; whom God displayed publicly as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Yeshua.

Through Messiah’s death on the cross God publicly redeemed us, and He is unashamed to declare us to the heavenly host as His brethren (Matthew 10:32-33; Hebrews 2:11). Likewise, we are to be unashamed of the Good News and confess Yeshua publicly.

God’s Purpose or Ours?

Boaz used all he had in his possession: initiative, diligence, patience, authority, and influence. Why? Because everything God gives us is to be used for His redemptive purposes. Indeed, we are to “redeem the time, for the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). As Yeshua our Redeemer came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), so Boaz put redemption of others above his own business. How much of your time, talent, and treasure is dedicated for redemption? One day we will all be brought before the Lord to be evaluated on how we used what we had and whether it was used for His purposes or to fulfill the desires of our flesh.

Trusting the Lord

Ruth 4:3-5 – Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. So, I thought to inform you, saying, “Buy before those who are sitting, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem, redeem; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem, and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem.”

Rather than bringing up the matter of Ruth, Boaz brought up the matter of family property first. It was a redemptive matter to keep the land in the family. Boaz referred to Naomi’s deceased husband Elimelech, as “our brother.” He may have been speaking generally about a family member, or Elimelech may have been his brother as well as the brother of the unnamed “nearer” kinsman who traditionally is known as Peloni. That would naturally have had first right of redemption. Though Boaz had a greater desire for the opportunity, Peloni had a greater right. Boaz trusted the Lord by handling it properly, in all fairness and righteousness.

If you Don’t, I Will!

Boaz handled it personally: The text translates the Hebrew as “so I thought to inform you.” Literally it means, “so I said I’d uncover your ear,” that is, I would lift the turban fold to speak personally to the person. This conveys a bit more intimacy. Clearly, Boaz was handling this personally and not through an intermediary.

Boaz handled it publicly: Boaz took the matter to the elders. Nothing was done in secret. There were no hidden agendas, and no money was traded under the table. There were witnesses, which proved to be a clear testimony of righteousness.

Boaz handled it plainly: Boaz stated, “If you’ll redeem it, redeem! If not, declare to me! I will know.” Nothing is uncertain; it is a clear, straightforward transaction on the land. The reason for this is that it carries the implication: “if you don’t redeem it, I will.”

This reminds me somewhat of a certain situation when I was single. I was quite smitten and attracted to Miriam. I thought my friend was dating her. So, I asked him, “What are your intentions toward Miriam?” He looked confused. He had no intentions of marrying her, so he responded, “Huh?” Undaunted I continued, “Because if you don’t marry her, I will!” To this, his eyes grew wide as saucers, and he said, “Huh?” With that, I went ahead and asked Miriam out on a date. So, with the issue of the land clearly presented to Peloni, he responded to Boaz saying, “I myself will redeem.”

I have that Covered!

Does Boaz’s approach reflect your own dealings? Boaz’s approach to redeem demonstrates his integrity: he was personally direct, publicly open, and painfully clear.

In the same way God is clear on all His promises to us that we might have confidence in His Word for our lives.

Redemption was costly for Boaz. His wealth was at stake for the purpose of redemption. In the same way Our Messiah “though rich, He made Himself poor that we might be rich in Him” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

In fact, Yeshua “who knew no sin became sin (offering) on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). He gave up His own life for our redemption. Now our sin debts are covered by His righteousness. His grace is our sufficiency. Any charge from Satan against you must be brought to Him. Presently interceding on our behalf, He says, “I have that covered!” Therefore, we can rest secure in Him forever.