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RUTH…THE STORY OF REDEMPTION – 5

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For Boaz to fulfil his duty as kinsman-redeemer, he had one final hurdle to overcome. Elimelek’s land could be redeemed by another kinsman-redeemer closer to Elimelek than Boaz. 

“Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

According to the law, Ruth, the daughter-in-law of the deceased Elimelek, was part of the inheritance that should be redeemed by the closest living relative. When Boaz offered the property to the guardian-redeemer, he refused because of Ruth. 

“Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, Boaz legally claimed the right to redeem the land belonging to Elimelek, and Ruth as his wife. 

This beautiful little interlude in Israel’s history has significant repercussions in the greater story of redemption. Woven into the genealogy of Jesus’ ancestry is the role of Gentile women. Israel’s part was preserved through the bloodline of Abraham and the dynasty of David. However, as God had determined, the gospel of Jesus belongs to Jew and Gentile alike through the Gentile women included in Jesus’ genealogy…

“Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew’s Gospel includes four notable Gentile women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife), highlighting an inclusive message for Gentiles and showing God using imperfect individuals, some with scandalous histories, to fulfill His purposes in the Messianic line, foreshadowing Jesus as the universal Savior.”

(Source: Google AI)

“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How marvellous how merciful, how compassionate are God’s ways. Naomi, who chose to encapsulate her pain in the name she gave herself…

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.””

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the end, became the grandmother of Obed, Ruth’s son in the lineage of Jesus. 

Turns out that Naomi’s pain was a seed that produced far more than she ever dreamed possible. Her testimony was the song of the psalmist…

“I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me….You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭1‬, ‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…as she gazed at the miracle baby in her arms. 

RUTH…THE STORY OF REDEMPTION – 3

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Back in Israel, Ruth’s story begins to unfold… 

Giving Ruth careful instructions, Naomi drew Ruth into the plan. 

“One day, Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As time went on, Ruth carved out a space in Boaz’ work team, gleaning daily behind the workers until the harvest was gathered in. At the end of the harvest, the supply of grain for Naomi and Ruth had run out. Naomi realised that it was time to put her plan into action. 

This was the time for God’s plan for young widows must be activated, caller the Levitate law. 

“The Levirate Law in the Bible (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) required a man to marry his deceased brother’s childless widow to “raise up seed” for his brother, ensuring the dead man’s name and inheritance continued in Israel. The first son born from this union was considered the heir of the dead brother, taking his name and property, thus preventing the family line and land from being lost. This obligation applied when brothers lived together, with a specific ceremony (Halitzah) if the brother-in-law refused, as seen in the stories of Tamar (Genesis 38) and Ruth (Ruth 4).” (Source: Google) 

The language Naomi used reveals the custom to initiate this process. Ruth was to dress in her best, lie at Boaz’ feet when he lay down to sleep after his meal, and uncover his feet. This would be the sign to him of her request…that he fulfil his obligation to her as her “kinsman-redeemer”. 

“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The outcome was exactly as Naomi had predicted. Boaz was startled to find Ruth lying at his feet. 

“In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet! “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.””

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Boss immediately understood her request…

“Spread the corner of your garment over me,”…

…as a request to marry her. This expression, “Spread the corner of your garment over me,” is often used in Scripture for marriage…

“Spread the corner of your garment over me” is a biblical phrase from the Book of Ruth (Ruth 3:9) where Ruth asks Boaz to act as her kinsman-redeemer, essentially a request for marriage, protection, and provision, symbolizing taking her under his wing, much like a bird shelters its young. It means to claim, cover, provide for, and marry someone, fulfilling the duty of a redeemer in that culture, acting as a formal marriage proposal and a plea for security and family.” (Source: Google)

God used the expression to describe His own “marriage” to Israel…

“ ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Malachi described something out of keeping for a married man…

“The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.”

‭‭Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV

The idea is that a husband cannot cut the bond with his wife, the one he has coveted with his garment, by divorcing her That would be violence. 

“For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.”

‭‭Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

This expression, “the corner of your garment” deserves greater understanding from its use in Scripture. 

To be continued…