Ruth 4

Redeem: To recover ownership of by paying a specific sum.

I know that Ruth and Boaz are pretty much the main human characters of this last chapter in the book, but I’d like to focus again on Naomi, who comes into the picture again in the last part of the chapter.

Remember a few devos back, when Naomi was lamenting the trouble she was going through at the time in chapter 1? She had even changed her name to bitter. But now things are different. For one, Boaz has completed the redemption of her family by marrying Ruth. “Blessed is The Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today”, the other women tell Naomi. There is joy in her heart again because despite having lost her family and possessions, Boaz will be able to keep this property with her descendants, which will keep her family line active. Her redemption was complete.

Secondly, her family line will be able to continue due to a grandson being born to Ruth and Boaz. But this was no ordinary grandson. This boy (Obed) was to be the grandfather of David, the famous King of Israel (v.17). Even more importantly, check out Matthew 1: 5 – 16. Obed was to be an ancestor of Jesus! Did she realize that through her family, the redemption of the world would be complete? Probably not. But that is what happened.

As defined above, redemption involves paying for something. Boaz paid the price for the redemption of Naomi’s family. The family of humanity needed redemption of our sin and rebellion against God. The cost was blood. It’s a price too high for us to pay. It is only redeemable by God. And so God paid for us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
By doing so, He restores and sustains our life (v. 15) and loves us more than anyone could. Our redemption is complete. I think that is what Jesus meant when he said his last words “It is finished”. Nothing more can be done. It is complete. God has paid it all! See 1 Peter 1: 18 - 19

A simple song verse by the late Keith Green says it so well. Ponder it today.
There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son.
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.