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Redeemed into a new life

Redeemed into a new life
Ruth 4:1-22.

In today’s passage, Boaz follows up on his promise to Ruth (in 3:12-13) to redeem her. From Boaz’s redemption of Ruth, we get a peek into the pattern of God’s redemption through Jesus. So what does this redemption look like?

  • It is selfless—a costly act, no other redeemer could pay, v1-12
When Boaz met with the closer guardian-redeemer, whom we called Bob, he asked Bob if he would redeem his kinsman’s properties. Bob said yes, then declined when he realised that this included his kinsman’s widow, which would affect his estate. This shows the inevitable selfish motive of any redemption act which is outside of God’s provision.

However, Boaz, motivated by love, acquired Ruth, notwithstanding the cost. This costly and selfless act points us to God’s act of redemption through Jesus, our Redeemer, who, out of love, gave His life to save us (John 10:11, Jeremiah 20:13 NIV) and welcomes us to share in His estate (v11-12, Romans 8:17). Only God’s provision of redemption through the selfless act of Jesus seeks humanity's best interest.

  • It is boundless—includes both Moabite Ruth and Israelite Naomi, v13-17
V13 says, “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife…and gave birth to a son”. But the people praised the Lord for “Naomi’s guardian-redeemer” (v14) and then said that “Naomi has a son!” (v17). This redemption was not one-sided; what happened to Ruth (a Moabite) also happened to Naomi (an Israelite) and brought them together as one family.

This shows that Christ’s work of redemption knows no bounds; it’s both for the Jew and the Gentile (Romans 1:16). God’s plan in Christ is to reconcile all people to himself by giving them a new life (v15, 2 Corinthians 5:17) and welcoming them into His family. Christ's redemption that brings new life also sustains you (v15), no matter the nature of your journey, because it is boundless.

  • It is timeless—extends to different generations, v18-22
The passage ends with a genealogy of different generations from Perez to… Boaz to… David. The genealogy shows that Boaz’s redemption is rooted in history (Perez) and felt through generations until the king (David). In the gospels (Matthew 1:1-16), this genealogy is a snapshot of a greater one focused on God’s sent Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Does faith in Jesus matter today? Does the past event of Christ’s death and resurrection still matter today? The passage shows us that Christ’s redemption is timeless; it is echoed throughout history, and it is relevant and applies to every generation until the return of the King, Jesus. It was relevant in Biblical times (2 Timothy 1:5) and is still relevant today.

Although Ruth and Naomi’s story begins with loss, it ends with a new life/renewed life (4:13, 15). The only guarantee of this new life was not in old ways (1:8), popular ways (3:10) or false redeemers (4:6), but in a selfless, boundless and timeless redemption. This we see in Christ Jesus, the Redeemer of the world.

Reflect & Pray
How does the story of Ruth and Naomi encourage you to keep holding on to Jesus? Like Naomi, who might you welcome on your journey?
Thank you, Father, for the gift of the Redeemer, Jesus, who welcomes us to a new life where we share in His inheritance.

God bless you exceedingly,
Sam.
“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” Psalm 107:2.
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