The kinsman-redeemer

“May I continue to find favour in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant – though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls.” Ruth 2:13
The book of Ruth is like a gemstone, hidden away in the Old Testament between Judges and 1 Samuel. It tells the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman, and Naomi, her Jewish mother-in-law. Their husbands had both died, and they returned to the land of Israel to seek a better life among Naomi’s family. Ruth, being resourceful, goes out to glean in the fields, as widows would do in those times. The field she was gleaning in turned out to belong to Boaz, a near kinsman of Naomi. Ruth comes to meet Boaz, and eventually Naomi comes up with a plan by which Ruth could be married and the land that had been sold when she left the country could be returned to her. Both aspects have to do with the kinsman-redeemer: the closest male relative who was willing to pay the debts (Lev. 25:25) and marry the widow of his relative (Deut. 25:5-6).
Here’s why the story of Ruth and Boaz is included in our Bible: it shows us a beautiful picture of Jesus, our kinsman-redeemer. The redeemer had to be a blood relative. Jesus became fully human, so that He could redeem mankind. The redeemer acted willingly and voluntarily. So too did Jesus. Ruth becomes the Gentile bride of Boaz – just as the church may be considered the (primarily) Gentile bride of Jesus Christ. And like Boaz and Ruth, our kinsman shows us favour, even though we are Gentiles and have no claim on Him (compare the Canaanite woman in Matt. 15:22-28). The book of Ruth is a picture of grace, and hope. There is a redeemer for us. Do you know Him?