The Story Of Ruth Part 6: The Kinsman Redeemer

Ruth 2:14 “Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.”
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This verse demonstrates that Boaz was not like ANY of the other land bosses.  Why?  First of all, he spoke directly to this lowly person doing the gleaning.  It was strange not only because she was a foreigner:  She was from Moab!   According to God’s law, Jewish people were not supposed to have any contact with anyone from that nation.  At that time you see, they were under God’s curse,  (See Deuteronomy 23:3-4)

Even more amazing was the fact that he invited her to eat at his table and PERSONALLY passed parched grain to her to eat and dip it in the vinegar.  Ruth had plenty to eat, she ate until she was filled, and even kept some back to bring back to Naomi.  Unprecedented!
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The Light Dawns!
As you read earlier, Ruth had gone to glean in one of the local fields, so she and Naomi would have food to eat, and it just so “Happened” to be the part belonging to Boaz.   You also learned that the word, “Hap,” is an old English word meaning, “Chance or good luck.

Naomi was utterly amazed by how much food Ruth had brought home, which was an ephah of grain.  Folks, that’s ten days supply!  How did she get so much in such a short time?  Because of what Boaz told his reapers:

Ruth 2:15-16 “¹⁵ And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. ¹⁶ Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”

He had them drop grain ON PURPOSE for her!

Naomi asked her in whose field she had been gleaning.  Well, the instant she heard the name, “Boaz,” the light dawned!  She was so excited because he was one of their nearest kinsman redeemers who was in a position to marry Ruth.  He could redeem her out of her widowhood, out of poverty, and they both would be blessed as a result!
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The Law Of Kinsman Redeemer.

The Law concerning the Kinsman Redeemer is found in Deuteronomy 25.  What is a “Kinsman Redeemer?  He was a wealthy close relative who was in a position to help out one of his own family who had fallen on hard times. Basically the law says the following:

#1. The kinsman redeemer must be a relative.

#2. He must be wealthy.

#3. He must restore the lands and property to his relative with no strings attached.

#4.  He must avenge you in the event of your death.

He would the one chasing after the person seeking asylum in one of the cities of refuge in the case of involuntary manslaughter.

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(For more on the six Cities of Refuge, you may follow the link below:

The Cities Of Refuge.

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#5. If the relative died without producing any children, he must marry the widow and produce an heir for his brother that his name would not be blotted out of Israel.
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Our Kinsman Redeemer.

Just like Boaz for Ruth, Jesus became our Kinsman Redeemer!  Is He related to the human family?  Oh yes!  That’s the story of Christmas!  This is why He had to be born as a human being.  You see, it was a man, Adam, who sinned and caused all mankind to fall, so it had to be another Man, someone from the human family, to buy us back.

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Is Jesus wealthy?  Oh, YES!  He owns all there is!  Is He willing to redeem us?  Oh, Yes!  Is He willing to avenge you from the devil’s attack?  Oh, Yes!  Is He willing to marry us?  YES, YES, YES!
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The big question was, however, would Boaz be willing to marry Ruth?  After all, she was not even a Jew and she wasn’t an ordinary Gentile.  Gentiles, you see, were not qualified for the blessings of God under the Law, let alone a Moabite.  The man would risk marring his inheritance.

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But fear not!  Ruth has Naomi in her corner who gave her some good advice on how to land a husband.  She’s going to learn how to propose without proposing.
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You may follow the link below to part 8 where we’ll see what exciting events transpired at the threshing floor and learn some practical advice we can apply today:

Story Of Ruth Part 7: The Threshing Floor