Redeemed

Intro

Have you played Duck-Duck Goose? Has it been awhile? Remember the rules? In essence for those who do not, a group of players sit in a circle while one player walks around calling duck, duck, duck, ect… until he/she decides to call goose on a player. Once goose is called the goose player is to get up and chase the individual around the circle and tag the calling player before he/she sits in the open spot. The game is chaotic and simple, making it a fan favorite among 5 year olds. However while a simple game, their is a slight strategy in how you call duck, duck, duck, duck… You either want to stay in a true rhythm or have none at all, that is usually the key to catching one off guard. And that is truly the point of the game, to catch one of guard and win their spot.

Read Ruth 4:1-17

Chapter 4 is going to begin at the City Gate with Boaz on the look out for the other redeemer, so that they can begin the legal process of redeeming Naomi’s land and Ruth’s hand in marriage.

Boaz is going to go into this with the hope and intent to marry Ruth, but wants to do so properly and offer her to the more near redeemer.

During this exchange Boaz begins by offering Naomi’s land to be redeemed first, in which of course the redeemer says yes too. He was getting a good deal, land for pennies on the dollar plus he’ll look honorable for redeeming Naomi his kinsman’s widow. The tension is high within the story, Boaz might lose Ruth after all.

Boaz then precedes to move on to the issue of Ruth, to redeem this family also means taking on Ruth as a wife. This was Boaz’s ace in his pocket, it was his one off-speed pitch.

The redeemer immediately changes his attitude and balks at redeeming Naomi due to Ruth… The addition of Ruth renders this redemption near useless in his eyes. One Ruth is a Moabite and having her in his family could tarnish their reputation, two if Ruth bore a son, he would gain all of Naomi’s land as his inheritance not the redeemer’s family.

So Boaz gets the girl after all, the tension is the story is gone. The people around the gate pray that the Lord would build Israel through Ruth. Then they consummate their marriage and bear a son. A son who would lead to David.

The story is finished, Naomi is full again with two sons, Ruth has found refuge, and Boaz has redeemed the family. Most importantly we are led to our redeemer through Ruth.

The Redeemer

Looking back to Verses 5-9, we see the stark contrast that has been shown throughout the story. Boaz goes against the grain, he is not like the rest of the nation at the time of Judges. However the other redeemer is, he serves as a big reminder at how most the nation was acting. He could not bare to tarnish his reputation and status for the right thing. He also could not live with the idea that Naomi’s land would not really be his to gain.

Boaz however accepts full responsibility knowing these things, after all he is a worthy man. He trust that he does not need more land and that his status will hold steady, if not rise.

Looking back to Duck duck gooses, the world is playing a big game of duck duck goose, we are all in a rhythm using strategy to play. Our natural desire is to cut corners, find ways to cut through the circle to get that desired open spot. We put our earthly worries and desires before God’s, in this instance the unnamed redeemer is really first in line to restore Ruth. This position was established by the Lord to Moses in Leviticus, the unnamed redeemer is breaking God’s command to put himself first (Lev. 27, Lev. 25).

Let me give you a quick example: In my classroom just yesterday, I had given a history assignment that involved reading a chapter and answering 6 comprehensive questions. While my students were working on it, one had noted on my board that she was done, we check work done off on the board. While another was working on it, well I walked out of the room for a quick second and returned. Upon returning I walked around a checked on students, I found one student, a trust worthy one, working away… but their was a paper stashed under her book. I glanced and saw that it was the students paper who had marked off her work. My trust worthy student was cheating, she was cutting a corner.

We can find ourselves doing this all over, cheating in school, skipping a rep in practice, cleaning by hiding, lying about getting tagged in gaga ball. This begins to lead to more “serious” things, ignoring your family for that job, ignoring your spouse for that person, cheating your taxes, whatever it may be.

Paul tells us in Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” We are called to keep our eyes on Jesus relentlessly, regardless of what the harm it may cause ourselves in the worlds eyes.

The Son (Vv 13-22)

The back half of the chapter points our eyes to focus on God’s reward. Verses 13-22 focus on the marriage and the child from the marriage. This child is named Obed who according to verse 17 fathers Jesse who fathers David. The marriage is a beautiful end to the story, Boaz and Ruth have the happy ending. Naomi is full once again as the author reminds us “a son has been born to Naomi (Vv17)”. In fact she has regained two sons to counter the loss of her two other sons through Boaz and Obed.

Looking back at verse 11 where the people at he gate pray for Israel to be built through Ruth and then in verse 14 the women pray that the son (Obed) be renown in Israel.

Both of these prayers would soon be fulfilled within a few generations. At the time Israel is without a King, the nation was hanging together by a thread, truly God’s will. Then comes along David, Israels greatest King born from the family line of a Moab and second hand redeemer. David would come to unite Israel (2 Samuel 5) and would become one of the most well known men ever. Yet even more importantly through this line would bear us Jesus, the one to unite Jews and gentiles, the one who would become the most famous man on Earth, the ultimate redeemer. Not only did the Lord not leave Ruth without a Redeemer, he has not left you without a Redeemer. Jesus Christ came and died for your sins, your wordly temptations, your attempts to cheat the game, and rose three days later rendering them moot between you and the Lord.

Discussion Questions

Does Boaz go about redeeming Ruth in the proper manner? Do his actions contrast the rest of Israel?

2. What is the significance of the unnamed redeemer's refusal to redeem Naomi and Ruth?

3. What does the contrast between Boaz and the unnamed redeemer teach us about making choices that align with God’s will?

4. What lessons can we learn from the game of Duck-Duck-Goose in relation to our spiritual lives?

5. What are some areas in your life where you might be tempted to cut corners, similar to the unnamed redeemer?

6. What does the significance of Ruth’s inclusion in the lineage of David and ultimately Jesus reveal about God’s plan for everyone?