Redeemed

Ruth 4:1-22

You might wonder what this message has to do with Mother’s Day. Well, nothing and everything. Nothing in the sense that it does not parade women for being mothers, and everything because the mom is the nurturing hand of God in the family. If you remember Resurrection Sunday or Restoration Sunday, we discussed the woman being restored before the man.

In the Book of Ruth, Boaz represents the ultimate act of redemption. He sought out Ruth, a Moabite widow, to restore her dignity and ensure her future. In doing so, he defied societal norms and acted out of love and obligation. Like Boaz, we are called to notice those around us who are marginalized and need redemption, reminding us that true love often requires sacrificial choices that can change lives forever.

Ruth’s redemption has three elements: legal, spiritual, and lineage redemption.

Legal:

Ruth had to be appropriately redeemed, and Boaz understood this. Boaz “goes up to the gate,” which was the purpose of the town's gathering place. This is where the community's official administrative and judicial business was conducted. Boaz’s desire to marry Ruth was presented in front of the court of law.

Boaz called the first redeemer to sit, who had the right to accept or refuse. We read that “behold, the redeemer…” had shown up. Was this a coincidence? No, this was the hand of God in His divine providence directing His story of redemption. Boaz took ten men (elders) of the city to witness this transaction. They would recognize this as an official act.

 Leviticus 25:25; Deuteronomy 25:8-10

Leviticus 25:25 NASB95

‘If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.

Deuteronomy 25:8–10 NASB95

“Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak to him. And if he persists and says, ‘I do not desire to take her,’ then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the sight of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face; and she shall declare, ‘Thus it is done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ “In Israel his name shall be called, ‘The house of him whose sandal is removed.’

Boaz presents the case to the redeemer, who first accepts the land transaction. But when he presents the complicated part of Ruth, the redeemer refuses. He is more concerned about his inheritance being stained than about doing what is correct in redeeming Ruth.

But Boaz did not hesitate to redeem Ruth in front of the witnesses in a legal matter. We, too, had to be redeemed through a legal process. There was a penalty for our sins: death. Jesus, in front of God, paid the price for our redemption.

Spiritual:

Ruth had seen enough pain and sorrow, but was about to be redeemed and restored to prominence. Her spirit would be lifted back, and so was Naomi’s. As a mother, nobody should ever have to bury their children. This pain breaks you to the very core of your spirit. It is not something someone can bounce back from overnight. Naomi is lost, wandering through life, but Ruth did not abandon her. God did not leave Naomi either, even though she feels this way. What she could not see and what we cannot see is the plan of God for our lives. What we see as a miserable situation, God is using it to fulfill His plan through us.

Boaz's act of redemption for Naomi symbolizes hope and restoration. He steps in when she feels abandoned and destitute, demonstrating how a single act of kindness can transform lives. Just as Boaz bought back Naomi’s family heritage, Christ redeems us from the depths of our despair, offering us a new identity in Him. This reminds us that God can use us to bring hope to struggling others, just as He uses people in our lives.

Listen to the women's words to Naomi in verses 14-15. Ruth was better than seven sons, which symbolizes God's blessing; 1 Samuel 2:5; Job 1:2. Naomi became the nurse to the son whose name is Obed.

1 Samuel 2:5 NASB95

“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes.

Job 1:2 NASB95

Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

Lineage:

Ruth’s redemption led to her son, whose name is Obed. Who is Obed? The father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. The lineage goes back to Perez, who was born from Judah. As we advance, it goes to Jesus Christ. Now look at Christ’s genealogy in Matthew 1:2-16; four women are mentioned. Tamar, who tricked Judah, her father-in-law, who lied to her about giving his youngest son after her husband, his eldest son, died: Rahab, the prostitute who helped the spies. Ruth the Moabite married Naomi’s son, who died, and traveled back to Israel with Naomi. Bathsheba, who was Uriah’s wife, with whom David had an affair, and then plotted to send Uriah into battle to die. Lastly, Mary, who alone was the human parent of Jesus.

Matthew 1:2–16 NASB95

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

Her is the beauty of God’s redeeming power in our lives. It does not matter how you started your life, but how you surrender to God and allow Him to use it. These women all made mistakes. Some were Gentiles, while others were Jews with stains. But that did not stop God from placing them in Jesus' genealogy.

As we celebrate mothers, we look at Ruth’s life and adventures and allow ourselves a moment to think of who we are because of the mother who raised us. Ruth embodies what mothers are in molding their children’s lives. She was dedicated, a servant, and persistent in her love.