THE HAND OF THE LORD WORKING THROUGH THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER

THE HAND OF THE LORD WORKING THROUGH THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER

Ruth 2:8–12 KJV (WS)

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

With the encounter between Ruth and Boaz found in Ruth 2:8–12, we are introduced to a man who followed the Lord, the God of Israel.

We begin to see his heart and character as he speaks with Ruth. With this encounter we are also introduced to the one who could serve as a kinsman-redeemer.

We see the word first mentioned in Ruth 2:20.

It is translated “next kinsman” or “close (or closest) relative.”

Today, we will get to know Boaz better and with that knowledge also begin to learn some things about the kinsman-redeemer.

What do you find about Boaz in 2:13–16?

Ruth stated that Boaz had comforted her and spoken kindly to her, which were two marks of the character of God.

He apparently had a very tender, sensitive heart, for the phrase “spoken kindly to” (v. 13) is literally “spoke to the heart of.”

He spoke in a way that touched Ruth’s heart.

Ruth acknowledged that he did so even though she was not at the level of even one of his maidservants.

Not only that, Boaz also took special note of her at mealtime, giving her bread with vinegar (helpful to quench thirst), as well as an abundance of parched grain.

(She had enough and some left over.) After eating, Boaz instructed the young men to allow her to glean among the full sheaves without reproaching her.

Even more, he told them to purposefully let some of their grain fall that she might pick it up.

Ruth worked a full day, finishing in the evening and carrying home about an ephah of barley (equivalent to around 30 to 40 pounds).

She carried it home to Naomi along with the left-over parched grain from lunch, evidence that she had indeed had a prosperous day.

Ruth 2:19–20 KJV (WS)

And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

Gives us Naomi’s response to events of the day and to the hand of the Lord at work. It was evident to Naomi that this was no ordinary day’s gleanings.

Ruth had been blessed! Someone had taken notice of her and purposefully blessed her.

Ruth reported about her day’s labor in the field of Boaz, and Naomi saw more than just the kindness and generosity of this land owner.

The word for “kindness” (chesed) is the word used of “covenant loyalty or faithfulness,” and is often translated “lovingkindness” or “mercy.”

Naomi saw a deep-seated kindness as well as the hand of the Lord prospering her and Ruth, and she praised the Lord for such covenant kindness.

Naomi knew this man was one of their kinsmen, one who could serve as a kinsman-redeemer to Ruth and to the family.

She saw in Boaz one who not only had the family ties to serve as a kinsman-redeemer, but one who also had the heart of a kinsman-redeemer.

Word Study

KINSMAN-REDEEMER

Literally translated “redeemer,” go’el is often translated “close relative” or “kinsman-redeemer.”

Its root, ga’al means “to redeem or buy back” and occurs 23 times in the book of Ruth, most notably in 2:20, 3:9, 12, 4:1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 14.

The duties of a kinsman-redeemer could include avenging a murder (Numbers 35:19—he is called “the blood avenger”), marrying his brother’s widow to raise up a son in the name of the deceased brother (Deuteronomy 25:5–10), redeeming any family land that had been sold (Leviticus 25:25), redeeming a family member sold into slavery (Leviticus 25:47–49), or caring for any of the family members in need (Leviticus 25:35).

The role of a kinsman-redeemer would fall first to the brother of a man. After that it fell to an uncle, then to an uncle’s son, then to any near relative (Leviticus 25:48–49).

Boaz urged Ruth to stay with his reapers until the harvest was finished. Boaz knew that protection and provision could be found in the presence of the reapers.

Naomi agreed that Ruth should stay in the field of Boaz. Ruth worked through the barley harvest and into the wheat harvest, which ended in mid-June.

The hand of the Lord was at work to prosper Ruth and Naomi.

After two months of hard work in the harvest fields, the time for threshing was at hand. Naomi spoke to Ruth about seeking rest or security for her through a kinsman-redeemer (3:1–2).

As we noted earlier, the Mosaic law provided for a levirite marriage to care for the widow of a brother and to raise up a child to assure the continuation of the deceased brother’s name in Israel.

The exact relation of Elimelech to Boaz is not known, but it was certainly one that could fulfill this need.

He could serve as the close relative or kinsman-redeemer.

In Ruth 3:3–4, what does Naomi tell Ruth to do?

What was Ruth’s response in Ruth 3:5?

Naomi spoke of Boaz winnowing (sifting) barley that night.

This was customary since the Mediterranean breezes would blow across the hilltops in the early evening hours.

These breezes allowed the workers to throw the grain into the air, catching the chaff and allowing the clean grain to fall to the ground.

Naomi instructed Ruth to wash and anoint herself and put on her best clothes. Then she was to go to the threshing floor where Boaz would spend the night.

Naomi instructed Ruth to follow a Middle-eastern custom of uncovering the man’s feet as a way of making known to him that she was available to be married—to be covered or protected by him as her husband.

Ruth’s response to Naomi was as would be expected, “All that you say, I will do” (v. 5).

She followed Naomi’s instructions and went to the threshing floor.

After Boaz had eaten, he went to sleep at the side of the heap of grain.

Ruth came in and uncovered the feet of Boaz and waited.

There was no hint of impropriety in this custom, rather it was a clear picture of tender care, of loving commitment, and of the promise of faithfulness to one another.

In the middle of the night, Boaz awoke to see her at his feet.

She identified herself and then asked Boaz to take her under his wing—that place of protection and care.

How did Boaz respond and what did he say about Ruth in 3:10–11?

“All that you say, I will do.”

Ruth 3:5 KJV (WS)

And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

Boaz recognized the pure character of Ruth, her evident relationship to the Lord, and her kindness toward him.

Though she could have sought a younger man to be her husband, Ruth came to the older Boaz desiring him as her kinsman-redeemer—as the one who would fulfill the levirite marriage.

Boaz also recognized and mentioned Ruth’s reputation as “a woman of excellence,” the same word that is used to describe the virtuous wife of Proverbs 31:10.

Proverbs 31:10 KJV (WS)

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

What was Boaz’ commitment to Ruth according to Ruth 3:12–13?

Boaz acknowledged that he was a close relative and able to be a kinsman-redeemer, if a closer relative to Ruth chose not to fulfill that role.

He committed himself to go that morning and fulfill the requirements, if the closer relative did not want to do so.

Boaz again centered all he did on his relationship with the Lord, even making his commitment to Ruth with an oath before the Lord—“as the LORD lives,” the personal, covenant-keeping God of Israel and of Boaz.

Early in the morning (apparently while it was still dark), Ruth went to Naomi and told her all that had happened at the threshing floor and about the promise of Boaz.

She also showed her the wonderful provision of grain he had given her.

Naomi wisely instructed Ruth to wait patiently on Boaz.

Surely that morning he would go and seek to fulfill his desired role as the kinsman-redeemer.