Four things were required for Boaz to be a redeemer. He must be the next of kin. He must be able to redeem. He must be free from all calamity and need of redemption himself. He must be willing to redeem.
Many people don’t realize this but Boaz’s mother was Rahab the harlot. She married a man name Salmon from the tribe of Judah and they had Boaz. (Matthew 5:1). Though his mother was a prostitute, when she gave her life to the living God the Lord blessed her and she was counted among the righteous (James 2:25). This is the legacy she and her husband passed down to their son.
Like Ruth, Boaz knew firsthand what it was like to be among a people who were not totally accepting of him at first.
However, by the time Ruth and Naomi made it back to Bethlehem Boaz was one of the wealthiest men there and he had great influence but he was also a righteous man. He was their kinsman and met all the requirements to be a redeemer. Ruth need to work to provide for herself and her mother-in-law so she went to work in Boaz’s field. This is where they came to know each other and God’s plan for them to be joined in marriage came together.
I believe Boaz was drawn to Ruth partly because she reminded him a lot of his mother – a foreigner who became one of God’s people by faith. However, it was Ruth, at the advice of Naomi who asked Boaz asked to marry her. Of course he said yes because loved Ruth as a father and a husband. He redeemed them from a life of poverty and suffering.
Jesus Christ is our Redeemer.
He meets all the requirements. However, He loved us so much more than Boaz loved Ruth. He gave his life as the price to buy us back from sin, death, and hell.
You can read Boaz’s full story in my new book: A Call to God’s Daughters To Step Into His LAB Love Acceptance Beauty Based on the Book of Ruth. You can purchase it here:
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