In the Beginning…
Our story begins around the time that all that good stuff in the Book of Judges is happening. Mostly, judging and things like that. We meet a nice Jewish family who live in Bethlehem in Judah: a guy named Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. They're the perfect family. But all is not good for Elimelech and company. A famine hits Bethlehem and the family is forced to leave. They go to Moab where they have a bite to eat, settle in, and get acquainted with the people. The two sons marry two nice Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. Later, Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with only her two sons. Then, after the family has been there about ten years in total, both Naomi's sons die, too. Neither Mahlon or Chilion had any kids with their wives, so Naomi is very unhappy.
Since the famine in Bethlehem also happens to be over around this time, Naomi decides to make her way back to Judah. Her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, pack up their suitcases to join her. But, Naomi begs the women not to follow her. She can't provide for them (no men around means no way to earn money). She tells them to head back to their mothers' houses. There they'll be able to find some nice husbands to take care of them. Naomi kisses the girls and wishes them well, but they refuse to turn back. They beg to go with her to Judah. But Naomi won't give in even though it's clear she loves both women because she calls them her daughters.
So Naomi lays it all on the line. There's no use in going with her. It's not like she can provide Orpah and Ruth with more husbands.
She's too old to get another husband and too old to have more sons. Even if she did, would they want to wait until those babies were old enough to marry? What will they have if they keep following her? Not much hope here. Orpah is pretty sad, but she's finally convinced. She takes her mother-in-law's advice and turns back home. Ruth isn't giving up though. She pledges to follow Naomi wherever she goes. Ruth tells her "your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried.”
Now that Ruth has agreed to throw off her religion and cultural identity and become a Jew living in Judah, Naomi lets her come along. Back in Judah, Naomi's arrival after ten years being gone is big news. The people start talking about her instantly—Naomi's back in town! But, Naomi warns them not to call her by that name anymore. She tells them to address her as Mara (which means "bitter") The famine is now over, because the barley harvest is about to begin in Bethlehem. Well, it just so happens that Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) has a male relative in town named Boaz. Boaz is well known and really well off. Ruth tells Naomi she's gonna go to the barley fields and try to glean some ears of grain. That just means that she's going to gather some of the barley that's left behind after the workers harvest it. It's a form of charity for really poor people, which Naomi and Ruth definitely are. Coincidence of coincidences, she just so happens to pick the part of the field that Boaz owns. God has His hand in this one. Naturally, Boaz just happens along at this very moment. Boaz inquires about the new girl. The servant explains how Ruth left her home and family so she could stand by Naomi when the going got tough.
Boaz goes over to Ruth and offers her all kinds of gleaning perks. She's welcome to work in his field all season (she won't have to go from property to property) and drink from the same water the workers do. Oh, and he's also told the harvesters not to bother her. Ruth is so grateful, She wants to know why Boaz is being so kind to her.
Boaz explains that he knows all about her devotion to Naomi and how she left Moab and all her family and friends to come to Judah with her mother-in-law. He tells Ruth that he hopes God will take her under his wing since she's devoted herself to him and his people. Later, when it's time to eat, Boaz tells Ruth to go ahead and eat with him and his workers. She eats bread and wine with them.
When Ruth leaves to go glean some more, Boaz tells his workers that she is allowed to take the non-charity grain and that they should help her by leaving some nice barley stalks lying around for her to pick up.
Ruth comes back home that evening with alot of barley. Naomi eats and wonders where Ruth worked. Obviously, someone really nice has been kind to her and Naomi wants to know who the man is. Ruth tells her she set up shop in Boaz's field and Naomi instantly recognizes him as one of her dead husband's relatives. Naomi encourages Ruth to keep going back to Boaz's field . And the wheels in Naomi's head are starting to turn.
Naomi tells Ruth that she "needs to seek some security for her." Naturally, she means that she wants to try to secure Ruth a husband. She tells her daughter-in-law to wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go visit Boaz, who will be sleeping on the threshing floor that night, guarding the barley that was harvested at the end of the day. When Ruth sees Boaz lie down, she's supposed to go lay by his feet.
Ruth agrees and heads out to lie with Boaz. In the biblical sense. She sees him eat dinner and start to sleep on the threshing floor, and then she sneaks over, uncovers his feet, and lies down. At around midnight, Boaz wakes up and is surprised to see Ruth. Ruth identifies herself and tells him to "spread his cloak" over her because he's her next-of-kin. In other words, Boaz is family, and she is interested. Boaz seems pretty happy about it. He tells her that she's clearly a wonderful lady because she's come to him (a family member) instead of going to someone else. He knows she's a "worthy woman."
Boaz tells her that he's a relative and all, but he's not the closest relative to her late husband. There's another guy around town who has more of a claim to her than he does. Boaz says he'll go see this guy and check in with him. If this man isn't willing to marry her then Boaz will. Ruth "lay at his feet until morning" and leaves before the sun comes up (since Boaz is a little bit concerned about someone seeing her there and stirring up a scandal). He does give her a bunch of barley to take back with her.
Ruth returns back home. There, Naomi instantly wants to know what happened with Boaz and Ruth explains. Naomi seems satisfied and the women settle in to wait and hear who Ruth with marry—an unnamed man who she has never met or Boaz.
Sure enough, Boaz goes out to find the other man first thing in the morning. He heads into the city and finds the guy at the gate. Boaz arranges for the man to come talk with him and ten elders in the city. He tells the other kinsman that Naomi is looking to sell some land that belonged to her husband. Boaz lets him know that he can buy the property, but if he's not interested then Boaz is next in line. This man is interested in the property, but Boaz tells him it comes with a condition. If he decides to buy the property he also gets Ruth as his wife. So this deal isn't turning out to be the bargain the other man thought it would be. He turns the whole thing down and tells Boaz to go for it. To seal the deal, one of the guys takes off his sandal and gives it to the other. That was the custom back then. All the elders nod in agreement. It's witnessed by ten people, so it is done. They offer all kinds of blessings for the newlyweds and wish them well.
Ruth and Boaz get married. Soon, Ruth gets pregnant and has a son. Naomi is thrilled and realizes that God hasn't left her. He's given her a grandson and a daughter-in-law who's awesome. They have a son and the women in town name him Obed.
The story goes onto say that Obed became the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. So Ruth is actually the great-grandmother to one of the most awesome, celebrated kings in Jewish history.
Now let me explain Kinsman Redeemer.
The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. The Hebrew term for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues or redeems property or person. Boaz.
In the New Testament, Christ is often regarded as an example of a kinsman-redeemer because, as our brother , He also redeems us because of our great need, one that only He can satisfy. In Ruth we see a beautiful and poignant picture of the needy supplicant, unable to rescue herself, requesting of the kinsman-redeemer that he cover her with his protection, redeem her, and make her his wife. In the same way, the Lord Jesus Christ bought us for Himself, out of the curse, out of our destitution; made us His own beloved bride; and blessed us for all generations. He is the true kinsman-redeemer of all, who call on Him in faith.
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