Redeem The Land
August 24, 2008
Scripture:
Ruth 4:3-8 - “…Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’”
Synopsis:
The book of Ruth is about loyalty and redemptive love. Although it is called Ruth, the story is really about Naomi, an old woman who seemed to have lost her posterity and future, but has it all restored by God through the loyalty of Ruth and the integrity of her close relative Boaz, who like God, valued people and their posterity over the possession of property.
The story starts with a description of Naomi and her daughters-in-law suffering the loss of their husbands, which results in one daughter choosing to return to her past and the other, Ruth clinging to Naomi and the hope of the future. Ruth’s remarkable act of loyalty took her through a progression of being a servant among servants, a favored reaper among reapers, to one who draws close to her kinsman-redeemer Boaz and receives an inheritance. Although Boaz was instrumental in Ruth’s redemption, it was only because she was being guided by Naomi who knew Boaz’s character. Naomi knew that Boaz would be impressed with Ruth’s loyalty and willingness to serve and once he was approached and asked to be a redeemer, would not rest until Ruth’s redemption was complete.
Between Boaz and Ruth was an unnamed relative who was the first option for redemption. Boaz, with insight and wisdom, presented his case for redemption to this unnamed relative, stressing the need to not only redeem the land belonging to Naomi, but the person of Ruth her daughter-in-law. The unnamed relative was willing to redeem the land but wanted nothing to do with Ruth, a daughter of Moab and therefore a foreigner from among tainted people. He was more concerned with gaining land and maintaining his reputation than redeeming a person from destitution.
Unfortunately, many in the church have the mentality of the unnamed relative. They want prosperity without the responsibility of helping people. As a result many are missing their inheritance and the possibility of perpetual prosperity for their posterity.
