Ruth: The Redeemed Church

Ruth:  The Redeemed Church
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

    We see in the Biblical story of Ruth a picture of the Bride of Christ as the redeemed Church, redeemed, according to the scriptures, by our kinsman Redeemer.  The kinsman redeemer was a male relative who had the privilege and/or responsibility to come to the aid of a family member in need. The Hebrew term for kinsman redeemer is go el.  A go el is a person who rescues or redeems.  Boaz is the go el, the kinsman redeemer of Ruth. Jesus Christ is go el, the kinsman Redeemer of the Church.

          Ruth was a Moabite, a descendent of Abraham’s nephew Lot.  The Moabites were often enemies of Israel.  Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi was an Israelite of the tribe of Judah.  Because of famine in Israel, years before, Naomi, her husband and two sons had moved to Moab to find a better life.  Like Naomi’s family, often we, as Christians, move away from our appointed place in the Lord and into alliances with those who do not have our best interests in mind. When we do so, we move out of the protection and blessing of God into the insecurity and uncertainty of the world.
The move to Moab brought grief and uncertainty into the lives of Naomi and her daughters-in-law.  After Naomi’s husband and sons died, Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, impoverished and without protection, returned to Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem. Arriving in Bethlehem, Naomi sent Ruth to glean in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi to whom they appealed as their go el. Boaz agreed and after following the customs of the land, willingly married Ruth. They named their son Obed. His name means “serving or worshiping” indicating that the family had dedicated their lives and their future to serving and worshiping God.  Obed became the grandfather of King David, a man of worship, a man after God’s own heart.  David was a forefather of Jesus, the one who came as a Servant, the one who is worthy of our worship.

     Jehovah is Israel’s Redeemer, the one who promises to defend and vindicate them. He is both Father and Deliverer. Exodus 20:1-2 (NKJV)  “And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.’”
     The New Testament pictures Christ our kinsman-redeemer.  In Hebrews 2:11-12, He declares that He is not ashamed to call us His brothers.  Through His death on the Cross, He has paid the price for our sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”   As our kinsman, Jesus met the deepest need in our lives.  His sacrifice for us is our only redemption.
What a deeper story we have when we know the meanings of the names of the main characters.  “Boaz” means willingness to obey.  “Ruth” denotes friendship.  “Naomi” is lovable. “Jesus” indicates that Jehovah is our helper, our savior.  Jesus willingly obeyed His Father even to a horrific death on the Cross.  He calls us His friends and He loved us before we loved Him.  He is our Boaz, our Kinsman-Redeemer. In Him, we become Ruth and Naomi. 
We praise You, Father, for Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer.