You Are The Redeemed

So he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. Spread the hem of your garment over me, for you are a close relative and redeemer.”

— Ruth 3:9 (NASB)

The word “redeemer” appears for the first time. This was a law given to take care of widows and people who had fallen on hard times. It was called “the law of the Goel”. Goel means “redeemer” – a near relative, a person close with the same blood flowing through his veins. And if called upon, he must be her protector, her provider and her deliverer. 

This is not the way we look at things today, but this was the law in the OT. Being the Goel was a very heavy and costly position. He would also have to buy her land so she wouldn’t lose it. And as the closest relative to a widow, he had to marry her in order that the name of his brother would not be lost. So as a widow, you called upon the Goel and he came to help you. 

The last day of the harvest is nearing and Naomi gives instructions to Ruth. She says, “get yourself cleaned up, put on your best clothes and perfume. Go down where Boaz is winnowing the harvest. When he is done, he will eat, drink and be dog tired. He will get a blanket and roll up out there in the field”. Then she said, “go there and wait. After they finish celebrating, Boaz will sleep.” Ruth watches and waits. She goes where he is sleeping and does as Naomi said. She lifts up his blanket and lies down at his feet pulling the blanket over her. 

During the night, as he turns over he feels something at his feet. He jumps up and says, “who’s there? Who are you?” That’s when Ruth says, “I am Ruth, your maid.”   “Spread your covering over your maid for you are a close relative, a Goel, a Redeemer.”  She was calling upon who he was saying, “cover me, be my protection, my provision, my deliverer”. In other words, be everything that God is toward me. Boaz immediately knows what she is talking about and he blesses her. Right there, he pledges himself, “I will be your Goel”.

Could Ruth and Naomi have believed this would happen? Naomi is swept into the wealth of her brother in law through Ruth. Could any of them in their wildest dreams have believed that their little baby would be the great grandfather of David? Direct from Ruth to David who became the first great king of Israel. Through David’s line came Jesus. What a story! 

A simple story that points to who Jesus is. Jesus became your near kinsman – bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh – that He might be your Redeemer. You are the Redeemed! It is not something you work at. This is who you are! Jesus, by the shedding of His own blood, became your Kinsman Redeemer. He is your protection, your provision and your deliverer. Oh how He loves you!  

“He stepped into my story and became my Kinsman Redeemer. Now His story is my story.”