Boaz Redeems Ruth

BY Raechel Myers

Our Ruth is waiting in obedience to Naomi. (I say “our Ruth” because we all feel a little bit protective over her at this point, don’t we?) And Boaz is pursuing a future with Ruth through the proper channels. He respects the law, and he’s demonstrating over and over again that he is an honorable guy. 

Boaz wants this to be legal—for the agreement to be made in plain sight, in the presence of elders. When Boaz fairly and legally takes Ruth as his wife, the ten elders and those at the gate invoke this incredible, ancient blessing for fruitfulness on their union: “May the LORD make [Ruth]…like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and your name well known in Bethlehem” (Ruth 4:11).

God reveals a peek at His awesome tapestry when we look at the bigger picture of Boaz and Ruth’s love story. We pull back the curtain and see that Ruth’s decision to follow Naomi was so much more than an address change; it is a tiny piece of God’s grand plan. 

That blessing of fruitfulness would soon bring forth a son, Obed, who would be the father of Jesse. And one of Jesse’s sons was David. (The guy who slayed Goliath, was anointed king, and wrote many of the psalms.) David also happens to be the direct ancestor of a baby whose parents returned to their hometown, Bethlehem, to deliver Him in a manger. Jesus. Renowned in Bethlehem, indeed!

Ruth and Boaz have a remarkable family history of redemption. Even better, through this family tree, the Redeemer—our Redeemer—would come to buy back the world.

Christ has redeemed us like Boaz redeemed Ruth. In the most public way possible, Jesus redeemed us once and for all, a people for His possession. May we go forward today knowing we are loved so genuinely and incredibly by the One who redeemed us to be His. We are loved, indeed. And we are His.