BOAZ – A “Kinsman Redeemer” Foreshadowing Christ Jesus

© 2022 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Boaz was a Godly and wealthy bachelor in Bethlehem during a famine.  He was the son of Salmon who had married Rahab the Harlot, rescued during the battle of Jericho.  During the famine, a close relative of Boaz also lived in Bethlehem.  This relative decided to take his wife and two sons to the land of Moab.

“And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.” (Ruth 1:2)

The Moabites were Baal worshipers.  They sacrificed their children to Baal.  After God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites began traveling toward the land God had promised them.  The Israelites sought to pass peacefully through the land of Moab to their destination.  However, the Moabites had vigorously opposed this passage through their land.  Because of this, God had forbidden Moabites from entering God’s congregation for ten generations.

“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:” (Deuteronomy 23:3)

Elimelech’s move to Moab placed his family into direct contact with these child sacrificing Baal worshippers.  In fact, his two sons married Moabite women.  During the next seven years, Elimelech and his two sons died in this heathen land.  This left Naomi and her two daughters-in-law deserted and destitute.

Naomi decided to move back to Bethlehem.  One of her two daughters-in-law, Ruth, begged to return with her.  Ruth had come to trust in the true God of her mother-in-law.

Returning to Bethlehem, elderly Naomi and Ruth were destitute.  For Ruth and Naomi to survive, Ruth had to glean grain in a local field at harvest time.  According to God’s plan, she unknowingly happened to glean in a field belonging to Boaz.  Jewish law provided for childless widows to be married by a near relative called a “kinsman redeemer.”  Their resulting first child would be added to the family line of the widow’s previous husband.  As Boaz observed Ruth’s diligence and faithfulness to Naomi, he took a growing interest in her.  Though there was a nearer relative, whose right of redemption superseded that of Boaz, that relative renounced his right.   Thus, Boaz married Ruth becoming her “kinsman redeemer”.  Together, they had a son named Obed who became part of the human lineage of Christ, the ultimate kinsman redeemer.  Christ became a near kinsman to humanity through His virgin birth by Mary.  He grew and lived a sinless life.  He died on the cross of Calvary paying sin’s penalty for all who repent and ask Him for salvation.

Have you trusted Christ, the ultimate kinsman redeemer descended from and symbolized by Boaz?

 

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