RUTH SERIES – FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH: CHAPTER 4

In keeping with his word, in the morning Boaz went to the gate of the city which was the place in ancient times where business transactions were handled and waited for Elimelech’s next of kin to come by. When the man was passing, Boaz invited him and ten elders of the city who would be his witnesses and represented the quorum needed for official actions to sit down with him while he shared pertinent information.

First, Boaz talked about the purchase of Elimelech’s property from Naomi which the next of kin was willing to do until Boaz told him he would also have to marry Ruth to maintain the name of Naomi’s family. Since he was already married and planning a family of his own, he feared this decision would endanger his own estate; therefore, he rejected the proposal and told Boaz as the next kin in line he could do it.

As their custom and law, with the ten elders as witnesses, because he rejected the proposal, the next of kin took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz giving him the right to purchase Elimelech’s property and marry Ruth. Additionally, the elders gave Boaz the traditional blessings wishing him, his future wife, his family, and offspring, well and citing the names of Boaz’s clanswomen who had birthed children, and Pharez, Boaz’s ancestor.

Boaz willingly became the kinsman redeemer and married Ruth who bore him a son that the women of the town named Obed and whom Naomi nursed as her own. Also, the women blessed and congratulated Naomi whom God honored with a grandchild who would in the future care for her, and Ruth her daughter-in-law whose love and devotion they considered to be more than seven sons.

The book of Ruth ends with the genealogy of the Boaz’s family starting with Pharez, who was the founder of the family of Judah down to David his great-grandson who became the second king in Israel. It states, “Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Time had allowed Naomi to transition from the weeping, depression, grief, and bitterness in chapter one to joy, peace, and satisfaction in chapter four. Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth, became a “restorer of life” for Naomi. Her weeping endured for a while, but joy came. Don’t allow yourself to become forlorn, tomorrow may be your day of miraculous change.

Like in the life of Naomi and Ruth, during all of our challenges, God is present and remains faithful despite what we may feel or see.

You must be smart when negotiating for things that you truly want. Boaz, in his conversation with Elimelech’s next-of-kin, showed why he was a successful businessman.

Boaz symbolized Jesus Christ as our kinsman-redeemer who willingly redeemed us when others failed to do so. By marrying Ruth, Boaz displayed his willingness to perpetuate the family name that had ceased by the deaths of Elimelech and Mahlon. Also, his actions caused his name to become known and revered throughout history.

The love and devotion of Ruth to Naomi was equated to seven sons which represented the blessed perfect Hebrew family. If you experience deep love and devotion, it is to be valued and cherished for it is lacking in the lives of many.

Being in the right place opens the door for unexpected blessings to come your way.

God can move you from working in the field to become the owner of the field.