Lesson Three • Redemption of the Family
Devotion #1: Selflessness
Josh Thayer
In Ruth chapter 3, we pop in on Naomi and Ruth. Both are widows and Ruth is the daughter-in-law to Naomi. Here is where we see the selfless act of Naomi. From what we know about her, this is typical of her character. While you read through Ruth chapter 3, you will also see the term “kinsman redeemer.” This was a man who would take responsibility for the extended family when the husband of a relative would die. Typically when a woman’s husband died, the law provided that she could marry the brother of her dead husband. In this specific case, Naomi had no more sons for Ruth to marry, but the nearest relative to the deceased husband could become the kinsman redeemer and marry the widow. This was a very important role because typically the life of a widow was one of poverty and difficult times. So, when Boaz came into the picture, things changed.
Ruth 2:19-20 says, “And her mother-in-law said to her, ‘Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.’ So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, ‘The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.’ And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!’ Naomi also said to her, ‘The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.’”
Boaz had the opportunity to save both Ruth and Naomi from a life of poverty. Naomi’s selfless act was seen in chapter 3 when she told Ruth to go meet with Boaz instead of her. Naomi, the older widowed woman, could have been first in line to receive the kinsman redeemer of the family, Boaz, since he was a relative of her husband. However, she laid down her own needs and gave the opportunity to Ruth. This was a truly selfless act, knowing that Ruth could easily remarry and Naomi could have lived out a life of poverty alone.
Both Naomi and Boaz have very different parts in this story, but both of their actions only point toward Jesus! Naomi’s selflessness and Boaz stepping in to save Ruth and Naomi are characteristics of Jesus. In a way, Jesus acted like the kinsman redeemer to all of us. He came down to Earth to save us all, knowing the end goal would be to selflessly lay down His own holy life on our behalf. Jesus redeemed us from all our sins and hopelessness by providing a way to eternal life with God the Father in Heaven through the cross. He came and died for you and me so that one day when we die, we can spend all of eternity in Heaven with God. That is what we have to look forward to. That is what we should be living for!