But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:4-7).
The next few lessons deal with the redemption power of God. Ruth and Boaz, ancestors of King David and of Christ, portray the truth of how God stepped up and paid the price for those He loves. This lesson is a picture of the story originating in the Old Testament that reached its fulfillment in the New Testament. Boaz was willing to rescue Ruth, fulfill all that was required by the law, and to pay the price demanded. He is an example of the redeeming love of Christ, who restored what the Devil stole and paid the price for all of us.
Old Testament - Ruth Chapter 4: 9-17
And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Many are familiar with the story of Ruth, but for those who are not, Ruth is the story of a stranger brought into the family of God by a kinsman redeemer. Ruth was married to a young man named Mahlon from Bethlehem who died in the land of Moab along with his brother and father far from home. This left Ruth, and her mother-in-law, Naomi, widowed and without children. In that time that meant ruin, as they would be unable to provide for themselves and would be at the mercy of those around them. Ruth's life was in danger as she gleaned left over grain in the fields, and her future uncertain with no one to help protect her. Unlike her sister-in-law, Ruth refused to return to her own family. She chose to stay with Naomi and to put her trust in Naomi’s God. As Ruth obediently labored to care for her mother-in-law, Boaz took notice of her honorable behavior. She revealed herself to him and asked him to act the part of the kinsman redeemer toward her. He promised that he wouldn't rest until he had settled the matter. The scripture above is the resulting action taken by Boaz to marry Ruth and raise up a son to inherit in place of her husband who had died.
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.
Jacob paid a dear price to marry his wives Rachel and Leah, he labored fourteen years under the thumb of their father Laban. His love for Rachel was so great that he did what was required, even though he had been tricked and taken advantage of.
Tamar is mentioned because, like Ruth, her husband left her a widow, she was actually widowed twice. Although in this case, it was because of the sin they committed that God slew them. The family line of Judah was chosen by God to be the one that the Messiah would be born into, but God used even her sinful behavior to accomplish His will regarding Jesus's family tree. Her name is in the genealogy recorded in the Book of Matthew. The pattern is a woman in dire straights, seen by God, rescued and redeemed through the grace of God.
What these situations represent are stunning illustrations of the life and work of Christ. We were in the position of Ruth, and by we, I mean every member of the human race. Our father Adam and his wife Eve endured a devastating loss as the result of their sin in the Garden of Eden. We could not save ourselves; essentially, death and the curse of sin were passed on to every one of their descendants. Once, they walked with God “in the cool of the evening,” but after the fall, the gulf between a Holy God and a Rebellious creation was impossible to cross.
Jesus redeemed us and bought us back from the enemy. Adam’s seed was dead, ruined, and without provision and protection. Christ, the “second Adam,” allowed Adam’s descendants to be rescued and restored. He paid all that was required to give us access to the Father and to give us life everlasting.
And don't forget about the witnesses. Boaz made public his redemptive love for Ruth; there were witnesses present. Christ made public his sacrifice for us, and among the witnesses who proclaimed Him to be the Son of God was the Holy Spirit.
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.7 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
When Boaz decided that he would Redeem Ruth, marry her, and have a child, there were obstacles that had to be overcome. There was a person with a closer legal claim to marry Ruth. Boaz had to negotiate with that man in order to fulfill the promise he made to Ruth. He asks if he was interested in redeeming the land of Ruth’s deceased husband. He was. Then he said that there was a cost as well as a benefit. For the other man to get the inheritance, he had to marry Ruth and raise a son in the memory of her husband who had passed. That son would inherit the land and all that went with it when he was old enough to do so. When the other man heard what was required of him and of his responsibilities toward her son, he wanted nothing to do with her. Boaz then stepped up and claimed her for himself, and with her the responsibility to give what was required to ensure her future and her son’s future.
You see, Satan desired the worship and loyalty of Adam and Eve and their descendants. He desired to place his throne above God’s throne. However, he was not willing or able to pay the price required to save and love them. Jesus was willing and able.
New Testament Luke Chapter 3:23, 31-32
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)
When you are tempted to skip over the genealogies, remember that each name entered is a testimony to the provision and protection of God and Christ's willingness to give all that He had to save those who will put their trust in Him. The line was unbroken all the way to Christ and He restored family of God connecting them all the way back to the Father.
God did what He said he would do. He keeps His promises. It can feel like He has forgotten. He has not. The whole Bible is written to help us understand the love of Jesus. Who He is, why He is, and how He is. He is the perfect, sinless sacrifice planned from the foundation of the world. God was not surprised that Adam and Eve sinned. He knew they would. He knew we would. Yet He promises a way of redemption. Do you know Jesus in the pardon and forgiveness of sin? You can.
Thank you for studying with us! God bless!