Redeeming Love
Ruth 4:4 (ESV) “So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
I was heartbroken upon hearing the devastating news. My face pressed into the tear-soaked pillow as I wept uncontrollably. My friend and her husband faced another dead-end street in their adoption journey. This time had been more promising than the others, yet here they were, staring into an empty nursery with nothing more than broken promises. As I sat there and reflected upon the highs and lows of my friend’s journey through the adoption process, I couldn’t help think about my own adoption journey, not physically, but spiritually.
As believers, our spiritual adoption story may have started out to be one of devastation, but rest assured, it’s full of hope and promises kept.
The book of Ruth has always been one of my favorite books in the Bible. In Ruth 4:1 we find a man by the name of Boaz at the city gate, keeping his promise to Ruth (Ruth 3:12-13). Ruth has captured the heart of Boaz (Go back and start at the beginning of Ruth to get the whole story- It’s really good!), but unfortunately, an enormous problem stands in the way of his happily ever after. Boaz isn’t the first in line as the family’s kinsman-redeemer. The opportunity belonged to someone else. Boaz knew the honorable and selfless thing to do was follow the proper steps and risk the chance of losing Ruth to someone else. Boaz soon meets up with the man, calls over ten elders of the city to be witnesses, informs him of the land proposition of Naomi, then asks the nagging question, “Do you want to redeem it?” (Ruth 4:1-4)
Our redemption and adoption story line doesn’t begin with the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. However, just as Boaz had an enormous problem standing in the way of redeeming Ruth, we have a similar problem – Sin – which created the giant gulf that separates us from a holy God. This problem goes back to the dawn of creation when sin entered a perfect garden, wreaking havoc with such destructive and devastating force and breaking fellowship with a holy God (Gen.3). All that was perfection was no longer perfect.
The Bible only tells of God’s conversation of judgment with the serpent (Gen. 3:14), but I can only imagine the words hissing from the enemy’s lips if God had allowed it, “Do you really want to redeem them?” followed by “Do you really want to pay the price?”
God’s answer? Yes, Yes, for all eternity, Yes!
Here in the pages of Ruth, the kinsman-redeemer, Boaz, points us to a more marvelous Kinsman Redeemer. Nestled at the beginning of time in Genesis 3:15, we see the price of redemption God would pay for humanity. God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17). Boaz’s example gives us a clear visual of the lengths God would go to save fallen humanity properly, all while fulfilling every prophecy of the coming Messiah and Redeemer (Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 27:46, Psalm 22:1 to name a few).
What kind of God would go to such great lengths to purchase our redemption? The kind of God that keeps his promises (2 Peter 3:9) is gracious, righteous, compassionate (Psalms116:5), faithful (Exodus 34:6-7), merciful (Psalm 30:5), and the way of life (John 14:6).
Why? Because of His great redeeming love (Romans 5:8). And because of His love, we as believers have an incredible adoption story. The providential hand of God shaped the course of history so that you and I could be adopted into His royal family (Romans 8:15-17).
Oh, what manner of love! It’s the most remarkable love story of all time. And the best part, it’s our love story with our Creator!
Dear God,
Thank you for loving me so that you paid the price for my redemption. I can’t begin to understand why you love me the way you do but I’m so grateful that you do. Forgive me when I lose sight of your love by focusing on my circumstances. Give me wisdom to notice when the enemy is trying to distract me from the truth of your love. I’m so thankful that you saw through the ages and said – Yes – I want to redeem humanity. You didn’t have to but you did out of your amazing love. I love you – In Jesus name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
1 John 3:1 ESV
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
Jeremiah 31:3 ESV
“The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Reflection:
What amazes you when you think about your love story with Jesus? Spend some time today meditating on His love.