Ruth 4:1-12 – A Willing Redeemer
The people ask that the Lord make Ruth like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel. As Christians, we should consider children a blessing. There’s a blessing to Boaz himself at the end of verse eleven – may you act worthily and be renowned. It’s interesting that they pray that blessing. For what is it that Boaz is doing? He’s sacrificing his own honour, and he’s sacrificing his own wealth for the sake of these widows and for the sake of the honour and reputation of the dead.
Boaz points us to the Lord Jesus Christ. Boaz is willing to sort this matter and to do so quickly and properly. Is it not the same with the Lord Jesus Christ? There was no absolute necessity placed on Him, the Son of God, to redeem any people at all in the Divine counsel. He willingly and voluntarily agreed to do this, that in eternity, before the world had even been created and before man was to fall, before anything would happen to necessitate redemption, He was willing. No one compelled Him. No one forced him to do it. God doesn’t look at you and me and think, there’s some reason in us why we should be redeemed. It’s purely of grace. When Christ took to Himself human flesh, when He took to Himself a true body and a reasonable soul, He became the God-man. Two natures were together in one person, in that wonderful union never to be broken. But there were two wills. There was the Divine will and the human will. And so the Divine will and the human will agreed together to do the very same thing. Jesus Christ was more willing to go to the cross than you and I are willing to go to the cross to receive forgiveness. Just as Boaz went immediately and dealt with it, so Christ has willingly accomplished redemption.
Questions
- What blessings did the witnesses ask God for?
- How is Boaz like Christ?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that Christ was a willing Redeemer.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.