Jesus,our heavenly Boaz who cancelled our debt

Ruth 2:2-3 “So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz…” (NKJV)

Ruth was in great need of a kinsman redeemer. Her husband died and she decided to return with her mother-in-law Naomi to her homeland. They had nothing and Ruth went and gleaned heads of grain in the fields of Boaz. Boaz noticed her and ordered his men to let grain purposely fall for Ruth to gather. She approached Boaz and requested him to be her kinsman redeemer. However, according to the Jewish customs of those days, the closest relative must give up his right, before Boaz can redeem her. Boaz met with the closer relative and he gave up his right so that Boaz can redeem and marry Ruth.

Just like Ruth, are we in desperate need of a Redeemer. Jesus is typified in the person of Boaz. Like Boaz who redeemed Ruth, a Moabite, so did Jesus redeem us as Gentiles from all our sin so that we can become one with Him and partake in His glory.

The person of Boaz portrays significant characteristics of Jesus. Let’s look at a few:

• Boaz was generous, gracious and rewarded more than what was deserved: when Ruth worked from the morning to the evening she only managed to gather one measure of barley, which equalled about ten days’ supply. But during the one night that Ruth rest at Boaz’s feet, he gave her six measures of barley, which equals two months’ supply. The more we rest and trust in Jesus and His goodness, the more we will receive from Him. (Ruth 3:14-15).

• Nothing escapes the eyes of Boaz. He was ready to bless. While Ruth was gleaning in Boaz’s field, he instructed his men to purposefully let grain fall for her to gather. All because she found favor in his eyes, not because of anything she did for him, but because of who he was. Jesus sees everything. He is continuously on the lookout for someone to bless. Just like Boaz purposely let the grain fall to bless Ruth, so Jesus purposefully commands blessings unto us.

• Boaz wanted to redeem Ruth from all her financial debts and worries. Like I mentioned earlier, He could only do so if a closer relative gives up his right to redeem her. Boaz met with him at the city gate and while he did so, Naomi told Ruth to sit and wait while Boaz is at work as he will not rest until he is successful. Boaz became Ruth’s redeemer while she was still and at rest. Jesus is our redeemer and we should be at rest in Him and anxious for nothing, because while we are resting He is purposefully at work on our behalf. (Ruth 3:18)

Ruth found favor in Boaz’s eyes because he wanted to redeem her. He wanted to be good to her and provide for her in abundance and he did. We have the same position in Christ Jesus. We have favor in Jesus’ eyes for He has redeemed us.

But what do we have in our redemption in Christ?

The ordinary meaning of the word “redeem” means to “compensate for the faults or bad aspects, to gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment, to buy back or to regain possession”.

Just like Ruth had in Boaz, we have been redeemed from our faulty lives and shortcomings to gain salvation in Christ. We receive God’s legacy through the undeniable sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The price He paid cannot even be measured in monetary terms, it is too great. So important are you to God, that He had to buy you back from a life of sin and death so that He can give you His everlasting life and provision to which there is no end.

Maretha Retief

Illustration by Jeanne de Villiers