Oh, don’t you just love how Boaz is a man of his word? Right after Ruth heads back to Naomi with a shawl full of barley – and I’m sure a heart filled with hope – Boaz wastes no time and travels into town, just like he said he would.
Boaz is ready to make good on his word. He will do everything in his power to bring redemption to both Ruth and Naomi’s lives.
From our Scripture reading today we see Boaz is not only able to meet with this nearer un-named kinsman-redeemer, but he is also able to gather the ten elders of the town to hold this important – and may I add impromptu – meeting.
To our dismay, at first this man seems eager to redeem Elimilech’s property; that is, until he hears what comes with the redemption.
The cost is too much.
The potential sacrifice to his own estate too high.
He is only willing to redeem that which will benefit him and carry on his name… not the name of someone else.
Should he step into this redemption kinsman-redeemer role and take on Elimilech’s land and “property,” this man would risk putting his own heritage at stake IF he were to have a son with Ruth.
“If there were to be a child from the relationship with Ruth, the redeemer would lose the field and there would be no benefit to his own children and estate to compensate for the costs involved in taking care of Naomi and Ruth.” – Iain Duguid
So he counts the cost and decides to pass on the opportunity.
And of course, all of us cheer with excitement for what this means for Ruth and Naomi!
Though Ruth may have been rejected by the first kinsman-redeemer, Boaz steps in and makes good on his word! He accepts her, loves her, and joyfully takes on the responsibility of caring for both Ruth and Naomi… not worrying about whose name he is continuing.
How ironic that the first kinsman-redeemer was more concerned about protecting his name and his inheritance, yet we don’t even know his name. Boaz, on the other hand, didn’t care about those matters. He chose to love, accept, and help those who didn’t have the power to help themselves, and his name has been kept through generations because of his obedience and the good he did. Boaz’s name and deeds live on through Scripture.
“He who does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:17
Friends, like the nearer kinsman-redeemer, we all have the choice to live for ourselves or to live in obedience to God. We can choose to live lives that are ordinary in our own strength and what we can accomplish, or we can choose to live out God’s truth and live lives that are extraordinary because of how we allow God to work through us.
We can choose to play it safe, or we can choose to live lives in complete obedience to God. Our choices dictate the type of legacy we leave behind.
Boaz’s name is preserved in Scripture and the other man is never heard of again. What he thought he was saving, he lost. What Boaz didn’t care to save, he kept.
Oh friend, may we choose to be women who are like Boaz – women who are willing to obey God; women who are willing to redeem, love, and protect those rejected by the world. May we be women who love and care for the least in our midst. May we be women who are like Boaz. May we be women who are like Jesus.
Let’s Talk: Who has been a “Boaz” to you and what impact did this person’s kindness have on your life?
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Week 4 Challenge: This week, pray and ask God to help you be a Boaz in your community, workplace, church or school. Who has God placed in your life that you can help, encourage or be a friend to when others won’t?
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ANNOUNCING OUR FALL STUDY:
J O N A H
Begins: September 3rd
Study Length: 4 weeks
The story of Jonah is more than just a story of a disobedient, runaway prophet and a hungry fish.
It’s a story of a compassionate God who longs for everyone to come to salvation, even a nation who has done great evil in His sight. His heart of compassion is not limited by the severity of their sins…or ours. He desires for them to turn from their evil ways and repent, rather than continue down their destructive roads which lead to judgement.
Read more in our announcement post and join us for our NEW fall study on September 3rd!
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Today’s post caused my heart to burn within me. I have never seen the passage like that.
Investing in a legacy that lasts. My God!!!
I’ve had few friends who have been “Boaz” to me. And their kindness has kept me going.
This struck me today. And the challenge. I have been this person and I never want to pass up an opportunity to help or reach out to someone that others may not.
This study has been so enlightening and causes me to not only connect with Ruth and Naomi but with Boaz. I want to be this kind of person to those who need it.
Yes dear friend, surely you are that kind of person. You have been to me. God is helping us to continue to be who He needs us to be at every point in time. Amen.
My “Boaz” is our church “grandma”. Everyone calls her grandma, even the adults! She (Charrel) has been my comfort, my sounding board, my family. She has loved my kids from the first time she met them. When my mom passed away, she stepped into the role. She has “adopted” us into her family and that is such a comfort to us. She is such a godly woman, who is the most selfless person I know. I am so blessed that she is my “Boaz”
Susan, thank you so much for sharing with us today! Reading your reply made me think of one of the sweetest ladies in our church, she was so kind and generous. She was a legacy in our church and even in the school, our honor society was named after her, and I looked up to her so much. She has passed but her daughter inherited her home and has since moved back here and has taken over so many roles in the church, including music and the church roll. She reminds me so much of her mom in looks and mannerism and how she acts. She is the someone I look up to and admire so much.
Thank you so much for joining us and sharing with us today!
Susan dear, we thank God for such people in our lives. May we continue to have them and may we continue to be them. Amen
I appreciate your thoughts about Boaz’s response having been influenced by his mother, Rahab. I forgot about that relationship! Rahab built two things into her son’s life – faith and compassion. Boaz did not fail to listen and to act. What an encouragement! I long to be a woman of faith and a woman of compassion as I rear my brood.
Gail, thank you for joining us! Thank you for responding and sharing with us today. The few things I strive to be is faithful and compassionate and I pray that I do them justice and that I am showing my son the same values so that he can grow into a Boaz.
Gail, your insights are so beautiful. Thanks you darling.
Another thought.
Here is something I have often wondered about… There is a tendency to think of this story as a romance, and to impute romantic feelings on Ruth and Boaz. As for Ruth, perhaps that inclination is legitimate. I have been a girl and have seen many girls who mentally dress themselves up in a wedding dress at the slightest hint of interest from a man (boy). But Boaz never speaks of love, or declares that he has any romantic desires. In fact, just the opposite – he comes across as one who is handling a business deal, not a love life. Boaz sets out to do what is right. He acts in compassion for the needs of two widows. He does what needs to be done – which in this case is quite a bit! Do I think love is involved? I certainly hope so, but I expect such emotions were the cart, not the horse. True love grows in the hearts of those who meet needs in practical ways. Deep affection begins with a commitment to care.
Gail, once again thank you for your thoughts and for sharing them. I had never thought of it that way.
Hmmm Gail, I love your observation. God bless you dear.
When do you announce the study to follow the current study? We are doing this study together in our church and I would like to be able to plan start time for the next study?
Benita darling. Thank you for reaching out. We will announce this week before this present study runs out. Just be on the lookout. God bless you.
I never thought about the fact that the man who didn’t redeem the field (and what came with it) was worried that he would lose his name – and we don’t even know his name! And of course, Boaz is right there in the genealogy of Jesus. Interesting how God works, isn’t it?
Birdie, it always amazes me everything I read stories of Jesus’ ancestors and how they were deliberately put there. Thank you so much for joining us in this study!
Hubby and I want to start a ministry to people who hike the Pacific Crest Trail by having a small trailer we can park on the mountain a few feet away from the trail and offering free refreshments and drink and even a hot shower. We are trusting God to provide the trailer if this is His will for us. We believe it is and it would be a great way to share our faith.
Jeanne, what a great idea! I am sure it would be a great ministry! Thank you so much for joining us!
My Boaz is my sister. Wait a minute some may think your sister is your sister of course she will doing anything for you. I don’t find this to be true. I have let my family down countless times but when I finally showed them I meant business none of them have given up on me. Now my sister goes above and beyond. I have had tremendous financial needs that are small and some are not so small. She has saved face for me when I have been at the counter and my card read denied we don’t live in the same state but they took her information over the phone and I could walk out with my head held high. When I needed some dental work done who was there my Boaz , my Deborah , my sister. When spiritually I am down its her that texts me a word or two to bring me up.She will just text to say I am important, she misses my voice and hang in there. I think she has worried about codependency but I am not codependent I have truly needed that helping hand and she is the kindest person I know. Her heart breaks when others break, she is there for a lot of people in her Boaz role. I salute you Deborah you are the finest woman I know. Thank you
Stephanie, what a great tribute to your sister! Thank you so much for sharing with us and joining us in this study!
I feel as though God has used this study to speak to me about being charitable, being a Boaz, in this world. My husband and I are just about to close on buying our first home. Neither of us are young by any means, and we have three children together ranging from 16 to 4. I thought that the house that we are in now was going to be the place where I would do great work for God, but just the opposite; in this place God has done great, great work for me and within me. Our family has suffered here and I have let everything in the world get in the way of doing my absolute best, yet through these things He has bent me, stretched me, and caused my faith to just explode. We are now standing at the door of a new chapter in our lives and I feel that God is telling me thru this study not only to be charitable with this blessing that He is giving us, but also how to be charitable with it. Every blessing given us by God should be used to bless someone else. I know this, but I don’t do it like I should. I’m praying that I will not be lazy with the gifts that God is giving me and that I will not hoard up my blessings. Rather that I will be fearless and daring to help those that noone else will; that I will procure ways to give a hand up rather than a hand out; that I will come alongside people through their journey, instead us just setting them on their way; and that I will instill this spirit within the hearts of my children and others. “For what is a great estate good for, but that it enables a man to do so much the more good in his generation…” Matthew Henry
Kira, congratulations on your new home! Thank you so much for joining us on this journey, we are so glad you have. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and prayers. Prayers for this next chapter in your life and let it be a blessed one.