Human Response 402: Redeemer Figure Shows Kindness and Blesses

Ruth 4:10 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.

The faith response of Boaz was to show kindness to Ruth the Gentile: he purchased her to be his wife. He became a kinsman redeemer for Mahlon, her dead husband, thereby saving his name and inheritance. Because of his kindness Ruth (and Naomi, too) was lifted out of poverty and hopelessness. He gave her an inheritance and a name. And even more: Ruth became the great-grandmother of David and an ancestress of the promised Messiah and Savior.

Jesus, out of unimaginable kindness, became the family redeemer for us. He lifted us out of poverty and destitution. He purchased us with His own blood. He married us and brought us into the family of God as His beautiful Bride. He gave us a name and an inheritance, eternal life. “Through His poverty we became rich.” The Word of God paints two pictures of our Redemption and Salvation: we are on the one hand children of God and brothers of Jesus, and on the other hand, the married bride of Christ. It’s a beautiful picture, whichever way we look at it. We will never meet anybody as kind as our Redeemer. Therefore, we respond with kindness to each other. It’s a natural family trait.