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Meet Boaz: an Israelite, a man who owns property and keeps his eye on things. He follows God’s law, telling his harvesters to leave grain behind for the poor—like Ruth. He’s generous and kind, and happens to be a close relative of Naomi’s late husband Elimelek. He was also a family redeemer.
You’re probably wondering, “What’s a family redeemer?” When the Promised Land (where God led the Israelites when they escaped Egypt) was divided among the tribes of Joshua, God intended for that land to stay with each family. But things happen and men die—and if there was no heir to inherit the land, a close relative, or a family redeemer, would buy that piece of land “to keep it in the family,” so to speak. But in buying the land, that man was also taking on the responsibility of the dead man’s widow and children. Or in Boaz’s case, his widow and her daughter-in-law.
Boaz could have avoided redeeming Ruth, like Ruth's other relative. Why did he choose to redeem her when he could have avoided it?
Here’s a fun fact about Boaz: his mother was Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho mentioned in the book of Joshua, the woman who hid spies and was saved when she hung a red cord on her window. A foreigner who chose to follow the God of Israel. Since Jewish identity is passed through the mother, we know Rahab converted, married into the Israelite community, and raised at least one child: Boaz.
Maybe when Boaz saw Ruth, he was reminded of his own mother: a foreigner who had nevertheless chosen to be faithful and follow the God of Israel. And as we’ll see, both women had an important role in God’s plan of salvation.
Prayer: Dear God, you are faithful and kind. You have adopted me as your child because of Jesus Christ. Help me to be faithful and live a life that pleases you. Amen.