"'The LORD bless him!' Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. 'He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.' She added, 'That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers.'"
-- Ruth 2:20 (NIV)
During this gracious time of the Judges, a kinsman-redeemer was a man who protected his extended family, provided for them, and redeemed relatives who had been enslaved, among other things. Not an easy task, eh? So why, in the end of the Book, would Boaz agree to be Ruth's and Naomi's kinsman-redeemer? Love. He loved Ruth and, in turn, her mother-in-law, and chose to redeem them. He bought the property of Elimelech, Kilio, and Mahlon (4:9), and gave Naomi a grandchild through Ruth. If only we had a kinsman-redeemer to provide for our needs and redeem us from our trials... See where this is going? Jesus is our kinsman-redeemer. He is related to us by blood through his incarnation, he was willing and able to pay our redemption price, and he is himself free. He meets the criteria. And through his grace, we not only receive earthly gifts like property and children. We receive eternal life. As Naomi says, "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." Jesus is our redemption. Jesus is our kinsman-redeemer.
-- Jonathan
