Mar 12, 2017
As part of the transaction to redeem the property, Ruth would be included as a wife which combined the Levirate marriage and land mandates from God (Lev. 25:25; Deut. 25:5). Through Ruth, the redeemer was expected to produce children so the name of Elimilech and his son, Mahlon, wouldn’t be lost. Hearing that Ruth is part of the redemption, the closer redeemer retracts his offer as he does not want to endanger his inheritance among future children. In front of the witnesses, the redeemer takes off his shoe and gives it to Boaz thereby transferring his right of redemption. This served as a physical representation of a financial and spiritual reality. Though it’ll cost him significantly, Boaz gladly becomes the redeemer (Prov. 18:22; 19:14). In one moment, Boaz commits his money to Naomi for the property and the rest of his life to the responsibility of a wife and a future family—part of which will be to honor a man Boaz isn’t connected to. The home and the church rely on the stability and integrity of godly men to prosper. A believer’s life is defined by what they commit to—whether it serves them directly or not (Deut. 13:4).