Ruth

 And so now we come to the story of Ruth.

The story begins with a woman named Naomi traveling with her husband and sons to the land of Moab to escape a famine. This move alone raises multiple questions. Why would you go to Moab? If one were to grab a map and look at the location of Moab, they would realize that the land of Bethlehem is right across the river from the land of Moab.

If there is a famine in Judah, then there is a famine in Moab.

So why go to Moab? There’s a possibility that it could be a statement about trusting another god’s story. Could it be that the family is tired of waiting for the LORD to provide and is convinced that putting their trust in the gods of Moab will be a better call? Of course, the exact opposite could be true. The one place that you go during a famine in biblical times is the land of Egypt. Because of the flooding of Egypt, the Egyptians always had food during times of famine. However, God had told His people never to go back to Egypt for their provision. So, it could be that Naomi’s family travels to Moab because they are obeying God’s command not to go to Egypt.

Either way, tragedy ensues for Naomi and her family. After her husband dies, her sons end up taking Moabite wives. Ten years later, her sons die, leaving her and her two daughters-in-law as widows and patriarchal orphans. Naomi decides to return to Israel, encouraging Orpah and Ruth to stay in Moab. Orpah stays, but Ruth refuses, insisting on going with Naomi. Naomi returns, encouraging all of her welcomers to call her Marah.

We’ve run into Marah before. It’s the word that means bitter. Again, depending on how you read the story, this name could cut two ways. Obviously, Naomi could be bitter because God has taken her family away. After seeking to be obedient to God by staying out of Egypt, Naomi could be quite a bitter woman. Of course, if Naomi had put her trust in another god’s story, she may also be making a statement about herself. If you remember, marah can also mean “deliberate, defiant rebellion.” It is possible that Naomi could see herself as being punished by God for making poor decisions.

And either way, she and Ruth show up back home — if you are keeping track — as practical aliens, orphans, and widows. They are now at the mercy of the community of Israel; an Israel, by the way, who we are told is being consistently disobedient to God’s call to bring shalom to chaos (see the repeated refrain of Judges: “At this time, there was no king and everyone did as he pleased…”). Surprisingly, they end up in the field of a kinsman, a man named Boaz. He is a righteous man, following the Levitical call not to cut the corners of his fields.

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.”  Leviticus 19:9–10

And so Ruth (and Naomi) become the benefactors of Boaz’s obedient generosity. Naomi, seeing him as a righteous man, tells Ruth to pursue a relationship with Boaz, telling her that he is their “kinsman redeemer.” According to the book of Leviticus, a family that is about to lose their inheritance must be saved by a member of their extended clan. You are not to allow a family member to be cut off on account of hard times. The kinsman redeemer is the one who has the right to buy their land and possessions, saving their spot in the larger Israelite community.

Ruth approaches Boaz during the night of harvest celebrations and, while he sleeps, “uncovers his feet.” This phrase is a Hebrew idiom that would refer to uncovering Boaz’s circumcision. Now, contrary to popular belief, there is nothing sexual about this act. What Ruth is doing is uncovering the sign of Boaz’s covenant with God. She is making a clear, Eastern plea for him to do the righteous thing — redeeming her family and buying their part of the community.

Boaz is startled awake (understandably) and sees a woman lying at his feet. He immediately understands what Ruth is asking through her gesture and agrees to pursue redemption. There is a hiccup, however. There is one man who has first rights to redeem Naomi and her family. The next day, Boaz travels to the city gate and encourages the man to redeem Naomi and her land. (He is, however, hoping that the kinsman turns the offer down, therefore giving Boaz the right to buy the property, including the chance to marry Ruth.) The kinsman agrees to redeem the land, but Boaz is quick to point out that the land comes with an old widow and a foreigner to provide for. At this juncture, the kinsman retreats.

You see, Ruth is a Moabitess. She is part of a marked clan. Her descendants will be unable to enter the assembly of the LORD for ten generations (although a lot is going to happen through her descendants). This woman is an outsider. She is dead weight, unable to produce anything of patriarchal value. She is an outcast.

But Boaz wants to affirm her and her mother-in-law’s value. He wants to make sure that they are taken care of and invited into the community. Because that is the kind of man Boaz is. (Sound familiar?)

As an afterthought, this story also speaks to us about redemption. In the biblical world, redemption is not a legal transaction. Unlike our Western theological definitions, redemption doesn’t relate to buying back. Redemption is a patriarchal term. It’s about being a loner, a mumzer, an outsider, a reject — and having some patriarch come along and see you and hear your cry and invite you into his fold. Redemption is a statement about acceptance and provision. “I accept you. I invite you to my table, where you will always be fed, cared for, and loved.”

This is what God does in Jesus. He sees us in our weakness. As we wander through the land as proverbial aliens, orphans, and widows, God sees us and invites us into His mishpucha (household). He declares that we are loved and cared for. He sees us. He pulls out a chair at His table and provides for our needs, declaring that we will never have to worry about where our strength will come from any more. We are a part of His family now.

He is our great Kinsmen Redeemer.

This is a story worth trusting.