My Kinsman Redeemer...

Our Kinsman Redeemer

Isaiah 41:14 - “I will help you,” declares the Lord, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.”

Our Father’s Word, the Bible, is full to overflowing with precious truths, promises and revelations of His Love toward us.  The Old Testament reveals the character of our faithful, strong, sovereign, and holy God.  Throughout Scripture’s many words, in both Old and New Testaments, we are pointed to Christ Jesus - our Savior and our ‘kinsman redeemer’. 

The words ‘kinsman redeemer’ did not mean a great deal to me until  studying the book of Ruth more diligently.  As I read, I was struck by the women, Ruth and Naomi.  Not much is revealed about these ladies, yet, much can be drawn out by what is given to us.  Naomi must have been a kind, loving and faithful -to-her-God mother in law, because Ruth did not want to leave her after the death of her own husband, even when granted freedom to do so by Naomi.  Ruth saw something in Naomi that caused her to want to make Naomi’s people her people, and Naomi’s God - Yahweh - her God.  Ruth is also not described in great detail, yet we can sense her character by what we read of her actions:  loyal, servant hearted, hard working, humble, and obedient.  She turned from her idols to worship the one true and living God of the Israelites.  Her meek and gentle spirit flows towards me as I read the account of her life in the scriptures.

But more important than Ruth or Naomi is Boaz - the ‘kinsman redeemer.’ Redeemer means ‘one who buys back’; kinsman, of course, is family.  These two words together are a precious treasure to us, the children of God.  I didn’t realize this until God opened my heart and eyes to the story of Ruth in a way I’d never read it before.

Ruth married Naomi’s son.  Naomi’s husband, the patriarch, died.  Later, her son, Ruth’s husband died, as did his brother, the only other remaining male relative in the family.  This left Naomi without a husband or children, and it left Ruth without a male in that family line to give her children. Death had separated Ruth from being a part of the family lineage and from the special inheritance and blessings her offspring would receive through her husband's family.  Today’s culture does not give great significance to this situation, but throughout ancient history, the need of connection to a male heir and his inheritance were survival worthy concerns for a woman.

The women traveled back to live in a place where Naomi knew other distant family, one of them being Boaz.  Naomi revealed to Ruth that Boaz was a kinsman redeemer and that he could ‘buy back’ Ruth’s place into the family.  Ruth very humbly obeyed all of Naomi’s instructions regarding how to proceed with Boaz as she diligently gleaned his grain field’s edges for the provision the two women needed to live.  One night, at Naomi’s bequest, Ruth went to Boaz’s tent and privately lay at his feet as he slept.  When Boaz awoke to find Ruth there, he asked who she was. She replied, “I am Ruth, your maid servant, so spread your covering over your maid for you are a kinsman redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9)  Boaz did so, and then later went through the ‘legal’ and traditional process of properly redeeming Ruth “in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”  (Ruth 4:3)

As I read this historical account of Ruth, God revealed to my soul the deep significance of this image of the kinsman redeemer.  Boaz is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ. Like Ruth, I was separated by death - and sin - from any inheritance offered by my creator.  Also, akin to Ruth, I needed to lay down my life humbly at the feet of Jesus and tell him I need to be redeemed by him.  Like Boaz, who was kind and compassionate to Ruth, Jesus, with great love and compassion, bought me back from sin and death.  He redeemed me by his blood - the highest price that can be paid for anything - and he covered me with himself, as Boaz covered Ruth when she lay at his feet.  Jesus bought me back into right standing with the heavenly Father; back into the family. I can now fully claim my inheritance to all the riches of glory in Christ Jesus.  He is my kinsman redeemer - deeply faithful to me, and precious beyond compare.

This simple four chapter book is replete with the legacy we have in Jesus. Ruth, a Moabitess that was quiet and humble, because of obedience and faithfulness is known throughout history and is part of Christ’s lineage.  To emulate her heart is a grand goal.  And Boaz - while his bloodline leads to the direct lineage of Jesus, his example as a kinsman redeemer points us to the exact role Jesus lives in our spiritual deliverance and salvation.  There is no simplicity in these vital and precious truths.  Precious beyond my ability to articulate.  I am in awe.

Take Up Your Cross - Do I Have To?

Luke chapter nine tells the portion of Jesus' life when he asks his disciples who they say he is - 'Who do you say that I am?'  They testify that he is the Christ, the anointed one, sent from God in heaven.

Then, Jesus goes on to say he must suffer many things and if they want to follow him, they must 'take up their crosses' and follow him.  He goes on to challenge the core of their thinking by telling them that people who want to save their own lives will most certainly lose them, but those who lose their lives because of him will actually save them.

What does this mean to me? To you? Single mom, single dad, betrayed spouse, hurting parent?

Often, when reading this passage, we are led to think of being called to participate in missions overseas or some such sacrificial service to the kingdom of God.  We think of denying ourselves when asked to teach Sunday school, or lead youth group, or work in a nursery.  

Taking up our cross is frightening talk when we really consider what it means to do so.  The cross was a horrid method of death.  It was, and is, NOT like the pretty jewelry we wear on our necks or wrists.  The haloed imagery of Jesus, with calm face looking down, like we see in many artist renditions of the crucifixion, is also not the truth of its horror.  

The cross was not lovely. In fact, the cross is called foolishness to those that are perishing.

I Corinthians 1:18 - The message of the cross is foolishness to them that are being destroyed, but it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved.

Many of God's people, during Jesus' day, thought he was coming to save the world from its troubles and traumas using strength, might, glory, power, and strategic wisdom against those who made them suffer.  Instead, God used a cross to save them.  A miserable, shameful, tormenting tool which, in the beginning, made it look like God lost. Jesus was gone.  But, he rose victorious.  He won.  And he saved the world by doing so.  But, he suffered to do it.  Legitimately, this seemed ridiculous to many then and still today.

Jesus did not stand and fight over whether he deserved such torture.  He didn't protect himself.  He didn't rip and tear away from the hands of those who led him to the rack for the cat of nine tails that would gouge flesh from his rib cage and shoulders and sling blood all about his face and those of onlookers.  He entrusted himself to the one who judges righteously and submitted to what looked like ultimate loss.

It is this submission to what looks like loss that I am wondering about today as I consider taking up my cross and following after Jesus.

What if doing this in life today stands in the context of walking in the pain of the betrayals brought to us by the sins of others?  or divorce?  or lies told to us or about us by folks who can do a great deal of damage with them? or severely disappointed hope?

Is God asking me to take up my cross, accept what has happened, entrust myself to the one who judges righteously in my life, submit to the sovereignly planned events of my life that can come at the hands and choices of others, and let God build my life in him through those things?

I'm having an inkling that applying this scripture to today, without taking it too far out of Biblical context, means just that.  God is at work  - truly at work - empowering the spirit in me, and you, to trust him, love from his love, give from his mercy, and shed anxiety of this world by the events of our lives that, when yielded to his trustworthy hands, will bring glory to Him. And isn't that the ultimate goal of living on this earth, yet dwelling in his kingdom?

The ultimate gift to us in all our 'crosses' is Christ in us, the hope of glory.  This is what is being built in us.  When you are willing to take up your cross, carry the pain of it, walk in the anxiety that might come with any given situation, entrust it to God rather than wallow in it without trust, glory in the weakness it brings because the power of Christ rests upon you for handling it - THEN, the wisdom of God rests on you, then, Christ's power and strength are being shown in you, then, Christ is shown in you as the great savior and redeemer and refuge he is for this world.

Commit with me to considering this admonition from Jesus. Take up your cross and follow him.  Take up the pain and disappointment in your life - from divorce, betrayal, lies, lost relationships, children making bad choices - and entrust yourself to the one who judges righteously, as Jesus did.  Let the power of Christ rest upon you as your let all those things have their perfect work in you. 

Praying for you brothers and sisters in Jesus.