SATURDAY May 13, 2017
Power to Redeem
“It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.” - Nehemiah 5:5
Nehemiah continued to hear the complaints of God’s people. They had to mortgage their properties, to buy food. They even sold their children into slavery. There were laws of redemption in place in Israel and they should have the right to redeem them back. The law stated:
If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem itthen let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; [Leviticus 25:9-17] and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession (Leviticus 25:28).
Boaz was willing to become a kinsman redeemer to Naomi and Ruth. He would purchase back the land of Elimelech, Naomi’s husband and her sons who had all died in Moab. Boaz would take Ruth as his wife but he first gave a closer relative the opportunity. He decided not do the act of redemption (Ruth 4:6). Why? Ruth was Moabite; from a nation God had a cursed (Deuteronomy 23:3-6). So Boaz became Naomi’s and Ruth’s redeeme. In Ruth 4:9-10, Boaz addressed the elders and all the people:
“I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi.Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife…
Incredibly Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer; He is the only One who has the power to purchase our souls from sin (Galatians 4:4-7).
Jesus came not only to teach but to save, not only to reveal God to mankind, but also to redeem mankind for God.
~John R. W. Stott~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!