Join me, as I Discover the WAY, through the TRUTH, towards the LIFE.

Mar 23, 2006

Know our Redeemer

I think a believer's life is more of divine interventions, than coincidences. When Ruth went out to find work, she found Boaz's field, without knowing that Boaz was their kinsman redeemer. However when she returns and tells Naomi about it(Ruth 2:20), she finds out that he is one of the kinsman-redeemer for their family. Here onwards, once these 2 women knew Boaz could help them out from their situation of desperation and distress, they worked towards it.Noami has now found courage to fight the circumstances of her life. No longer distressed, the love and faithfulness her daughter-in-law Ruth has showed towards her, has encouraged her to go on.
Before I share what I learnt from Ruth and Naomi's life today I thought the following piece of information would be helpful in understanding.

The definition of "kinsman" is nearest male blood relative. If anyone from
poverty was unable to redeem his inheritance, it was the duty of the kinsman to
redeem it." The Hebrew word for "kinsman'" is "goel." "Redeemer" is defined as
"one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his
wrongs." The Hebrew word for Redeemer is also "goel."

Here's some lessons I learnt from their life at this point from (Ruth 3)

  1. Know your redeemer's work-Ruth and Naomi, got to know their redeemer Boaz little more. " One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home [a] for you, where you will be well provided for? 2 Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor"-Ruth 3:1,2. Too many times, we go on about our lives with our own plan, our desires and our work. Little do we want to listen from our Redeemer Lord Jesus, where He is at work. There could be someone right beside you, in need of prayer or a word of encouragement, if we're truly led by our Lord, we'll know what to do and where He is at work and how we're needed there.
  2. Go where your redeemer goes-"4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying..."(Ruth 3:4) I like this verse, where Naomi asks Ruth to NOTE the place. How carefully, they watched their redeemer work and noticed his place. Our life should be one which seeks where our Redeemer Lord Jesus goes. I strongly believe that we've got to be at the right place at the right time and all things will fit correctly and work together for our good. Do we wait to ask our Lord where He would take us, whom we will meet to be a blessing?
  3. At the redeemer's mercy-"Then go and uncover his feet and lie down." Ruth 3:4 and also in 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet. (Ruth 3:8). Lying down at someone's feet is, I think, the greatest expression of humility. Leaving oneself, at the mercy of that person. Totally depending on what that person would do for you, be it good or bad. Ruth did that. She humbled herself in such a significant manner. Now these women knew too well, that this was the ONLY kinsman-redeemer who could help them out of their situation and they held onto him. Leaving everything at his mercy. How much of our life do we trust God with? Fully or do we keep part of it in our hold, so we'll have something to work on.
  4. Wanted the redeemer to be family- These 2 women badly, real desperately wanted out, of their distressed, bitter life. It could have worked for them, if Ruth continued to work at Boaz's field, gleaning the field. They were only 2 in the family, I guess it would have been enough. They were getting food for their daily living. They would have done OK. However they wanted to live better than before, they wanted the redeemer to be family. It was not enough for them, that Boaz was providing their daily needs, they wanted him to be their family. God loves us and provides for us, daily. Should we stop at that, or would you want to go on ahead and be family, real family with God our Redeemer? Family means, living with God daily, working with God daily, serving God daily, throughout the day in every breath. Not just part of day like we go to work for our boss, but the whole 24 hrs. Being family also means to have your family traits, do what the family does. Jesus did what the Father in heaven did.(John 5:19 ) and here's what Jesus said-John 14:12 (Whole Chapter) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. "How much family traits do we want to acquire from our God, who gave us authority to be children(John 1), those who believe in Him?
  5. Listen to what the redeemer has to say-"He will tell you what to do (Ruth 3:4). A good piece of advice, Naomi gives Ruth. Ruth would have to listen to what Boaz would ask her to do. Isn't that kind of our relation with God, to listen and know what our Redeemer Lord Jesus would like us to do about anything pertaining our life, when we go to Him for help. Well, sometimes we go to Him alright, but we don't listen to what He would have to say to us.
  6. After all is done, wait-Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."(Ruth 3:18). Once Ruth came back to Naomi after she had everything she had been asked to do, Naomi asked her to wait. Naomi knew all too well, that this kinsman-redeemer will not let someone who's come to him for help, without a solution. He would find the best resolution for them.They just had to wait. They trusted everything in Boaz's hand and they waited. This I guess is the most difficult part of a believer's life. After praying hard about a situation and giving it to God, we still would love to sit and worry, not sit and wait to see what God would do about it. How much faith does it show on our part when after praying we doubt again and wonder if God would do something? Boaz is shown as a model of our Lord Jesus our Redeemer. Our Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, will not rest until the matter is settled. God will not settle down until the matter for your need, your concern, your life is settled. We have to wait and find out what God has done for us.He's there working on our behalf, because we've done all and now rest upon His work.Ephesians 6:13:13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]."

Well I've listed the lessons I learnt, above. I know this has been my longest post, but I can't help it. My God is a very talkative God, He loves to talk to His people who are willing to listen to His voice. I hope you are blessed by this post, as much as I have been blessed writing it.Thank you for patiently reading.

Our Redeemer Lives.

5 comments :

uncommon1 said...

it's amazing how many different models of our relationship with the Lord are in the bible. i've heard it before and i'm seeing more and more that everything in the bible points to Jesus. thanks for the post, dunno if i read Ruth (which i haven't yet) if i'd have caught those lessons.

sailaja said...

Beautiful post!

An Ordinary Christian said...

I agree - beautiful - you are a workman who need not be ashamed, (from a verse in the Bible - what is it?) "A workman who is approved..." because you are being diligent with the study of God's word.

I like Ruth's boldness in the way that she went after Boaz and how Naomi sent her to him (yet they waited too). Sort of like Jacob who would not let the angel go until He blessed him. Or like that Jabez prayer, to bless me indeed. That we would be in the middle of all He has for us! Go boldly to the throne of grace... but let's go and ask correctly and not amiss that we would spend our prayer requests on our passions. May the Lord lead us! God be with you.

An Ordinary Christian said...

oh, I forgot to thank you for your "on target" comment to my site - I left you a response there.

Karuna said...

Dear uncommon1,
I dont know fully well how it works but, Its true, the same passage of the Bible brings out so many different lessons for each person and fits their need.

Dear Sis,
Thank you for your encouragement, always.
God bless.

Dear ordinary christian,
Thank you for your encouraging insight on "asking correctly" which is definitely more important. We have not because we ask not or we ask with wrong motives.

God Bless.
PS. I did notice your reponse to my comment on your blog.