Customs are different all
over the world, and those who have traveled know this to be true. The
manner in which some people eat varies, and the styles of clothing
and houses may be vastly different from ours. One of the customs that
was taught in the Bible is demonstrated by the nearer kinsman in
today's verse found in Ruth chapter four and verse seven where we
read:
Now this [was the
manner] in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning
changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and
gave [it] to his neighbor: and this [was] a testimony in Israel.
In
Deuteronomy chapter twenty-five and verses seven through ten we read
the origin of “Now this was the manner in former time in Israel
concerning redeeming and concerning changing,”. It says:
And if the man like not
to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the
gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuses to raise
up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of
my husband's brother. Then the elders of his city shall call him, and
speak unto him: and [if] he stand [to it], and say, I like not to
take her; Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence
of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his
face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man
that will not build up his brother's house. And his name shall be
called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
Boaz
brought to the nearer kinsman's attention that Noami's land was
available for redemption. Although the kinsman was ready to redeem
the land immediately, when he discovered he would have to marry Ruth
and raise children by her to do so, he rejected the offer. More than
likely he didn't believe his wife would go for such a plan. Now he
was to follow scripture concerning his decision “for to
confirm all things:”. The next step was that “a man
plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor.” In other
words he would lose his shoe to get out of the obligation.
As a man
would follow this rule, “it was a testimony in Israel.”
All of Israel would know this man as the “man whose shoe was
loosed” and although this was a negative tag, in this case the
nearer kinsman had a good reason for his label.
We must
keep in mind that Boaz knew this process the entire time he was
negotiating this deal. Boaz' hope was that this kinsman would reject
the offer. He knew that if he did, he would be known as the man whose
shoe was loosed, and if we think about it, Boaz understood that this
was one of many obstacles that could impede his desire to marry Ruth.
None of these barriers stopped him, and now he was just about to have
an official witness from ten elders that he was the rightful heir not
only to the land, but also to Ruth.
Perhaps
as we ponder this today we should keep in mind the persistence of
Boaz and liken it to the persistence of our kinsman redeemer Jesus.
Though obstacle after obstacle may try to impede him, Jesus will
pursue a relationship with every person who will. As He said in the
gospel of John in chapter twelve and verse forty six:
I am come a light into
the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in
darkness.
May all
who read these words come to know the kinsman redeemer Jesus as much
as He desires to know us.
Next
time we will see the nearer kinsman pluck off his shoe, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
No comments:
Post a Comment