Buy the Field? You Buy Ruth Ruth 4:5 - Equipped for Battle

The offer has been stated, and Boaz has told the nearer kinsman about Naomi's available land which the kinsman may redeem. The kinsman closest to Naomi has accepted the offer to redeem the land, and yet, there is just one tiny detail that must be shared by Boaz that may affect the nearer kinsman's decision. We find this detail in the book of Ruth in chapter four and verse five where we read:

Then said Boaz, What day you buy the field of the hand of Naomi, you must buy [it] also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

Let's remember that there is an audience of ten elders who are witnessing this exchange between Boaz and the nearer kinsman. They might be nodding their heads with an assurance that this nearer kinsman has the right to redeem the property mentioned by Boaz, and then, Boaz adds this, “What day you buy the field of the hand of Naomi, you must by it also of Ruth the Moabitess.” In other words, when you redeem the field, you get Ruth with it. Can we imagine the change of expressions upon this man's face? What about the elders who were sitting there? Can we see them lean their heads to the side, smile a little and wonder what the kinsman will do about this part of the deal? Each person listening to Boaz knew that this little fact could be a deal breaker for the kinsman, but Boaz continues.

He said, “the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.” Boaz made it clear that whoever redeems the field must take Ruth as his wife and raise a family through her. The role of the kinsman redeemer was to marry the wife of the deceased, have a child through her, and continue the name of the dead husband. Oh sure, there was the redemption of the land that went along with the deal, but the main factor was to continue the family line of the deceased. This small yet important part of the deal might affect a nearer kinsman's decision depending upon his current situation.

We can note the wisdom of Boaz as he shared this opportunity with the nearer kinsman. Let's recall that Boaz' desire was not nearly as much for the land as it was to have Ruth be his wife. He desired the treasure in the field. So it is with us and our relationship with Jesus. Jesus told the parable of the man who found a pearl in Matthew chapter thirteen and verses forty five through forty six:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Ruth was the pearl to Boaz, and we who received Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives are His pearl. The idea of obtaining the land is only the wrapping for the prize inside – us. For we who have seen this gracious offer by Jesus and His redemption plan, we humbly bow our heads to our kinsman redeemer and say “Thank you.”

Next time we will see the nearer kinsman's answer to Boaz' offer, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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