Sacrifice is Necessary

Topic: Sacrifice

Passage: Ruth 4:1–12

November 10, 2020

Commentary

Boaz went to the city gate and sat down to wait for his relative (v. 1). In those days, the gate was a meeting place and a place to do legal business. Naomi’s land had to be redeemed by some legal representative of the family. The nearest relation always got first choice. At first the man was eager to redeem the land, but he grew hesitant once Boaz explained that the land would also come with Ruth, the widow of Mahlon and a Moabite (vv. 3-6). Whoever ended up with the field would be expected to marry Ruth and produce a male heir for the land. This was not a simple matter of attaching a small property on to his other property. No, whoever bought the land was going to be responsible for restarting a family tree through Ruth. Perhaps the man was already married with children of his own. He had to think of their inheritance and their future. Or maybe he was single but had not heard of Ruth’s excellent reputation. In his eyes, she was just a widow and a Moabite at that. He withdrew his claim, giving Boaz his opportunity to be the kinsman redeemer (v. 6).

To make a sale legal in those days, one person would take off a sandal and give it to the other. The shoe symbolized motion and wandering, but it also symbolized rest and possession as one walks the earth with the shoe. Boaz’s action showed everyone that Elimelech’s property was now his, and that he would marry Ruth, the widow of Mahlon. Boaz took upon himself all the losses the unnamed kinsman feared, and the joyous task of marrying Ruth. He promised to bring up a child for the dead kinsman.

Application

Ruth had given up her home, her country, and her family to go God’s way. She desired to please God and not herself. When she chose His way, God was working for her and on her behalf. This reminds me of Jesus who left His heavenly home because of His love for us. What kind of a sacrifice have I made for His sake?

Ruth 4:1– 12 (NET)

¹ Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth. Boaz said, “Come here, what’s-your-name, and sit down.” So he came and sat down. ² Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said, “Sit down here!” So they sat down. ³ Then Boaz said to the guardian, “Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech. ⁴ So I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people. If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. But if not, then tell me so I will know. For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you.” He replied, “I will redeem it.” ⁵ Then Boaz said, “When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property.” ⁶ The guardian said, “Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it.” ⁷ (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel: A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel.) ⁸ So the guardian said to Boaz, “You may acquire it,” and he removed his sandal. ⁹ Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. ¹⁰ I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today.” ¹¹ All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. ¹² May your family become like the family of Perez —whom Tamar bore to Judah—through the descendants the Lord gives you by this young woman.”