The Book of Ruth Series - Redemption At Last - Lesson 25

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Ruth 4:13-22:

Joy exploded as shouts of mazel tov came to Boaz. Wasting no time, he mounted his steed and rushed from the city gate to Naomi’s home. Today he would purchase her field and redeem his beautiful bride.

“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife…”

But what was Ruth’s redemption price?

Leviticus 27:4 reveals the price of a female is thirty shekels. In Exodus 21:32, thirty shekels will also purchase a gored slave. Since ancient Israel’s shekel was a silver coin, is it possible Boaz paid thirty pieces of silver to redeem Ruth?

Again, there’s a hint of symbolism:  Boaz spiritually representing our Lord and Ruth, the Church.

As prophesied in Zechariah 11:12-13, Judas Iscariot sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. With hands, feet, and side gored by spikes and a spear, Jesus’ crucifixion purchased redemption for His Bride, the church. He is our Kinsman Redeemer.

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Nevertheless, this is where symbolism ends. When Boaz went into Ruth, “…the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.” (Ruth 4:13) What a wonderful gift of life from our Creator, who opens and closes wombs (Gen. 20:18).

The women of Bethlehem rejoiced with Naomi when baby, Obed was born. She had forever shed the name Mara, “bitterness,” and permanently returned to Naomi, “pleasantness”. “Blessed be the  

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Lord…” they proclaimed. “…may [Obed’s] name be famous in Israel and may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age”.

Obed means servant, and although lawfully, he is the son of Mahlon, we never see him listed as such. He’s the son of Boaz, the grandfather of King David, ancestor of Jesus (Ruth 4:17).

Furthermore, Matthew’s Gospel genealogy of Christ lists five women. All are related, but two of the most surprising are of Obed’s immediate family:  His grandmother, Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, and his mother, Ruth, a Gentile. Both forsook idolatry to worship the One True and Living God.

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Ruth, the Moabite, entered the presence of the Lord in the tenth generation from Lot. The Law would not permit it, but the grace of God did. What’s more, Ruth’s genes influenced Messiah’s appearance (Luke 3:23-38). How amazing is God’s mercy and grace!

This eighth book of our Bible speaks of a redeemed Gentile bride, and interestingly in scripture, the number eight is associated with new birth or new beginnings.

What came after your redemption? Was it not new birth?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)

Naomi and Ruth may have experienced more pain than most. Nevertheless, throughout their journey, God never left. His hand was always at work, guiding their thoughts, directing their steps, and providing in ways they never expected. The fields, in which Ruth once gleaned, now belonged to her. Before she was a Moabite, far from God Almighty, but now, she is numbered among the chosen. Glory to God!