A modern-day Boaz

We just finished reading Ruth as part of our goal to read the Bible in 2026. It’s an amazing book and one of my favorites because it shows so many examples of God’s goodness. Naomi becomes a widow, and after losing both her sons, she and her daughters-in-law are left to face life together. Naomi encourages them to return to their families. One leaves, but Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi.

‘But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
Ruth 1:16-17

Ruth and Naomi go back to Naomi’s homeland, where they meet Boaz, who is a family redeemer. In the end, Ruth and Boaz get married and have a son named Obed. Obed later becomes the grandfather of King David.

Boaz was a family redeemer.

Back then, a family redeemer was a close male relative who looked after his family’s welfare. The family redeemer would step up to protect, provide, or restore other family members who were in trouble.

We need family redeemers today. As Christians, we need to be family redeemers like Boaz; we don’t redeem by our own strength, we lean on our redeemer and the power of the Holy Spirit for strength. We do need to be concerned with the physical and spiritual welfare of our families and our church families. We do that by praying for them, setting a good example, and meditating on God’s word daily.

I have lonely church friends and several widows within my family circle. While I pray for them daily, I feel convicted to check in on them more often. A text message, a phone call, and listening might make a difference in someone’s life. Offering prayer is great, but prayer combined with physical action is better and shows that we follow the Redeemer of Redeemers, Jesus.