In ancient Israel, a guardian-redeemer was an influential male person who the family can turn to for help and assistance. The guardian-redeemer also buys back all the assets of the family and even marries the widow in order to retain the family name and to ensure that possessions are not lost. The idea extends to people who even sold themselves because of a financial crisis. The guardian-redeemer is responsible for paying their debt and restoring them. A person without a guardian-redeemer is at risk of having their possessions taken away and at worst, such persons risk being taken and subjected to slavery if they are unable to settle their debt. The story of Er and Onan points to the picture of providing an Er for the family (Genesis 38:7-10). Onan refused to provide offspring for his brother Et and the Lord afflicted him because of his wickedness. Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.” (Ruth 4:9) Through our previous posts, we have seen that Naomi lost both her husband and her two sons. After living in a foreign land for a long time, Naomi and one of her daughters-in-law returned to Bethlehem. By that time, Naomi stood the risk of losing it all. With no husband to give her child and no son to continue the family name, both their possessions and their family name were at risk of being lost. In an attempt to provide a home for Ruth, Naomi goes out of herself to help her daughter-in-law secure a husband. After a public meeting with the closest guardian-redeemer, Boaz ends up accepting the offer to act as the guardian-redeemer. In Ruth 4:9, “Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.” Thus, Naomi had a guardian-redeemer. She didn’t lose everything. The presence of Boaz meant that Naomi would be cared for and Ruth would finally find a home. Naomi moved from a state of hopelessness to a state of hopefulness in just a day. Her bitter experience in Moab was replaced with a new lease of hope. Naomi’s guardian-redeemer saved her from shame, losses, extermination and poverty. Like Naomi, the nation of Israel itself experienced different seasons of loses, shame, pain and death. The only way out was the redemption of the Lord. The Lord used different men and women to bring momentarily freedom and peace but their ultimate redemption was in the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah 59:20 quotes that, “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.” The arrival of Israel’s redeemer is initiated by repentance from sins. God wasn’t done with Israel and more than anything, God’s original plan was to ransom the whole world to Himself. Like Naomi, the world was in need of a guardian-redeemer. We had all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). However, God’s love exceeded His judgement and He sent His only Son Jesus, to redeem us from our sins while we were still in sin (John 3:16: Romans 5:8). In doing this, those who believe and repent are spared from the wages of sin (Romans 6:23). Ultimately, all those who believe and come to repentance are God’s children. As recorded in John 1:12, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Naomi needed a human guardian-redeemer but God’s rescue plan is an eternal one. Ultimately, both Naomi, Ruth and Boaz died but our redemption has an eternity plan. Even if we die in the flesh, our redeemer would still welcome us into glory to spend eternity with Him. Such a joy knowing that our redemption has no expiry date. Even in eternity, we would be with the Lord forever. Job understood this and said, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25). John the revelator saw this, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
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