A Redeemer!

If you follow my blog you know that I started studying the book of Ruth this summer.  What a study it has been!  According to the culture during Ruth's time she needed to be redeemed (purchased for a price) in order to sustain any livelihood for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi.  The task of being redeemed was always taken on by a close relative.  Ruth meets Boaz, a close relative, and has hopes of being redeemed by him.  However Boaz, being the rule follower that he is, informs Ruth that there is another closer relative that must be given the opportunity to redeem her first.  However when this close relative finds out all that is entailed in the purchase he will be making (not only would he be buying the land that formerly belonged to Naomi's family, he would also have to marry Ruth) he turned the offer down.  Boaz then takes it upon himself to redeem Ruth and the rest they shall say is history (Ruth is grafted into the the line that eventually leads to Jesus!) 

My precepts bible study, after leading us through an initial study of Ruth, is now focusing on the Redeemer that we have in Christ.  Like in Ruth's situation he was given a choice.  No one forced his hand to come to earth as a baby and grow up as a man.  No one forced him to take our sins upon himself as he died on the cross.  He chose this destiny out of the love he has for us! 

After studying the book of Ruth and seeing how easily this close relative turned down the offer to redeem Ruth and her family it makes the gift we have in our redemption from Christ that much sweeter! When an offer is made on our behalf he doesn't refuse! 

Thank you Jesus!

Philippians 2:5-8

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross!