The Grands Letter (Ruth/GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on May 7, 2025 8:57 pm (CST)Dear Grands,
Ruth 4:1-6, “Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down.
2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
3 Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 “So I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.'” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
6 And the closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”
To be sure, it was a different day. The law in Israel varied considerably from what we would find it to be, even today. Earlier in this Book of Ruth, we learn that Ruth, a Moabitess, had accepted Israel as her home. We also learn that Boaz, a wealthy businessman, had come to love Ruth and intended to marry her. But there were legal maneuvers to which Boaz was required to adhere before the marriage could be officially recognized.
Unfortunately, we’ve drifted considerably from those ancient requirements. Still, Boaz loved the LORD; and he was determined to follow the teachings of his religion. What a joy it would be were we to be as faithful to the LORD’s teachings today as Boaz was in ancient Israel.
Heartily in Christ Jesus,
(Dado III)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas, USA
“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”
– Corrie ten Boom
