Our Kinsman Redeemer

Thought for Today - May 30
Our Kinsman Redeemer
By: Robert A. Searles

Ruth, returning with her mother in law Naomi from the land of Moab after Naomi's husband and sons had died, one of them having been the husband of Ruth, found themselves in need of help and assistance to survive. - where could they go? What could they do?

 "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth ,the Moabitess, said unto Naomi, let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace, and she said unto her, go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." Ruth 2: 1-3.

In times of our spiritual want and famine, when we see ourselves impoverished, and not knowing where to turn for help, where shall we find grace ( that free gift), and be allowed to glean in his field? Where else, except for Christ, our kinsman, our father's son? He it is that we must seek after.

"Then said Boaz unto Ruth, hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens; let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them; have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn." Ruth 2;8,9.

Once we have found him, Christ our kinsman redeemer, or better still, when he has found and rescued us, we need not, and we must not go to glean in any other field.

"Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" Ruth 2: 10.

Why have we, unworthy sinners , found grace in the eyes of the Lord that he should take knowledge of us to shed his blood for us and save us, seeing that we are sinners and strangers to him. We should be so grateful for what Christ has done for us! Why should we have found grace in his eyes?

"And Boaz answered and said unto her, it hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Ruth 2: 11-12

. God will surely reward all those who flee to him for salvation, and lean upon him for wisdom, and trust in his providence.

When Ruth returned home that day from the field of Boaz, her mother in law asked her: "where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, the man's name with whom I wrought today is Boaz." Ruth 2: 19.

Matthew Henry once said: "It is a good question to ask ourselves every night, where have I gleaned today? What improvements have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn to a good account?"