Of Redemption

Now this [was the manner] in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave [it] to his neighbour: and this [was] a testimony in Israel (Ruth 4:7).

It was a custom in Old Testament for Israels that when a man gave up a piece of his property to another, he took off his shoe before the elders as a sign that the one to whom he surrendered the item has a legal right to it.

Take the example of Boaz. He redeemed all that belonged to Elimelech and his son’s Mahlon and Chilon including Ruth. However, Boaz wasn’t interested in the land of Elimelech and his sons but for Ruth; but he had to buy up everything to get her.

Oh how we admire the sacrificial and unconditional love of Boaz as a choice of selfless devotion to Ruth. How we admire Ruth’s commitment to Naomi , Naomi’s instructions and her position as part of the lineage of David and our Messiah.

If a man could go this far to redeem a humble lady, how much more the Son of God did to redeem the world. No wonder, God didn’t spare His Son but delivered Him up for us all (Romans 8:32); as a sacrifice for the world because He values us and He was prepared to go to any length for us!