Love That Never Fails

50. Happy Endings

People are always intrigued by what others will do for love. This is probably why movies, songs and books based on love are so popular! In recent years there have been many reality TV programs based on people finding their perfect match. They often are dominated by very self centred pursuits to 'win the girl', sometimes using deception and any means possible to be victorious!

This is a far cry from the love story we have seen unfolding between Boaz and Ruth. Even though Boaz had clearly been captivated by Ruth's honesty, loyalty and diligence, we find him seeking to do the right thing by her and also his younger relative who was entitled to be her guardian redeemer.

"Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, "Come over here, my friend, and sit down." So he went over and sat down. Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, "Sit here," and they did so. Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line."

"I will redeem it," he said."
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭4:1-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I imagine that Boaz's heart was beating noisily as he truthfully made the offer that could mean he would lose the chance to be with Ruth! It must have almost stopped beating altogether when he heard the man before him agree to buy the land belonging to Naomi!

"Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property."

At this, the guardian-redeemer said, "Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it."

(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)

So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself." And he removed his sandal.

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. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!"

Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.""
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭4:5-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a turnaround ! Within seconds of Boaz having lost all hope of being with Ruth, the guardian redeemer decided it didn't suit him to take the land along with a widow. Boaz's sorrow quickly turned to joy as the arrangements for his purchase of the land was finalised. However, this was nothing compared to being able to take Ruth as his bride!

"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, "Naomi has a son!" And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David."
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭4:13-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a wonderful outcome for this special couple and of course Naomi too who at last had in a sense become a grandmother through the guardian redeemer. Just look at the importance of this child —grandfather to David who of course was very significant in Israel's history but even more than that, was part of the genealogy of Jesus, the ultimate Redeemer!

So Naomi had made a wise choice to return to her husband's homeland —Bethlehem. Everything fell into place and sorrow was replaced with joy. In that very town, many years later, the great Redeemer Jesus, would be born, bringing everlasting joy through the ages and still changing lives today!

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Love stories with happy endings are the best and this one has been so special to read. It's surely no coincidence that Boaz and Ruth's son would be closely linked to Your Son Jesus! Thank You so much for Your love that sent Him as my Redeemer, saving me from my sin and allowing me to look forward to eternal life with You forever! No matter what happens in my life, my happy ending is already set in place! I give You all my praise and thanks in Jesus' Name,

Amen.