This week the #IKnowHim blog team is meditating on the powerful, personal name of God, Redeemer. This is a name that is defined by Webster’s dictionary as:
“A person who brings goodness, honor, etc., to something again : a person who redeems something;
“A person who redeems; especially capitalized : Jesus”
There is a beautiful story in the Bible about a woman named Ruth. She was widowed at a young age, and her mother in law, Naomi, also happened to experience the same grief with the loss of her husband. Instead of leaving her mother-in-law behind to start a new life, she chose to remain steadfast in her loyalty to her husband’s family and returned with Naomi to the land of their forefathers, destitute and with no provider. There she found herself working in a field that belonged to a man named Boaz, one of her husband’s relatives. Unbeknownst to her, Boaz had been keeping watch over her and ordered his men to leave enough barley for her to harvest so that she and Naomi would not go hungry. In a beautiful turn of events, Boaz fell in love with her and became what in those days was called her kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 3:9), someone who offered to stand in the gap for someone who had lost their provider and specifically someone that was a relative of the deceased. In this story full of divinely orchestrated events, it is evident that this is a foreshadowing of the Redeemer to come.
The world in which we live has been covered it darkness it seems, sin and death leaving a trace of sorrow every way we look. If we are honest, we too must fight our own sin nature constantly. The very moment that we are sincere in our evaluations, looking down at our dirty hands and dark hearts, realizing that we too are broken and poor in spirit with nothing to offer, our very own Redeemer willingly steps in. The story of Jesus is one of a loving God who saw someone in need, before the world ever began and decided to stand in the gap of sin, becoming our Redeemer. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Christ willingly picked up the burden and the shame of sin and carried it on His shoulders for my sake, for your sake. No matter what our circumstances are we can be certain that He is there fulfilling our payment. Just as Boaz displayed his love for Ruth by providing for her even without her knowledge, God often displays His love for us in ways we cannot see or haven’t realized yet. He is always there for those that love Him, making sure they have everything that they could ever need. By way of the cross, He has already paid the price for our sin and given us the gift of a new life.
Boaz and Ruth’s marriage meant that she no longer was on her own, desperately trying to make it day to day. It meant that someone had loved her enough to offer her a new life, a life where she was once again loved and cared for. Christ offers to come redeem us, and in addition to paying for our sins, He also offers to give us life abundant while we are here on earth. When we have a relationship with God and know Him intimately, it changes our entire outlook on the lives we are currently living. Becoming a follower of Jesus does not mean an easy road, but in fact many trials and persecution (John 16:33). Despite this, we can take heart, because our Redeemer has already overcome the world. Our Redeemer has paid the price of sin, defeated death, and is coming back for His beloved—His Church.
I’d like to conclude by sharing one more detail from Ruth’s story. She and Boaz go on to have child. A son, whom they name Obed. Obed becomes the grandfather of a man named David, who happens to be the forefather of Jesus.
God has always had a plan of redemption, and you and I are given the chance to be a part of it, today and everyday. If you ever find yourself wanting to make any kind of spiritual decision, we would love to talk to you about it. Send us an email (iknowhimblog@hotmail.com) that we can be praying with you. We’d love to connect you with a local church as you can continue to grow in your relationship with Him.
“O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause; You have redeemed my life.”
Lamentations 3:58
Rachel