The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!”
Ruth 4:14
There was a close relative who was not willing to redeem. He could have helped Naomi, but he didn’t. Maybe you have had something like this happen. Friends or family could have helped you, but they didn’t, and you were disappointed. Help doesn’t always come from where you might expect it.
When this first relative was unwilling to help Naomi, God gave her Boaz, and the women said to her, “Blessed be the LORD who has not left you this day without a redeemer” (4:14). But if you read on, you will see something surprising: “He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him” (4:15).
It’s not Boaz who is being described as the redeemer here. It is the baby born in Bethlehem! The baby will be to you a restorer of life. He will be a nourisher of your old age. Boaz is a redeemer. But there’s more redeeming to be done than Boaz can do. The baby is also a redeemer. He will be a restorer of life and a nourisher of Naomi’s old age. And of course, there is more redeeming to be done than the baby can do.
What is said here about the baby points us forward to our Lord Jesus Christ. God has not left you without a Redeemer. He will be to you a restorer of life, a nourisher of your old age.
Recall a time you were disappointed by someone who could have helped you but didn’t. Can you see that God brought help in ways you did not expect it?
