Ruth Part 4: Redefining Family

Redefining Family

In our sermon series on Ruth, we have seen a complex and textured story of a family that has experienced the unthinkable. Naomi and Ruth have been forced to redefine their ideals of family in order to survive.

We’d like family to be simple and buttoned up. There’s always what God intended and then there’s what He works with. Death, disagreements, divorce, affairs, adoption, foster care, weird uncles, move-in parents, move-in adult children. Sin and brokenness have forced us to redefine family. We see in the book of Ruth that plans don’t go as planned.

The main theme of this book is redemption from unlikely places.

Last week, Angel taught us that Ruth is working for a man named Boaz that’s wealthy. He’s attracted to her but can’t marry her. The rules of engagement are such that the next of kin has first rights. We found out there is a next of kin besides Boaz and this is where we pick up today.

Ruth 4:1–4

Cultural Context

The Jewish people had redemption built into their culture. There was a Year of Jubilee every 50 years when things were given back. If you had fallen on hard times and had to sell your land or home, it would be returned during the Year of Jubilee.

Redeeming also involved purchasing a family member’s land to preserve a relative’s name.

Redeeming was a duty to preserve a family’s name.

Redemption simply means bringing something back to its original purpose or owner.

Redemption was a concession for a reset.