“And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.” (Ruth 4:6)
In Ruth 1:19, we can see that a Moabite woman had come into the camp of the Israelites. The Moabites were historically God’s enemies, and at best, it would have been a dishonor for a man of Israel to take a wife of the Moabites. At worst, it could have been a punishable offense. In Israel, however, when a man would die childless, his brother was to take his deceased brother’s wife and give him seed so that his brother’s name would be preserved (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). If there were no brothers, custom provided for the next nearest kinsman to accept the duty.
But this was an exceptional situation. Ruth was a “hot potato,” a foreigner, a “liability!”
A respectable man of Israel would not be caught associating with her on a personal level, much less a marriage! And yet, here she was. After all, Noami and her family should never have gone into the land of the Moabites to begin with! Right?
Now she is broken, empty, and desolate. She has lost everything, but what did she expect? The “rebel,” who followed her “wayward” husband (who was now dead). She got what she deserved! Maybe now she will learn and do what is right! And now she brings a Moabite widow into the congregation?
What is a respectable kinsman to do?
According to the custom and law of Moses, the kinsman was first in line to take her, but what would that look like? His heritage would be forever marred. His name would be stigmatized as unclean, and cast out as tainted.
He purposed in his heart what he would do. He would protect his reputation at all costs!
Boaz, however, was a wise man who knew the Lord. He looked beyond the outward appearance. He perceived a cause. If he lost his reputation in the process, so be it! Boaz perceived value in something that was rejected by others. He knew that he had found something of great price. Now, what to do? How to obtain it?
Boaz knew the kinsman. He had known him for many years. He knew that the kinsman would not accept the responsibility of a foreigner with all of the “baggage” that came with her. He knew that the man would not stand up and do what was right because he was afraid of how it would affect his image. The kinsman wanted to “abstain from every appearance of evil,” but not for the right reasons. In fact, he had little ability to discern between what was clean or unclean, just or unjust. It was an excuse, not a valid reason.
If the kinsman’s heart was right, he would have perceived God’s plan. He would have inquired of the Lord. He would have allowed faith and light to fill his soul. He would have perceived a righteous cause. Through faith, he would have stepped outside of the constraints of (perceived) law and custom.
Many of us have been fooled into a formalistic approach to knowing and serving God, which has stripped us of power, authority, and respect.
Merriam Webster defines formalism as: “The practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to prescribed or external forms (as in religion or art).”
Strict adherence to legalistic dogma or assumed ideologies. A form of godliness (void of the Spirit).
The fear of man, and the pressure to conform (to legalistic forms), bring a snare.
A snare is something that entraps and destroys.
“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42-43)
What did that cost them?
When we conform to fear and intimidation, or submit to religious control, we undermine our own authority.
Many who have done great things for God (both in the Bible and in History) were not afraid to break “rules” (there have been a lot of rules that should have been disregarded over the last two years, and still so). They were not afraid to break made-made rules and customs in order to obey God, knowing that the underlying intent of the law was for a different purpose altogether.
The Pharisees accused Jesus and His disciples of breaking the Sabbath. They had studied the scriptures for thousands of years, and yet were never able to come to an accurate understanding of the principle contained within the law. The law’s original intent that was rooted in love:
“And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:” (Mark 2:27)
The intent of the Sabbath was never to bring men into bondage, but rather to protect and to give rest!
The daughters of Zelophehad understood this principle:
Under the law of Moses, the custom of inheritance was only passed to sons. Daughters had no claim to the inheritance of their fathers. However, In Numbers 27:1-11, the daughters of Zelophehad (who had died in the wilderness) came before Moses to petition to receive the inheritance of their father. Moses heard them and went to the Lord, and the Lord replied, “Yes, give it to them!” “And not just for them, but make it an everlasting statute in Israel from henceforth and forever!”
Five women changed the statute and ordinance of God in Israel!
They changed the law!
Actually, the law never changed. The daughters of Zelophehad simply brought to light the underlying intent and foundation on which the law was established in the first place. They brought Moses and the Israelites into a more accurate application of already established law. They looked past the letter and understood the law’s intent.
Has God put something on your heart that seems so outrageous and unthinkable that it threatens to “mar your inheritance?” Does it go against the grain of tradition? Is it so far “out of the box” and out of the norm that it challenges your understanding of God Himself, but yet you know deep down in your heart that it is of the Lord?
Does it go against a conventional and traditional understanding of scripture, and yet God has shown it to you irrevocably in His Word?
Jesus answered the letter with the Spirit. He confronted legalism with revelation:
“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matthew 4:5-7)
“It is also written…”
Judah had promised Tamar that he would give his son Shelah to her as soon as he had grown, but he had reneged on his promise. Tamar knew Judah, her father-in-law. He had failed to keep his promise to give his son Shelah to her (who was now grown), in order to preserve seed and lineage, and so she devised a brilliant and completely unconventional plan.
Judah’s wife had died some time before, and Tamar knew that he would meet prostitutes along the way to Timnath, where he would go to shear his sheep. She concluded that she would use this to her benefit, to get what she knew was rightfully hers of the Lord. She also knew that she would be defrauded if she did not act, and so she disguised herself and waited for him. She dressed up as a harlot and waited for Judah on the way to Timnath. Judah found her and slept with her, not knowing that she was his daughter-in-law, and as a result, she bore Pharez.
Did Tamar sin by feigning to be a prostitute and sleeping with Judah? God rebuked neither of them, but Judah did, in fact, acknowledge his wrong in withholding his son from her. Tamar was not rebuked of the Lord, and in fact would later be praised publicly (and prophetically) by the elders and witnesses after Ruth had borne Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was David’s father!
“…and let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed of the Lord.” (Ruth 4:12)
God was involved in what would have been “unthinkable.”
God is looking for men and women who will recognize His Spirit and follow His plan, regardless of how bizarre, unusual, or unconventional it may seem. He is also looking for parents, pastors, and leaders who will not crush and destroy the hearts of those who desire to step outside the confines of religious ideologies and assumed boundaries in order to follow the Lord.
Of course, there will be persecution. There will be those who will render all manner of railing accusations. They will come out of the woodwork when you break their rules!
“Their” rules.
Boaz and Ruth, and their lineage, are forever engrafted into the lineage of David and of our eternal Savior, Lord, and King, Jesus!
What about the kinsman?
What has become of his heritage?
Scripture does not even mention his name. What he so wanted to protect and keep, he lost forever!
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