#39

“I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of the Secret Place, that you may know that I, the Lord, Who calls you by your name, am the God of Israel.”  Isaiah 45:3

“When the kinsman-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 kinsman-redeemer, ‘Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.  I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest 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.

“Then Boaz said, ‘On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.’

“At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, ‘Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate.  You redeem it yourself.  I cannot do it.’”  Ruth 4:1b-6

Oh, how clever is our hero!  After all, he did not become a wealthy and successful businessman by not being clever…and full of wisdom.

Let us not forget that he was conducting a business deal.  In the tradition of this culture, a kinsman-redeemer was to marry the widow, provide her with an heir to inherit their portion of the estate and to take care of her for the remainder of her life.  Boaz apparently knew this “kinsman-redeemer” well.  He knew how to approach him.  He knew that he must do it in the presence of the men of the city and in the presence of the elders of his people, and he knew that he had to provide the facts first, details second. 

The first kinsman-redeemer saw “dollar signs”, and I feel as if he was gloating over the idea that he could take something from Boaz first.  Boaz was a wealthy and successful businessman, well-respected in this community, and to be able to acquire something before he could…well, those are bragging rights. He was going to seize an opportunity, and the idea to be given a piece of land to add to his estate was an incredible chance for him and his family.  For this transaction to take place at the city gate, in the presence of so many witnesses, was even better for him.  He could already see the men “slapping him on the back”, “high-fiving”, and placing him even higher on the social ladder.  So without even thinking it through, he said, “I will redeem it.”

Then Boaz reminded him of all he would become responsible for on this day, beginning now:  Naomi and Ruth, and he would also have to provide another heir to his estate.  These women would get to share in all that he had, and if he had a son through Ruth, some of his wealth would transfer from his estate to hers.  I am sure the wheels began to turn quickly through his mind.  How was he going to break the news to the family back home?  “Hi honey, I’m home!  And meet the new girls who will now be living with us.  Oh, and by the way, the young beautiful Moabitess will provide me with a new heir to our estate.” Somehow I don’t think supper would be very pleasant that evening.  

How many times do we do the same thing?  How many times do we see an “opportunity” and try to grab it without even thinking it through?  These decisions come in all shapes and sizes:  a new and bigger house, a new and better job,  volunteering for more, lust for someone other than your spouse, a new purse, new shoes, new t.v., new car, etc., etc., etc.  How many times do these “opportunities” have consequences?  More debt, more time away from home, more problems, loss of family and friends, etc., etc., etc.

Wisdom:  Knowledge; Ability to discern inner qualities and relationships: insight; Good sense: judgment; A wise attitude, belief, or course of action.  (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary)   

“Get wisdom, discipline and understanding.”  Proverbs 23:23b
Get it!  But don’t just grab the opportunity…use good sense, judgment.  Don’t just “seize the day”…Seize wisdom for the day!  How do we get wisdom?  “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”  James 1:5-6

Get it…ask God for it…He gives it generously to ALL without finding fault (it’s unconditional)…and believe it!
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.  To Him belongs eternal praise!”  Psalm 111:10

To Him belongs eternal praise!  Hallelujah!