Anchor Devotional

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The Real Redeemer

“The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!’” Ruth 4:14

One of the devices used by a good storyteller is the plot twist. You think you are tracking with the story when suddenly, everything you thought you knew is overturned. You must reevaluate. So it is in the story of Ruth. We expect her to have the happily-ever-after of childbirth (v. 13), and we anticipate the praise of the women for Naomi’s redeemer (v. 14).

We’re told that Naomi’s redeemer will be a “restorer of life”—one who would bring new life from a woman whose womb seemed as good as dead. Her hopeless state in the first chapter has been reversed. They also praise her hard-working daughter-in-law, given to her by God’s grace.

Now, the twist: After praising Naomi’s redeemer, they conclude “for [your daughter-in-law] has given birth to him” (v. 15). Wait. Given birth to him? But Boaz wasn’t born to Ruth. How can a baby be a redeemer? The advanced echoes are ringing! It turns out that Boaz is not the real redeemer of this story after all. It's the One who will be given birth to in Ruth’s line who would be our Jesus, our restorer of life!

SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Ruth 4:13-15

INSIGHT
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). Let’s make His name famous wherever we go!

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 9-10
Psalm 84
Acts 7

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