“YOU ARE WITNESSES!”

 Ruth 4:7-10                          (ESV)

“[7] Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. [8] So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. [9] Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. [10] Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. “YOU ARE WITNESSES” this day.””

Boaz was known as a KINSMAN REDEEMER.  A KINSMAN REDEEMER is described as “The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need.”  

The testimony of Ruth’s faithfulness to her mother-in-law was relayed to Boaz and he was moved by it.  In Ruth 2:11 he told Ruth  “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.”  For those who can’t SEE what was taking place, Ruth was being taken care of by a HIGHER POWER……GOD ALMIGHTY!!

In the first chapter of Matthew the lineage of JESUS THE CHRIST is being documented.  It is written “and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of BOAZ BY RUTH, and Obed the father of Jesse,”.  Although Boaz had possessions, Ruth was gleaning left overs for her and her mother-in-law to survive!  GOD USED this servant SPIRIT displayed by Ruth to be apart of bringing salvation to earth!!!

Never underestimate how GOD is using the smallest things for HIS GLORY!  When you do something in HIS PLAN, HE WILL BLESS IT!!!  It might not be as dramatic as bringing the SAVIOR into “this world”, but “YOU ARE WITNESSES” to HIS HANDIWORK, and that is PLENTY!!!