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PROVIDENCE AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY (1)
TUESDAY, JULY 30
Ruth 2:18-23

Leviticus 25:23-28, 47-55

 

“…ye shall grant a

redemption for the land.”

 

PROVIDENCE AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY (1)
 
The Law of Moses had made provisions for different scenarios and circumstances of life. Among them was that of slavery and loss of property through poverty. Man is responsible for his life, though at times life’s circumstances are beyond man’s control. There was recognition in Leviticus that foreigners and resident aliens might become rich in Israel, and the children of Israel might become poor in their own land. The poverty of the children of Israel might bring them under servitude either to their brethren or to foreigners in the land. The law of the land as given by Moses was that the children of Israel would be eligible for redemption from bondage at any time either by a relative or kinsman, or by themselves, and thus be set free in the year of Jubilee.
 
“…The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen” (Ruth 2:20). Naomi saw the providence of God in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth. She also recognised that there was personal responsibility as the logical and proper response to the workings of providence. Naomi having heard and known it was Boaz who had showed kindness to Ruth, and recognising the hand of God, immediately explained to Ruth the relation that Boaz had with them. Through this, she introduced Ruth to the God-given provisions for the redemption of the lands of Elimelech and the continuation of his lineage. Naomi understood that the LORD had made provision for restoring the lands that belonged to her husband’s family and continuing the family name, and she was grateful to the LORD. Her gratitude is clear in her blessing of Boaz when she said, “Blessed be he of the LORD.” She then explained to Ruth that Boaz was a near kin. In the law of Moses, the kinsman-redeemer was a male relative who had the privilege, right and responsibility to act on behalf and help a relative who was destitute, in need, in trouble, in danger or in slavery. The kinsman was the one who would rescue or deliver the relative in need either of personal deliverance or property redemption.
 
THOUGHT: The working of providence calls for man’s responsibility.
PRAYER: Father, teach me to see and respond to Thy hand of providence at work in my life.

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