Goelism #5– Battle of the Goels

In the book of Ruth we find the most in-depth and detailed account of how the kinsman redeemer works. In Hebrew life Goelism was fully operational and was how daily business was done thus holding the society together. This prevented individuals from falling through the cracks in one’s life when undue hardship brought poverty and desolation. This was the operation of law and order with the citizens understanding their obligations and responsibilities. This was ordained and implemented by our Creator to give to us an understanding of the total plan of redemption whereby each example in every day life was an allegory of how we could be redeemed back to a right relationship with our Creator and His Father.

When Ruth came to Boaz under the cover of darkness and went to his feet she was declaring her need and his obligation.

“And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do” (Ruth 3:4).

When Boaz awoke he was startled, but instantly recognized what Ruth was requesting. He states,

“And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as YHWH liveth: lie down until the morning” (Ruth 3:12, 13).

Boaz gets up in the morning and heads to the local court house. Now the place where the legal affairs of the locals was taken care of was at the city gate. Ruth 4:1,2 records,

“Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.  And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.”

What we see happening is that this is the day of judgment regarding the property owned by Naomi which needed to be redeemed in order for Naomi not go into undue hardship and poverty. But you must understand that with the establishment of Israel as a nation after being brought out of the land of Egypt the land was apportioned to the heads of households with the command that the property was never to be permanently sold.  This was in direct contrast to the land of Egypt from which they had been delivered where the land, during a time of famine, had been taken from the people thus enslaving the people to the government. Slavery was not be be a part of the Hebrews’ long -term existence and the laws were written so a man or woman could be redeemed out of these situations of slavery. Slavery is a product of Satanic involvement and freedom is the result of Yahushua’s involvement.

Ten elders are taken to form the jury and Boaz’s older brother is called to the hearing table. Boaz lays out the obligation to his older brother regarding his responsibility towards the property of the deceased Elimelech.

"And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelechs.  And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it” Ruth 4:3,4.

In regards to the property the nearest of kin (the older brother) is willing to purchase it as it would fit nicely into his holdings. Now Boaz expands on the situation by stating that the women go with the property:

Ruth 4:5, 6  “Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.  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.”

When the nearest of kin realized the full obligation he was unwilling to meet the obligation.

In the previous exchange we are given a glimpse how Satan, the nearest of kin to humanity, wants the world but when it comes to meeting the needs of humanity he is unwilling to fulfill his obligation. When he got the birthright from Adam at the tree of knowledge of good and evil he was unwilling to take care of humanity. He wanted them to be naked, exposed to the power of sin and death. He, Satan, has no regard for humanity and the plight he has plunged humanity into.  He will lie, murder, steal, or do any number of horrible things. Most importantly, he desires to end the lives of human beings; he brings to the destruction of humanity a satanic enjoyment.

Number two, if he is unable to destroy the lives of the human being, he wants that person to blame YHWH for the consequences of sin which the person is experiencing.  We see how this is expressed by humanity in two lady’s experience –Naomi and Job’s wife. Let us quickly look at how they express their feelings of how they are being dealt with:

“So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and  hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing  hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?” Ruth 1: 19-21  RSKJV

“And  said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of , and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse Elohim, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of Elohim, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” Job 2: 6-10

Notice who gets the credit for the evil? It is Elohim or ! Isn’t this the greatest slight of hand? Satan causes the evil and gets the credit! So instead of praising YHWH and waiting for His deliverance we blame Him for our misfortune.

Now we must look at what happens as a result of the nearest of kin’s unwillingness to fulfill his obligation. He is judged and has to give up his sandal. He had come to the city gate, was called into court, and judgment was passed. As a result he had to give up his sandal causing him to walk home in the dust of the earth with no protection for his foot. What curse was given to the serpent? The serpent had to crawl in the dust of the earth and does to this day. Boaz’s brother brought upon himself a situation where now he has to limp home on a bare foot as a sign of his unwillingness to fulfill his legal obligation. This was a sign of shame and reproach.

Boaz was willing to meet the needs of not just the land, but also of the women. It was counted to him as righteousness and gives you and I a glimpse of how our Heavenly Kinsman operates.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."  John 3:17-21; see also 1 John 2:22-24

"In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, YHWH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 33:16 The Hebrew/Greek Key Word Study Bible

Oh beautiful picture of our Saviour and El. Yahushua came to redeem planet earth from our nearest of kin, Satan, AND He is willing to marry the girl that goes with the land to raise up seed for his Father’s kingdom. Which Goel do you desire? The one willing to pay the full price with all obligations or the one who just wants the land, but has no regard for the woman? It is for each of us to decide.  May YHWH be able to bless you in your choice.

Here is the previous study on Goelism:

Goelism #4–Satan, The Nearer of Kin