Being Boaz: Our Role as the Kinsman-Redeemer

In the book of Ruth, we meet Boaz, a man who heeded God’s instruction to the Israelites to not glean to the edges of their fields. Through his faithfulness, Ruth, a destitute young widow and a foreigner, was able to glean food for herself and her mother-in-law from his crops. When he learned of her vulnerability, Boaz sought to protect Ruth as she worked in the fields (Ruth 2:9,22). Perhaps he knew too well how easily women could be taken advantage of. After all, his mother, Rahab, was the harlot of Jericho who helped the men of Israel escape when pursued by their enemies (Joshua 2).

Boaz nobly rescues Ruth from her poverty and vulnerability, as a kinsman-redeemer, and marries her, forgoing his right to carry property in his own name (Leviticus 25:47-49; Ruth 4). Together, they have a son, Obed, through whom the line of Christ is borne. The fruit of Ruth’s redemption by Boaz is none other than our Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus, by whom we each have been rescued from our spiritual poverty and redeemed to God.

Like Boaz, we are each meant to play a role in God’s redemptive story in the lives of others. While it may take many forms, we must heed the Biblical principle to not reap to the edges of our financial fields so we are able to aid the poor and oppressed among us, for they are our kin through Christ. We must respond as Boaz did: with mercy and generosity.

We recognize sex trafficking as oppression and slavery, an unconscionable injustice against women and girls, some so young it takes merely one hand to show their age. We cringe at the thought of a price being set for the sexual acts they are required to perform. And yet if I sit idly by – while having full ability to do something – am I not an accomplice to their oppressors?

In my unwillingness to deny myself the luxuries and indulgences I routinely enjoy, I, too, put a price on their freedom.

I will not be party to their enslavement. Instead, I wish to be an accomplice to God and His redemptive work in their lives. Forgo, through their current partnership with Freeset is embodying exactly what I think these passages and words intend:

That we might not reap to the edges of our fields monetarily so the we are able to instead be a part of the redemptive release of a woman/girl from her enslavement. 

I want to be Boaz to my enslaved sisters in Christ. Through the small sacrifices I make, and God’s power to multiply them, these women will be released and I pray their lines, like Ruth’s, will continue with a legacy of faith and hope.

For this, I will Forgo. Will you?

This post was also hosted on the Forgo website. 
Hop over and learn more. Then, join the effort!

 

Posted in Faith, Justice, Redemption, Sacrifice and tagged ,

55 Comments

  1. Darcy Pentzer via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 11:31 am

    I just subscribed Kirsten! ( :



  2. Darcy Pentzer via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 11:31 am

    I just subscribed Kirsten! ( :



  3. Kristi on April 26, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Thank you so much for your commitment to freedom!!!



    • Kirsten on April 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm

      Thank YOU for all you’re doing, Kristi!



  4. Kristi on April 26, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Thank you so much for your commitment to freedom!!!



    • Kirsten on April 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm

      Thank YOU for all you’re doing, Kristi!



  5. Amie Hamilton via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    Thank you so much for this generosity! Keep fighting the good fight.



    • Kirsten on April 26, 2012 at 3:35 pm

      Thanks, Amie, for standing in solidarity!



  6. Amie Hamilton via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    Thank you so much for this generosity! Keep fighting the good fight.



    • Kirsten on April 26, 2012 at 3:35 pm

      Thanks, Amie, for standing in solidarity!



  7. Cami MacDonald via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    This is lovely. Thank you!



    • Kirsten on April 26, 2012 at 3:35 pm

      Thanks, Cami; your support makes a difference in the lives of women.



  8. Cami MacDonald via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    This is lovely. Thank you!



    • Kirsten on April 26, 2012 at 3:35 pm

      Thanks, Cami; your support makes a difference in the lives of women.



  9. Heather Sparkman via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    Thank you!



  10. Heather Sparkman via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    Thank you!



    • Kirsten on April 26, 2012 at 4:34 pm

      With you, Heather!



  11. Stori Charles Sullivan via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    Wow! Thank you for your caring heart and generosity!



  12. Stori Charles Sullivan via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    Wow! Thank you for your caring heart and generosity!



  13. Stori Charles Sullivan via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    Wow! Thank you for your caring heart and generosity!



  14. Pam Matthews via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Thank you for being generous toward Freeset! This is great!!!



  15. Pam Matthews via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Thank you for being generous toward Freeset! This is great!!!



  16. Pam Matthews via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Thank you for being generous toward Freeset! This is great!!!



  17. Pam Matthews via Facebook on April 26, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Thank you for being generous toward Freeset! This is great!!!



  18. Susan Stilwell on April 27, 2012 at 6:41 am

    I love this idea, Kristen — I subscribed AND liked! Gosh, what a GREAT application of reaping our fields. I’m tweeting this!!
    Hugs from the Virginia mountains 🙂



    • Kirsten on April 27, 2012 at 7:38 am

      Thanks for the support, Susan, and for the publicity: it translates into something so meaningful for these women!



  19. Susan Stilwell on April 27, 2012 at 6:41 am

    I love this idea, Kristen — I subscribed AND liked! Gosh, what a GREAT application of reaping our fields. I’m tweeting this!!
    Hugs from the Virginia mountains 🙂



    • Kirsten on April 27, 2012 at 7:38 am

      Thanks for the support, Susan, and for the publicity: it translates into something so meaningful for these women!



  20. Kirsten Holmberg 8|28 via Facebook on April 27, 2012 at 6:43 am

    Thank each of YOU!



  21. Kirsten Holmberg 8|28 via Facebook on April 27, 2012 at 6:43 am

    Thank each of YOU!



  22. Kirsten Holmberg 8|28 via Facebook on April 27, 2012 at 6:47 am

    Day 2 rolls out: let’s see what happens today: We’re 30ish new subscribers/fans away from the first $475 being added to what the Forgo team has already done. Keep on it!



  23. Kirsten Holmberg 8|28 via Facebook on April 27, 2012 at 6:47 am

    Day 2 rolls out: let’s see what happens today: We’re 30ish new subscribers/fans away from the first $475 being added to what the Forgo team has already done. Keep on it!



  24. Kirsten Holmberg 8|28 via Facebook on April 27, 2012 at 6:47 am

    Day 2 rolls out: let’s see what happens today: We’re 30ish new subscribers/fans away from the first $475 being added to what the Forgo team has already done. Keep on it!



  25. Ben Holt on April 28, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    So often we say we must make a stand. You just did lady!



  26. Ben Holt on April 28, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    So often we say we must make a stand. You just did lady!



    • Kirsten on April 28, 2012 at 4:38 pm

      Thanks, Ben! You’re standing with me, I hope! (If so, be sure to like the 8|28 page, not just this post, to be added to the tally.)



  27. Want to do something important TODAY? It will take less than 5 minutes and is free but it will make a real difference » Pam's Place | Pam's Place on May 1, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    […] – Kolkata, India – On May 2 – like this Facebook page for help a woman gain freedom through Freeset. Kirsten is donating $5 for each FB Like. Just click here to “LIKE” her Facebook […]



  28. Want to do something important TODAY? It will take less than 5 minutes and is free but it will make a real difference » Pam's Place | Pam's Place on May 1, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    […] – Kolkata, India – On May 2 – like this Facebook page for help a woman gain freedom through Freeset. Kirsten is donating $5 for each FB Like. Just click here to “LIKE” her Facebook […]



    • Kirsten on May 2, 2012 at 7:03 am

      Thanks, Pam! Proud to stand alongside you. Keep up the good work!



  29. Cardboard, Books and Fine China: Hoarding and Blessing | Eight | Twenty-Eight on May 2, 2012 at 8:10 am

    […] Eight | Twenty-Eight Skip to content HomeBlogSpeaking2012 ScheduleMediaTopicsAbout KirstenContact ← Being Boaz: Our Role as the Kinsman-Redeemer […]



  30. Cardboard, Books and Fine China: Hoarding and Blessing | Eight | Twenty-Eight on May 2, 2012 at 8:10 am

    […] Eight | Twenty-Eight Skip to content HomeBlogSpeaking2012 ScheduleMediaTopicsAbout KirstenContact ← Being Boaz: Our Role as the Kinsman-Redeemer […]



  31. Cardboard, Books and Fine China: Hoarding and Blessing | Eight | Twenty-Eight on May 2, 2012 at 8:10 am

    […] Eight | Twenty-Eight Skip to content HomeBlogSpeaking2012 ScheduleMediaTopicsAbout KirstenContact ← Being Boaz: Our Role as the Kinsman-Redeemer […]



  32. Cardboard, Books and Fine China: Hoarding and Blessing | Eight | Twenty-Eight on May 2, 2012 at 8:10 am

    […] Eight | Twenty-Eight Skip to content HomeBlogSpeaking2012 ScheduleMediaTopicsAbout KirstenContact ← Being Boaz: Our Role as the Kinsman-Redeemer […]



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