Are you Mr. So-and-So ?
Amy K
In the Book of Ruth we see a beautiful truth that acts as "connective tissue" between the Law and the Davidic Covenant. While it is a narrative of loyalty, its purpose is to demonstrate how God’s grace operates through human faithfulness to fulfill His promises to the World.
The primary theological contribution of Ruth is the concept of the Kinsman-Redeemer. It provides the most detail in all of Scripture of how a redeemer functions. It moves redemption from a cold, legal requirement to a relational act of love. It prepares the reader to understand Jesus not just as a "savior" in an abstract sense, but as a "Kinsman" who has the right, the resources, and the will to buy us back from our sin.
Ruth was a Moabitess—a group specifically excluded from the assembly of Israel. Her inclusion in the family of God is a massive theological pivot. By including the Moabites in the lineage of the Messiah, we are given a glimpse at the heart of God to save not just the Jews but the entire world and that the Messiah came for all.
But today’s goal is to see the warning in this story of what in Hebrew is referred to as Peloni Almoni or “Mr. So-and-So” to hold a mirror to ourselves and our own heart.
As the story of Ruth unfolds we know that Ruth a Moabite has been widowed and follows her mother-in-law back to the land of Judah. Two widowed women return to the land to save themselves from famine and hopefully not meet the same end as their husbands. For Ruth this meant also leaving her family of origin, her land and her gods. She ends up meeting Boaz who sees her noble character, her loyalty and her work ethic. We then see the pathway that God gave his people to protect and care for the widows and orphans.
The Hebrew word for Redeemer is Go’el. To be a redeemer one must meet these three criteria:
Near kinsman to Ruth’s late husband
Man of standing, wealth to redeem land and family
Willing to incur the cost and humility to produce heirs for the family name.
We find out that Boaz was willing but was not the nearest redeemer to Ruth. And Boaz before promising anything to Ruth goes first to the nearest in the family line to redeem Ruth. Enter “Mr. So-and-So”.
Ruth 3:12-13, “Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”
True to his word, Boaz goes to “Mr. So-and-So” and lays out the opportunity before him.
Ruth 4:3-4, “Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”
The Kinsman redeemer is quick to see the opportunity of more land, most likely at a good price and replies “I will redeem it!” But he didn’t hear what was in the fine print. Ruth 4:5, “Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”
On hearing this the Kinsman redeemer quickly changed his mind! Ruth 4:6, “At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”
Initially enthusiastic about the land, from a business perspective considered it an excellent deal to expand his estate, his property, HIS name. But upon hearing that he would have to care for Ruth, and produce a line for another man, he quickly changes his mind.
In the biblical account of Ruth, Boaz is a typology of Christ. We are to see Boaz’s heart and character and it points to the heart and character of Christ. But we also see the heart and character of man. Because, Mr. So-and-So is all of us. This passage highlights three specific ways we often try to steward our faith while avoiding the responsibility of it.
We value the gift and not the Giver
The kinsman wanted the land, the soil, the benefits it would allot him. He did not want the responsibility that it came with. How often do we desire the gift from God’s hand but not the desire of what God will call us to do with that gift? God cares about people not things. Do I? God wants to have a relationship with us above all else. Am I willing to lay aside the good gifts to have a closer relationship with my Heavenly father?
A Fear mindset
The redeemer’s excuse was the fear that “I might endanger my own inheritance.” He was afraid that by bringing Ruth and her heir into his household, it would dilute his own wealth. The fear of the cost of the responsibilities of faith, the potential loss of comfort or reputation will only lead us to holding God at arms length. We often want a God that fits into our world, not one that asks to be the King over it.
Mr. So-and-So is forever forgotten
The Bible never records the name of Mr. So-and-So. He is forever an afterthought in
Scripture. By refusing the responsibility of the “Redeemer”, he was passed over in the
genealogy of the line of David and most importantly the line of the Messiah. We too will
have opportunities to step up in our faith and walk not by sight. In the redeemers' desire
to protect his own name and legacy and inheritance, he is completely forgotten. Boaz
took on the burden of Ruth and all that came with being a Kinsman redeemer and was
remembered forever.
Following Christ is not about collecting spiritual assets: peace, gifts, security. It is instead about following what Christ has done for us: willinging giving of our selves so that others may be restored to our Heavenly Father. God is not interested in a “self-protection mindset”. Instead He honors those who honor Him. We are to focus on making God’s name great, His Kingdom full. When we focus on our name, and our things, inevitably those things are just temporal and will be forgotten. The Lord will honor those that trust that all we have belongs to the Lord and lay our things and lives down for others around us. Wealth is a tool given by God, not to be hoarded or to create a name for ourselves but to grow the Kingdom and make God’s name great.