Kinsman-Redeemer

I love the concept of the Kinsman-Redeemer.

In ancient Jewish law, if someone fell into debt they couldn't pay, anything could be taken from them to pay the debt!

Including their children!

Or their own freedom if they were sent to prison for it.

If a woman's husband died, she could lose everything.

Generally, property was passed through the males of the family.

Women were totally dependent on the provisions of the men in their homes.

Into these situations stepped the Kinsman-Redeemer.

This person needed to be a close relative, able to act on behalf of the one in trouble.

Willing to step in to provide what was necessary to restore their honour,

pay their debt,

stand in as provider.

We see this come into play with Boaz,

redeeming the honour and inheritance of Naomi by marrying Ruth and taking them in under his protection.

And then the Bible speaks of Jesus in this role.

We were destitute.

Deeply in debt we could not pay.

God wanted to give us restoration -

but he could not act as our Kinsman-Redeemer without first becoming our kinsman.

So he became human.

Jesus became family!

- one of us!

So that he could offer himself as our Kinsman-Redeemer.

Take our debt upon himself, so we could be restored and made free.

And it's all legal!

Because he's one of us.

Thankyou God for such an awesome gift. ❤️

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