Then Boaz said, ‘The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.’ Then the redeemer said, ‘I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.’”
(Ruth 4:5-6 ESV)
The key issue in this passage is not merely land. It’s nacḥalah (נַחֲלָה), pronounced nah-khah-LAH. It means inheritance, heritage, property passed down through a family.
In ancient Israel, a family’s inheritance was more than just property. It represented identity, legacy, and continuity from one generation to the next. A family’s land connected them to God’s promises and ensured that their name would continue within Israel.
When Boaz explained that redeeming Naomi’s land also involved marrying Ruth and preserving the inheritance of her deceased husband, the nearest redeemer hesitated. He was afraid that doing so might endanger his own nacḥalah. Concerned about protecting what belonged to him and his descendants, he declined the opportunity.
His decision forces us to consider an important question: What kind of inheritance are we most concerned about preserving?
Many people spend their lives protecting their financial assets, possessions, careers, or personal achievements. While these things have value, Scripture consistently points to a greater inheritance. Faith, character, love, and devotion to God are treasures that outlast earthly possessions.
The irony in Ruth 4 is striking. The unnamed redeemer sought to preserve his inheritance, yet his name is lost to history. Boaz willingly risked his resources to preserve another man’s inheritance, and his name became part of the lineage of David and ultimately Jesus Christ.
God often works this way. Those who cling tightly to what they have may miss the opportunity to participate in something far greater. Those who are willing to give, sacrifice, and serve often become part of a legacy they could never have imagined.
The apostle Peter reminds Christians that we have received an inheritance that is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4 ESV). Through Christ, our nacḥalah is not merely a piece of land or an earthly estate. It’s eternal life, fellowship with God, and a place in His kingdom.
Our greatest inheritance is not what we leave to others. It’s what God has given to us in Christ. And the greatest legacy we can leave behind is a life that points others to Him.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the eternal inheritance you have given me through Jesus. Help me not to become so focused on protecting my earthly possessions that I miss opportunities to advance your kingdom. May the legacy I leave behind be one of love, faith, and devotion to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day