Redemption seems to be a easier understood concept in Jewish culture than in many forms of Christian culture. I wonder how much we really miss in comprehending the real meaning of words, the real intention behind specific choice of language. We can come up with a variety of different ideas to try and grasp what has really been done for us, but I think even my own understanding is very inadequate. Ideas of ransom, buying back things that had been lost or sold, an exchange, paying for the release from slavery or captivity, I think a lot of the point is still lost somehow. We could talk of the substitution in the sacrificial system, but one of the ideas that really intrigues me is the concept of the kinsman redeemer. The idea that if someone found themselves in a situation that they just couldn't get out of, if financial debt caused them to have to sell off assets or even selling off their own freedom, a close relative could come and if they were able and willing they could buy back the freedom of their kin. So as to take this one they cared about, who was completely powerless to help themselves, and offer payment to give them a second chance at life. It completely wipes out the claim of ownership, the bondage of slavery, by a family member paying the full price of redemption.
So when I think about this, my life choices, being a human who has held status of sinner, that this human sin issue created an issue of ownership. That by my complete powerlessness to do anything about the bondage and slavery created by this. I could never get out of my failure; it was a completely hopeless situation. My rights to my life were now under the ownership of a new slave master and I had no choice but to stay there. I was living with a death sentence. Then into this story God comes to Earth as a human to become my kin, so He could redeem the hopeless state of my existence. Since I was under a death sentence, the ONLY way to change ownership of my life was for Him to step in and live and die, my sentence. The claim of ownership of my life was forever taken care of in that moment, He became the owner of His own creation again. I'm the one who sold myself off but instead of getting the consequences of the life I chose, I was offered freedom. His love for the run away daughter drew a rescue mission unlike anything ever seen. It still surprises me that God would really go that far, especially with no guarantee that I would leave my captor's house to return to Him. That He knew the manipulation and lies that were being fed to me keeping His true character hidden from my thoughts. He knew there was a possibility that I would never see Him as loving. That I would continue to believe that all He held for me was rules, failure, and judgement. But for all of the love of who He is, He continued the relentless pursuit for my heart. He just kept at it even when I was still believing the lies about Him. And when I began to see a little more of His truth, my captor changed the game a little. If truth could be twisted just enough, I could believe that God is loving and even begin to believe that His promises could be true, but quite possibly not for me. You see, you just don't really know me, I am a failure and that's all I ever will be. There is just enough truth there to continue the captivity indefinitely.
Thankfully that isn't the end of my story. The words from the captor still hold lies. Yes I have never been able to live up to the standard I thought God wanted from me, and that is the beauty of it. If I really believed I was ok, I would never have thought that I needed a rescuer. Knowing my desperate situation is the only way this story could ever end well. Because only then could I every actually see the truth of what redeemed means. Now the ownership is changed, I am no longer the failure living in captivity. I have a new name and it is daughter of the Most High King, in His claim of kinship I was adopted. He has spent my entire life simply trying to get me to see what He sees. Hoping I would understand that His love is so passionate, so full of mercy, so consistent that He would go to any length just to show me how much. I don't have to listen to the captor anymore because I know he's a liar and only intends destruction for my life. Today I will trust God's truth for my identity, I am who He says I am and He intends good for my life.
~Gratefully Redeemed