Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE GOEL

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                           THE GOEL

In the days of the Hebrew, God apparently gave a commandment which essentially stated that whenever a man should die a relative of his would care for his widow, provide for her, and perhaps marry her and have children. In this way, he would redeem her house and as a result would be known as the Goel.

In the pages of the Bible, this was seen to have occurred more than once. For example, in the book of Genesis, Tamar, a widow, became pregnant and it was Judah who became the father of her child and therefore her goel. In the book of Ruth, after Ruth became a widow and moved back to Bethlehem with Naomi, she met and married Boaz, a relative of Naomi, who fathered her child and from whom was descended King David. Boaz thus redeemed Ruth and so became her goel.

Thus, in essence, the goel was a male relative who would look after a widow, care for, support, and help her reclaim and restore [redeem] her life. This carried forward into the New Testament times as well.

When Israel and the Hebrew people were lost and feeling abandoned by God, was it not then that God Himself became the “substitute” father for Mary’s child? This child who would become the Saviour not only of Israel but of the world and hence would be the Goel. This would, in turn, allow mankind to reclaim the relationship that had previously been lost and redeem man’s rightful position with God. This is why, through the Bible, God is often referred to as the Redeemer or in Hebrew as the Goel

As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name… 

(Isaiah 47:4) 

…The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One… 

(Isaiah 49:7)

For I know that my Redeemer lives… 

(Job 19:25)

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,

And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts… 

(Isaiah 44:6) 

For your Maker is your husband,

The Lord of hosts is His name;

And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;

He is called the God of the whole earth.

(Isaiah 54:5)

Isn’t it reassuring to know that, if one will led Him, God Himself is willing to act as our Goel, redeeming us from all the sin we’ve gotten ourselves into and reclaiming the relationship we once had but lost?

It should be something we all think about.

Adapted from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn, p.g. 244