“And Jeremiah said, ‘The word of the Lord came unto me saying: Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum your uncle shall come unto you, saying, buy my field that is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it'” (Jeremiah 32:6-7).

There is in the ancient Hebrew and rabbinical tradition a custom that one called a goel, a kinsman-redeemer, had a solemn duty to restore the rights of another in matters of persons and property. There is in this custom the objective of preservation of all that belongs to the Lord, that nothing is lost, stolen or abused, whether of persons or the Land.

The Day of the Uncle conceptualizes the ideals embodied in the custom of the goel, the kinsman-redeemer. The Lord has an eternal vested interest in all that is of His Creation, old and new; and He has set forth in the Scriptures, beginning with Moses His will made known regarding the goel.

Faith in the goel, the kinsman-redeemer, was expressed by Job, in his deep distress and affliction when he cried: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

The Psalmists, too, expressed their faith in the goel, saying: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). “They remembered that God was their Rock, and the High God, their Redeemer” (Psalm 78-35).

The Prophet, Isaiah declared: “Fear not, you worm, Jacob, and you men of Israel, I will help you, says the Lord, and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:14). And again, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, I am the First, and I am the Last; and beside Me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6; cf. Revelation 22:13).

The beloved songwriters, Keith and Melody Green, gave us a full expression of the goel, the kinsman-redeemer in the well-known song: There is a Redeemer:

There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son.
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one.

Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank You oh, my Father
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit
‘Til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory
I will see His face
And there I’ll serve my King forever
In that holy place.

Jesus, Himself gave the promise to the Redeemed of the earth in the hour of their trial, saying, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your Redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).

Finally, the Apostle spoke concerning these things writing, “But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30).

The Day of the Uncle, the goel, our nearest relative, our kinsman-redeemer, is here. Our Redeemer lives! Therefore, look up, rejoice! The Good News is nothing of that which belongs to the Lord shall be lost, stolen or abused. Everything shall be preserved for it has been redeemed. (cf. John 17:12).

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