Timing can be everything,
especially when it relates to God. Although God Himself exists
outside of the time continuum, He knows that people who live on the
Earth are still within it. As Naomi and Ruth have returned to Naomi's
homeland Bethlehem, Naomi understands that her life is now different.
Rather than being a “pleasant” life, she has deemed herself
“bitter” and has name herself so. We see the final statement of
she and Ruth's return in chapter one and verse twenty-two where it
reads:
So Naomi returned, and
Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out
of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning
of barley harvest.
There
are times in the Bible where we read a particular series of verses
that tell a story, and at the end of that story or portion thereof,
we will read a summary verse that reiterates what we have just read.
Today's verse is like that in that it states, “So Naomi
returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her,
which returned out of the country of Moab, and they came to
Bethlehem...”. This is this portion of the story in a nutshell,
and although it doesn't state that Naomi changed her name from Naomi
to Marah, most of the story is present. However, there is more to
this verse.
Next we
read, “in the beginning of barley harvest.” This time of
barley harvest would correspond to our March of the year, but the
significance of this may be seen more clearly if we examine it a
little closer. Let's look at it this way, It just so happened that
the barley harvest time was just when Naomi and Ruth came home. Oh
sure, Naomi heard that the Lord had visited her homeland by providing
bread even while she was still in Moab, but the journey homeward
worked out so she could arrive just when the barley harvest occurred.
We have often referred to the fact that God was presiding over all of
Naomi's troubles, and now even in a very natural way we will see that
He stands post in her life.
Someone
planted that barley, and someone nurtured it to the harvest point.
Someone tilled the ground, planted the seed, watered the garden or
field, and made the barley grow. Even while Naomi deemed the Almighty
as being against her, the Almighty has been involved in growing a
field of barley. There is no grandstanding on His part, and He
doesn't allow Naomi to know there is a field of barley waiting for
her. No, God simply presides over a field that will be significant
for change in Naomi and Ruth's life. All along the way we have
discussed the idea that God has a plan and He is working it out for
Naomi and Ruth. They just haven't discovered His plan yet in the
story. It is important for us to know that God is working behind the
scenes, and when we are inclined to draw loose and unmitigated
conclusions about His involvement or lack thereof in our tragic
circumstances maybe the thought of a barley field growing somewhere
will help us endure our hardships.
“In
the beginning of the barley harvest” may become one of our
favorite phrases to keep us looking for the mighty hand of God when
things get rough in our lives. We must remember that just because we
do not see the plan of God in our lives doesn't mean He doesn't have
one. As sure as the barley grows naturally and without pomp and
circumstance, so our God is working in areas of our lives of which we
have no idea.
Next
time we will be introduced to another main character of the book of
Ruth, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is
more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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