IT'S BARLEY HARVEST TIME!

Early one morning last week as I was waking up the Lord said to me, 'Patsy, it's barley harvest time.'  Now, for me, that meant nothing. So during the past few days and burning the midnight oil last night I have been seeking out the meaning of what God said to me and this is what he revealed.

I discovered that the three main feasts of Israel are each associated with a different harvest.
Barley - ripens around the time of Passover (Now!)
Wheat - ripens around the time of Pentecost
Grape  - ripens around the feast of Tabernacles - (Autumn UK - Fall)

I also discovered that these three crops represent three groups of people:
Barley - the overcomers
Wheat - the rest of the believers
Grapes - the non believers

I read that in biblical times when the barley was harvested it was 'winnowed' by using a large fork like tool.  The barley would be 'thrown' into the air and the WIND (which was normal weather for this season) blows away the chaff, leaving the barley to fall to the ground to be harvested.
For many of us
THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT HAS BEEN REMOVING THE CHAFF FROM OUR LIVES SO THAT WE BECOME EVEN MORE CLOSER/SEPARATED UNTO HIM; RELEASING THE LOVE OF OUR FATHER AND BRINGING ABOUT THE KINGDOM HARVEST!

RUTH
Then I was led to the book of Ruth and this is where this all comes together.
Most of us know the book of Ruth, basically, Elimelech (Ruth's father in law) decided to leave
Bethlehem because of a famine and travel to the land of Moab.  During the time of their residency
there, Elimelech dies leaving Naomi and two sons. These two young men, Mahlon and Chilion married girls of Moab, Orpah and Ruth. Later both these men die and Naomi decides to return to Israel as she had heard that the Lord was blessing his people by giving them good crops.

On their homeward journey she changes her mind concerning her daughter in laws going with her and suggests they return to their parents homes and happily marry again.
Reading the account in Ruth, you will see that Ruth insists on staying with her mother in law even though Naomi was in a state of misery and bitterness it says that Ruth clung to her!  This meant that Ruth was:
1. Leaving her own family and land
2. It appeared she would live a life of widowhood & childlessness
3. Her commitment to Naomi was amazing. 'Your God - My God'. 'Where you die - I die!'

Ruth 1:19
'So they both came to Bethlehem and the entire village was stirred by their arrival.'
Verse 22: 'Their return from Moab and arrival in Bethlehem was at the beginning of the BARLEY HARVEST.'
From here we read about Ruth meeting Boaz. A righteous, good man who likes her and cares for her and then marrys her.  Ruth is blessed beyond measure as is Naomi her mother in law.

Ruth 4:13-15
'So Boaz married Ruth, and slept with her, the Lord gave her a son. And the women of the city said to Naomi, 'Bless the Lord who has given you this little grandson; may he be famous in Israel.  May he restore your youth and take care of you in your old age; for he is the son of your daughter in law who
loves you so much, and who has been kinder to you than seven sons!'
Ruth son is named Obed who later has a son called Jesse who fathers David.
Matthew 1:5 Obed is listed amongst the ancestors of Jesus making Ruth a great great grandmother of
Jesus!

CONCLUSION
During this last season many, many believers have struggled in different areas, in health, in family, finance whatever and like Naomi have almost given up hope.  She even changed her name upon entering Bethlehem to 'Mara' meaning 'bitter' because 'God had dealt her bitter blows' but be encouraged sons and daughters,  God always sends a Ruth!  God has plans to prosper you to give you a future and HOPE!  Jeremiah 29:11
Naomi was looking at her NATURAL circumstances and NOT Gods perspective! God had already placed Boaz in the right place at the right time to bring about Kingdom Fulfillment.  Things that have been written in his book long  before they were born!

It's time for our BARLEY HARVEST - where there is LIFE and not despair - PLENTY and not poverty - ABUNDANCE and not lack - FULFILLMENT and not failure!

Glory to God!