Matthew 3:11-12
11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Jesus told us there is a Kingdom of Heaven and of hell. Wheat is used as example of this. The chaff surrounding the grain is tossed in the air. The Wind, or Holy Spirit, carries what is to burned, the chaff, away.
This was done in a circle. On a Threshing Floor for more accuracy for keeping more wheat.
We are all going in the same direction - to Jesus. Only Father God will decide if we have obtained the Salvation of Jesus in our beliefs, words and actions. Even demons believe. James 2:19
Romans 9:16
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
Ruth 3:1-18
1 Then Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, "My daughter, should I not look for a home for you, so all will be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz of our family, with whose women servants you were? See, he is dividing the grain from the waste at his grain-floor tonight. 3 So wash yourself. Pour oil on yourself and wear your best clothes. Then go down to the grain-floor. But do not let the man know who you are until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, watch where he lies. Go in and take the covers off his feet and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do." 5 Ruth said to her, "I will do all that you say."
6 So Ruth went down to the grain floor and did all her mother-in-law had told her to do. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and his heart was happy, he went to lie down beside the grain. Then Ruth came in secret. She took the covers off his feet and lay down. 8 The man was surprised late in the night. He turned and saw that a woman was lying at his feet. 9 He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth, your woman servant. Spread your covering over me. For you are of our family." 10 And Boaz said, "May the Lord bring good to you, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than your first by not going after young men, with or without riches. 11 Now my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you whatever you ask. For all my people in the city know that you are a good woman. 12 It is true that I am of your family. But there is one closer than I. 13 Stay this night. In the morning, if he will have you for his own, let him take you. But if he does not want to have you, then I will take you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning."
14 So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. She got up before the people could see each other. For Boaz said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the grain-floor." 15 And he said, "Bring the coat you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it, and he loaded her with six jars full of grain. Then she went into the city. 16 When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi said, "How did it go, my daughter?" And Ruth told her all that the man had done for her. 17 She said, "He gave me these six jars full of grain. For he said, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law with empty hands.' " 18 Naomi said, "Wait until you know what is going to happen, my daughter. For the man will not rest until the thing is decided upon today."
Boaz has a happy heart. That day the chaff was burned away. Work had been done culminating from a diligent season. The wheat was gathered.
Ruth had also done work from a diligent heart. She had moved herself from growing up in a family of various gods and had understood God Almighty's desire for loyalty when the family had had multiple deaths of the sons and the father leaving Naomi with no one. She walked through the desert with Naomi to find a town where work was always required to harvest food. This was not a lush town. Ruth had made difficult choices and was a foreigner.
Was Ruth happy? I'd have to say reading about Ruth - she was a happy person. And understood emotional diligence.
This Third Chapter of Ruth is Matthew 3:11-12. God is gathering. He is piling up His wheat to make a path for Jesus Christ to have family. There is desert, death, desertion, poverty, bitterness, work for small rewards, being foreign,
...and ultimately choosing God.
When God is allowed to be God and is seen as God that Naomi's sons did die. That Naomi's husband did die. That it was difficult and probably frightening to walk that far between countries. To chose to go with a widow walking away. To gamble a future on putting yourself on the threshing floor.
This is part of the humility and trust that God is going to care about your life, your actions given to God and that there is a plan with life seems only harsh.
Hardship, work and hope in the harsh realities of life. Faith that who we are makes a difference.
This Chapter of Ruth three is the Celebration. God is in charge when the threshing of life occurs. And there will be a banquet - if we Trust God to Be God.
This unusual Chapter can be related to Luke's Gospel Chapter 10.
Jesus sent His Disciples two by two. Just like the 7 pairs of clean animals in Noah's Ark. Ruth is sent by Naomi. Eventually Ruth is the disciple with Boaz and Naomi is the disciple with Naomi's son. Luke 10.
Ruth does not rest there, she returns to Naomi. Luke 10.
Both women "wait to see the will of God", acted upon by Boaz. Luke 10.
Who and why is he merciful to Ruth? "Her merciful neighbor" is Boaz. Luke 10.
Who has "chosen a better portion" - Ruth chose Naomi as godly and needing of her assistance, more than the gods of her father's house. Her sincerity was shown in her diligence. She spoke of her goal. Luke 10.
This is an unusual Bible Chapter. And in the honesty of Scripture, truth is discussed. Jesus chose people as his ancestry on both his mother and father's side.
Father God, we lift our loved ones up to You. Your hand is that of Love and Salvation. We lift up our cares, tomorrow's cataract surgery at 2 pm. We lift up our friends, Church family, Churches in our area, our State and States. Our Nation to be One under God. The Nations near us to be blessed by God. In Jesus we pray, Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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