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A Thought for the Day
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Contact Given O. Blakely

HANDFULS OF PURPOSE
Given O. Blakely
Nov 8, 2008

HANDFULS OF PURPOSE

"And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not." KJV (Ruth 2:16)

The account of Ruth is one of the great testimonies to the grace of God. Ruth was a Moabitess, "of the women of Moab." In fact, she is called "Ruth the Moabitess" no less than five times (Ruth 1:22; 2:2,21; 4:5,10). Under Moses, a special curse was placed upon the Moabites, because they did not volunteer to sustain the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt. In fact, through Balak, they hired Balaam to bring a curse upon Israel (Num 22:4-5). For that reason, the Lord said, "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee" (Deut 23:3-4). Now, we are confronted with a woman from these cursed people – one who is in Jesus' lineage (Matt 1:5).

Scripture apprises us that during the time of the Judges, a great famine arose in the land. To escape the famine, and find sustenance for his family, a man from Bethlehem, his wife, and two sons, went into Moab to sojourn during the famine: Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, and Chilion. While there, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi and her two sons. Her two sons then took wives of the women of Moab, Orpah and Ruth. After ten years, both sons died, leaving Orpah and Ruth widows, as was Naomi. At this time, Naomi heard the famine was over in the homeland, and determined to return to her own land. In the process, Orpah decided to remain in Moab, and Ruth determined to return with Naomi, making her people and her God hers also.

After returning to the land of Canaan, Naomi and Ruth went to their home town, which was Bethlehem. We are told it was "the beginning of barley harvest." Ruth suggested to Naomi that she could go and glean in the fields, following the harvesters and picking up what they left behind. Naomi consented to it. Ruth was providentially directed to the field of a man named Boaz, who was a kinsman to Naomi's deceased husband, Elimilech. Coincidently, Boaz showed up at that time, and inquired about the young lady who was gleaning in the fields. The workers told him it was "the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab," and that she had asked permission to "gather after the reapers." Boaz consented, and personally told Ruth she was welcome to glean in his fields, and to eat among the reapers at mealtime. He then instructed the reapers to "let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them" (2:1-16).

Other versions read the reapers were to "purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean." To Ruth, it appeared as though the strands of grain were simply overlooked or ignored by the reapers. The truth, however, was that they had deliberately left the grain for her.

The Scriptures are a lot like that barley field, and holy men of God were moved by the Spirit to leave certain things for us. When you see rich and gladdening truth in the text, it is because the Spirit has instructed it to be left there for you. There are "handfuls" of nourishing truth strewn in your path. They have been put there deliberately, and not by accident or chance. When you come upon a blessing, it is because God has left it there for you! Pick it up! He means for you to have it!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that when I seek, I will always find – for You have left things behind for such noble souls.