The Gleaning Years.....

 

Ruth 2  

Gleaning in Boaz’s Field 

Now, Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side—from Elimelech’s family—a prominent man of substance whose name was Boaz. 2 Ruth the Moabitess, said to Naomi, “Please let me go out to the field and glean grain behind anyone in whose eyes I may find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 

3 So Ruth went out and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. She just so happened to be in the field of Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family. 4 Soon after Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “Adonai be with you.” They replied, “May Adonai bless you.” 

5 Then Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 “She is a Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the region of Moab,” the foreman replied. 7 “She asked ‘Please allow me to glean and gather among the barley sheaves behind the harvesters.’ So she came and has been working in the field since morning until now, except for a little while in the shelter.” 

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen to me, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field or even pass on from here, but stay close to my female workers. 9 Keep your eyes on the field that they are harvesting, and follow after them. I strongly ordered the young men not to touch you. When you are thirsty, you can go to the jars and drink from the water the young men have drawn.” 

10 Then she fell upon her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes that you have noticed me, even though I am a foreigner?” 11 Boaz replied and said to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me—how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people you did not know before. 

12 May Adonai repay you for what you have done, and may you be fully rewarded by Adonai, God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” 13 She said, “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your maidservant, even though I am not one of your maidservants.” 

14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here and eat some bread and dip your piece into the wine vinegar.” So she sat beside the harvesters and he held out to her roasted grain. She ate until she was full, and some was still left. 15 When she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his workers saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, do not humiliate her. 16 Also be sure to pull out some grain for her from the sheaves and leave them for her to pick up, and do not rebuke her.” 

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. When she thrashed what she had gathered, there was about an ephah of barley. 18 She carried it back to town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. Ruth took some out and gave her what was left over after eating her fill. 19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? May the one who noticed you be blessed!” She told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and she said, “The name of the man for whom I worked is Boaz.” 

20 So Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Adonai who has not stopped his kindness to the living or to the dead.” Then Naomi said to her, “This man is closely related to us, one of our kinsmen-redeemers.”

21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay close to my workers until they have finished the entire harvest.’” 22 Naomi answered her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It is good, my daughter-in-law, that you go out with his female workers, so that you will not be harmed in another field.” 

23 So she stayed close to Boaz’s female workers, gleaning until both the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were completed. Meanwhile she lived with her mother-in-law.

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Some of you, Like me may be in your gleaning years -and that's OK. You may be starting all over again -and that's also OK. You may be experiencing shut doors -even sabotage!! It may feel like you can't catch a break --note, this season/chapter will pass In The Mighty Name of Lord Jesus Amen!! 

Like some of you, I used to be able by God's grace to create/start businesses out of thin air. Be they solutions or services or whatevers -I was somewhat fearless but I seem to be stuck-ish now!! 

Like a lot of you, I'm a creative soul and love using my real talents to make a living Amen. But I'm looking for work -and its not easy. Plus, I've also just entered that middle place (laughter). -And I'm praying and fasting and waiting on the Lord but in the mean time --"whatever your hands find to do" Amen!!  

I still have loads of dreams/purpose -and know they'll all come to pass by God's grace Amen but I, like a lot of children of God, am in this, in-the-mean-time place, the gleaning years place --and its not easy. I think in this gleaning years place -it really matters how we speak to ourselves!!! We must remember to be kind to ourselves -the world can be wicked and brutal -no? And only what God say's about US -matters Amen!!

I think it also matters how we see this season. Is it shameful or humbling or is this going to be the 'making of US' by God's grace? How do you perceive this chapter?  Also, I don't have to explain to most of you -that loosing our jobs was by design -no?  Work place bullying and sabotage is all part of gang-stalking but we must go-up-higher!! Cause, 'man has his plans' but God is in control Amen!! -So what does God want US to do now? 

You know, as a child of God, I've found when big moves like losing a job happens -its usually a pivotal pivoting moment!! It often means our Lord and our God has something bigger and better for US Amen!! So we must-go-up-higher and seek Him!! And while we're seeking and waiting on Him, 'whatever your hands find to do' -do it with all your might In Christ Lord Jesus' Name Amen!! 

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." Ecclesiastes 9:10

And this job can be anything (that's honourable -laughter). Remember this job doesn't define you -nor will it be forever -unless you want it to!! And you never know where it may lead!!  Ruth the Moabitess met and married Boaz; had a son Obed -who is the grandfather of King David, "placing Ruth and Boaz in the direct lineage of our Christ Lord Jesus" -while gleaning. So you never know my love!! Be open, God is good Amen!!!

Remember, like Ruth the Moabitess our gleaning years are for a reason and a season -and will pass Amen!! And it really doesn't matter what others think about you/me in this season (or in any other season for that matter)!! This may be the 'only' chapter they've been in -in our lives!! And yes they may be judging -but so what -let them!!!  

We've nothing to prove!! We're children of God, made in His image!! -And WE will prevail and overcome and become everything He's put US on this earth to BE In Christ Lord Jesus' Mighty Name Amen!! 

I leave God's love with you. Remember you're enough!! You have the faith needed to navigate this chapter by God's grace!! You will not faint Amen!! Stay Blessed. Be steadfast. Be unmoveable and unshakeable in your faith as God takes control of your everything In Christ Lord Jesus' Mighty Name Amen!!!. xx