The First Harvest Is For Those That Believe

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 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." Ruth 1:16-22

In the first chapter of the Book of Ruth, we find tremendous lessons in faith that we can relate to today. As the chapter begins we find Ruth her mother-in-law Naomi and her sister -in-law Orpah on their way back to Bethlehem. All three of them widows having lost their husbands in the land of Moab. Naomi, her husband and their two sons had journeyed to Moab because of famine in Israel. Now how often do we as Christians seek to run away from a problem rather than asking God what He would have us to do? Naomi fled only to be forced to return to the place she fled. While in Moab Naomi's husband and her two sons (who had married Ruth and Orpah) died. As a result of the tragedy that had befallen them, the three were headed back to Bethlehem. However, Naomi managed to convince Orpah to go back to Moab, because she felt there would be no life for her in Bethlehem. Ruth on the other hand would not be moved and clung to her mother-in-law. Ruth exhibited the kind of faith we as believers need today. She trusted God in the face of fear and adversity. She refused to allow the seeds of doubt sown by Naomi to take root in her spirit. She placed her faith in God and was rewarded. Maybe that is where her great grandson David found the confidence to write, "For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed." Psalm 37:22-26 People of God don't give in to doubt. Remember what David and Ruth never forgot, no matter what you've done or what situation you find yourself in, if you will just hold on to your faith in God, He will deliver you. Another import point from chapter one of the Book of Ruth is the fact that they returned to Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. Bethlehem means "house of bread" and the barley harvest was the first harvest (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary). Now I don't have to tell you that it was not a coincidence that God brought them back to Bethlehem/the house of bread for the first harvest. Bethlehem was the place where Jesus, "the bread from Heaven" (John 6:32) was born. In addition the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John also tells us that Jesus fed the five thousand with 5 loaves made from barley. Strengthen your faith with these words, "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:35-37