by John O’Malley
“Also he said, Bring the veil that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city” (Ruth 3:15).
Ruth left the threshing floor and headed toward the city. Just a few hours before, she had made her way, carrying her heart of hope. She came to the threshing floor to present herself to the one whom her heart was toward. She came seeking a kinsman-redeemer and now left with his promise of arranging things today.
It is amazing how promising a sunrise looks when hope fills your heart. Boaz, the kinsman of her hope and the keeper of her heart, made a commitment that on this day he would meet her need. Ruth’s first steps as she bid goodbye to Boaz must have been hard, as her heart was tethered to Boaz; yet she had to go to wait for him at home. Boaz saw to it that she had a visible symbol of his promise with her. He traveled with her in two ways. Ruth carried his presence in her heart, and she carried his provision in her veil.
Boaz instructed her to go home to Naomi, and he would come again to get her. Ruth left with the promise of his return and provision until the final redemption, and that was enough for her to wait. Boaz measured six measures of barley—approximately eighty-eight pounds of barley—for her to carry to Naomi. The barley was not the price for a bride, nor a payment to curry favor; it was because he cared for her and desired to share his best.
The weight was heavy, but the load was light. She could carry it; Boaz laid it on her, and she was able to bring it home in its entirety. It seems some loads are not that heavy when your heart is in it. She journeyed home into the city carrying what some would say was heavy, but if you asked her, Ruth may have said, “How could what Boaz gives be too heavy for me? I am going to wait for his arrival at Naomi’s and make myself ready for him.”
Similarly, the believer has been told to occupy and prepare for His coming here in Naomi’s house on earth. He has supplied us with provision and a promise of His redemption. We are to go to our assigned place, as Ruth was, and fulfill His assignment until He arrives. Our Eternal Boaz is coming again. He has given us provision to sustain us until He comes. We must occupy until He arrives.
Furthermore, Ruth’s journey home with the barley finds its New Testament equivalent in Jesus’ statement to the disciples in Matthew 11:30. Christ invited those who labored and were heavy laden to come and discover the joy of His rest. He promised that, whatever the responsibility, His burden would be light. Ruth had a heavy burden to the carnal mind, but the load was light when you consider the source of strength and supply.
Fellow traveler on this spiritual journey, is your load heavy? When the load is heavy, you may be carrying your own burden; His burdens are always light. Have you grown weary waiting for our Eternal Boaz to arrive?“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”(Luke 21:28).