by John O’Malley
“And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest” (Ruth 2:21).
As lord of the harvest, Boaz could see the entire harvest. He was there when it was just grain to be scattered. He was there the day the first worker arrived. He would be there to take care of winnowing out the grain at the end. Though he left the harvesting under the care of his servant set over the reapers, he did come to inspect their presence and performance. He visited them to encourage and edify them in their labors for him.
The words Boaz spoke to Ruth reveal his ability to view not only the present condition of the harvest, but also the day when it all would be gathered. Boaz was waiting on his men to end all his harvest. Boaz had more than one field. The laborers could look around and say “we are almost done here,” but then they would recall: Boaz has other laborers in other fields harvesting. The harvest would not end until it had ended in all fields.
Boaz could easily have ended the harvest at any time, but ending the harvest early would have abandoned crops that could have been harvested. Boaz's heart was on the harvest and his eyes were on the day when it would be completed. He told Ruth she could stay until it was finished.
Our Eternal Boaz also sees the end of the harvest. He was here before there was even a field. He knows every laborer by name. He has placed each one in the field and cares for them. When the harvest ends, He will be there to winnow out the grains from the chaff. He will know what is truly barley and what is not.
The Eternal Boaz has left His Holy Spirit here as the servant set over the reapers. Yet, He is not without making His presence known in the harvest field. Many times the workers of the Eternal Boaz could testify how He has made His presence known in their area of the field. He cares about our outcome and all opportunities in the harvest.
There is coming a day when all harvesting will be ended. Those in every part of His harvest field will end His harvest. The day for gathering will come. When all the harvest is gathered, there can be no more gathering. Let us then gather while we can. Our Eternal Boaz can see the end of the harvest; keep your eyes on Him, and keep harvesting.