A Ruth Relationship – Day 18

Winnowing

“Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight, he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor.” Ruth 3:2

One would assume they were scheming a plot mastering a “man-trap”, but this is all part of the peculiar Goel custom of Israel as we find in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. It’s interesting that not only did Naomi knew where Boaz would be, but what he would be doing too, highlighting the importance of the deed. Winnowing is the agricultural method where wheat was thrown into the air with a Ptyon (resembling a pitchfork)        so the wind would blow out the worthless chaff.

John the Baptist refers to Jesus who will winnow the world in Matthew 3:12 where Jesus will winnow the righteous from the wicked. You, my dear sister, is a winnower too and should be doing it daily. Read the Word to winnow the lies from the truth. Trust from insecurities. Meaningful from fruitless relationships. Righteousness from sin. Blathering from proclaiming life-giving Word. Winnow every aspect of your relationship with God and allow the Holy Spirit to blow away the chaff from your life.

Ruth Relationship Advice: Winnowing all the negative things from your life, and only keeping the precious kernels God has given you, cultivates a deep and expressive relationship with God.

Prayer: Father, thank You for teaching me the importance of winnowing. Please guide me and teach me to winnow everything in my life. Jesus please use your Ptyon to throw it all in the air and Holy Spirit blow away the chaff so only the pure remains. Amen.

Written by Pastor Iriza for

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