Barley, Barley, Barley: The Simple Faithfulness of God

“So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.” Ruth 1:22

“So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.” Ruth 2:23

“...saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.” Ruth 3:17

How often have we paused to reflect on the subtlety of barley in the story of Ruth? If we’re honest, probably not often. Of course, we recognize the physical importance of barley, yet filling their bellies is only the tip of the iceberg. It’s no inconsequential thing that the first three chapters of Ruth end with barley, barley, and yes, more barley. But why?

The words of Naomi ring in our ears, “I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty…” (Ruth 1:21). We can understand her lament. Here is a woman who has lost everything: her husband, her children, and is now left without a protector, a provider, or a future (as far as she can see). On every level, except biologically, she is dead; her life is over. These words are partially true. God has gone out against her; He is sovereign over all things, but they are incomplete because the God who takes away is also the God who gives.

Naomi’s vision has narrowed so much that she can’t even see what He now gives, including her daughter-in-law, who enters the city gates beside her, faithfully remaining by her side in an act of unspeakable hesed love. How does God deal with this bitter and marred Naomi? Does He rebuke her? No. Does He chastise her? No. Does He correct her? Yes, but not how we might think. He corrects her & brings her barley.

Over the course of these chapters, we see the gradual filling up of this empty Naomi. First, the whisper of barley (Ruth 1:6), then a harvest (Ruth 1:22), then an ephah (Ruth 2:17), then six ephahs (Ruth 3:17) that Ruth might, “…not go back empty-handed to (her) mother-in-law…” (emphasis mine). All of this increase, and we haven’t even gotten to the grand finale, her precious grandson Obed, lying on her lap at the end of chapter four. What sustains and changes the heart of this empty and broken widow? The faithful love of God as shown to her through the simple provision of barley.

The Old Testament scholar Dale Ralph Davis was taking out his trash while reflecting on the repetition of barley in the narrative of Ruth. In the midst of this, he realized that the only reason he had garbage in the first place was that God was faithful! God had met their needs; He had given them their daily bread!

From the shoes on our feet, the clothes on our back, the hot water in our faucet, and beyond, all of these are little sheaves of barley which reflect the Lord’s daily faithfulness to His people. They remind us how much more precious we are to Him than lilies and crows. He is faithful to renew His mercies and provisions for us each morning. Perhaps this Valentine’s Day we should buy bundles of barley instead of roses. Thank you, Lord, for barley, barley, barley!