Seeking Gleaners

Posted by Karen on Nov 4, 2012 | 0 comments

‘Tis the season to enjoy the changing colors, falling leaves and autumn harvests! This is the time of year when the common mindset is that of an overflowing cornucopia. Yet we are reminded of the Lord’s command after He had miraculously fed the multitude with nothing more than five small barley loaves and two small fish: “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” (John 6:12)

The disciples gathered and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of barley loaves left over from those who had eaten. Granted, this was a considerable amount; however, the disciples had to comb through an area that had seated 5,000 men plus women and children. (The whole crowd may have been four times that number!) We’re talking about labor-intensive detail work.

In the Old Testament there is recorded a wonderful story of a young woman named Ruth who was willing to take on the humble and hard work of a gleaner. Not only did the owner of the field have his reapers throw out stalks of grain for her to pick up when she wasn’t looking; he ended up marrying the girl, thereby securing her future.

If God is in the details (and He is), and if He accounts for the details (and He does), then we should be just as diligent. It is God’s delight to purposely position His provision across our paths; let us find the same delight in the discovery and gathering of it!