Lay It on Me

T HE P ROGRESSION OF THE B LESSING / 37

snuggle next to me and say, "Its okay, baby. I'm with you and I know God has something better just around the corner." I needed an encourager. Ruth's very presence made Naomi feel better. Ruth would not hurry, but had the patience to wait for God's will. The Bible reveals that Ruth knew how to respect and respond to a man. I concluded that this was what I needed in a wife. T HE T HREE - FOLD B LESSING P ROGRESSION Naomi returned to her city in the time of the barley harvest (Ruth 1:22). She was in the right place at the right time. Bethlehem, the house of bread, was known for its fields of barley and wheat. The seven feasts of Israel revolve around the times of harvesting. The Feast of Passover falls during the barley harvest, while the Feast of Pentecost falls during the wheat harvest. If you're looking for bread, go to where grain is being harvested! There in Bethlehem, Ruth discovered a progression in the blessing of God. Searching the Scriptures, it is clear that God's favor comes to those who are obedient in little things (Matthew 25:21-23). Once we learn to walk through the small doors, God will open up larger ones for us. The movement and progression of our blessings are dependent on our last act of obedience. God will only give more after we have followed previous instructions. Though she was from Moab, Ruth understood the principles of God. She knew that in order to obtain success,