All for God’s Glory

As we continue our study in Ruth 3:2 we are introduced to winnowing and the Threshing Floor. 

Threshing literally means to trample out. They would prepare a threshing floor which was constructed in the fields, preferably in an exposed position up on the hillside in order to get the full benefit of the winds. The floor is a level, circular area 25 to 40 ft. in diameter, prepared by first picking out the stones, and then wetting the ground, tamping or rolling it, and finally sweeping it. A border of stones usually surrounds the floor to keep in the grain. The sheaves of grain which have been brought are heaped on this area, and the process of tramping out begins. A lot of times they would use oxen for this procedure to separate the grain, but other times they would use an instrument called a Flail or stick to beat the sheaves like Ruth did in 2:17. At the Threshing floor the oxen are yoked together to a threshing instrument called by the Hebrews a “moreg” a threshing roller or sledge, it is driven in a circular motion around the sheaves. As they would go around they would continually bring the sheaves from the middle insuring all the grain was trampled on and cut into pieces. Once the grain was trampled it was time for Winnowing. 

Winnowing is a process that separates the chaff from the grain which is done after sundown to take advantage of the night breezes. You do this by tossing it up into the air so that the wind may blow away the chaff and the grain falls to the threshing floor. This reminds me of what we do for the Lord; when we stand before him are our works going to be blown in the wind and discarded because they were done for our own glory or are they going to fall to the feet of Jesus Glorifying His name. My friend, we need to constantly be checking motives and make sure that what we do is to glorify God and not ourselves or someone else.