7 Fruits of Israel:  The Barley Offering 

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Deuteronomy 8: 7-8 "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and date honey.” 

Barley is one of the first cultivated crops. In biblical times it was widely used animal fodder and was also considered as food for poor people. It came to symbolize God’s provision in the severity and harshness of life.  Barley is the first of the offerings for the Appointed Times of the Lord. It was offered at the Temple in Jerusalem during Passover. Barley is the first of the first fruits.  

During the earthy ministry of our Lord Jesus, another offering of barley is significant. In the recording of the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples brought a young boy who had 5 barley loaves and two fish. (John 6:9-13). Not only were 5,000 men fed, but there were 12 baskets of leftovers.  

Five is the number of grace. Twelve is the number of completeness. Though the offering seemed small, by the grace of God it was multiplied into not only completeness, but also into abundance. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8: 6.  But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work. 

When we cheerfully give from the heart, whether it is barley or gold, God, in His grace, will bless it into abundance.  

 7 Fruits of Israel: Ruth Gleaner of Barley 

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Deuteronomy 8: 7-8 "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and date honey.” 

Barley is one of the first cultivated crops. In biblical times it was widely used animal fodder and was also considered as food for poor people. It came to symbolize God’s provision in the severity and harshness of life.  It pictures the severity and harshness of the life and death of Jesus Christ who “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:7-9). 

Barley is a picture of Jesus humbling Himself to provide for our salvation and deliverance from the severity and harshness of judgment.  We receive victory when we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and allow Him to lift us up. (James 4:10) 

The book of Ruth focuses on the needs of an Israelite family depending on the servanthood of a Moabite woman.  A Moabite, Ruth was a descendent of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. She was not born to the covenant that God had made with Abraham. Ruth, like the matriarchs in Genesis, is a picture of the Church, the Bride of Christ.   

Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi arrived in Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest which occurs during Passover. (Ruth 1:22) 

Ruth’s gleaning was for a specific time. She gleaned from the beginning of the barley harvest to the end of the wheat harvest. (Ruth 2:23) In other words, Ruth gleaned from Passover to Pentecost. Pentecost is 50 days after Passover. 50 is the number of Jubilee when all debts are canceled, and all prisoners are set free.  

We cannot experience Jubilee until, like Ruth, we have experienced Passover, gleaned in the fields of our Lord, humbled ourselves at His feet, allowed Him to cover us with His blood of the Covenant and received His freedom in the fire of Pentecost on the altar of our hearts. 

The book of Ruth ends with the wedding of Boaz and Ruth. That wedding foreshadows the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. We are all invited. Our R.S.V.P. is in our acceptance of Jesus as our Lord as Savior. The guest list is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.