In the book of Ruth, the bible says, as was asked by her mother-in-law, Naomi; “Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down.” – Ruth 3:6-7

Ruth was a widow, and it was not good for a widow to stay widowed during those times as there would be no one to take care of you. Ideally, they would have to be married by one of the husband’s brothers, but Naomi did not have any other sons after the tragedy of losing both her sons and their father. Going to the trashing floor and doing all that she was asked to do gave Ruth an opportunity to be up-close with Boaz and this led to an unexpected restoration. Ruth met and married Boaz. A romantic wish often referenced by many Christian girls today.  This story is a s story of redemption for both Naomi and Ruth. This became their second chance that led to the birth of King David whose grandfather was Obed, a son to Ruth and Boaz. This is the linage of Christ, the savior.

In the New Testament we see the threshing floor used again in an analogy by John the Baptist when he was preaching the message of repentance in Matthew 3.He says “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire”. – Matthew 3:12. Here John is talking about Jesus Christ. He is telling those who refuse to change their ways what will happen when Christ whom he is preparing a way for comes.  In the book of Psalms believers are compared to the grain and unbelievers to chaff.  The bible says “That person (who meditates on God’s word) is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.” – Psalms1:4. This is why John uses this analogy.The bible has many references that use this analogy in both the Old and New Testament. When the word was given to me, I wanted to understand where it comes from.

A threshing floor is place where farmers used to place their grains on and get their animals, be it donkeys, ox or horses to walk on them(grains) in order to break the kernel and help separate the good part of the grain from the bad one. What happened at the trashing floor is that the farmer would after the animals have walked on and crashed the grain, he would use the natural wind to help separate the grain from what was called “chaff.” Chaff being the part of the grain that was not useful for human consumption. The farmer would use what is called a “winnowing fork” to throw up the chaff and the grain that was still mixed. The wind would blow away the chaff and the heavy grains would fall back onto the threshing floor. He would repeat this process as many times as required until there is no more chaff in the grain.  I am not sure what to tell you about these words except that when I was trying to understanding this threshing floor, they just jumped at me and in my spirit these definitions came.

  • A place = a season
  • Grain = unrefined food
  • Animals = creatures
  • Walk = stomp 
  • Break= disruption
  • Separate = detach
  • Good = upright
  • Bad = corrupt

The Threshing floor is a place, a place of redemption, a place of renewal, a place of restoration. If you are in the trashing floor, I want you to be encouraged and recognize that you are in a season where God is doing a new thing in your life.  A season that is characterized by creatures who may seem like they are there to harm you but they are there to help you become. They are there to help you become what God has intended for you to be. There will be a separation, it will not be easy, things will need to break to separate.

This is something God wanted me to understand. Perhaps you too are also at the threshing floor, and you are battling to understand what is happening and why it is happening the way it is. The threshing floor is a meeting place for God.  If you are in the trashing floor, be encouraged and know that you are at the right place.

Take refuge in Him who is all knowing. The redeemer, the king of Kings. He is right there with you.

Be Blessed!

LM