What to do with leftovers
"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 23:22 God's instructions to Israel in Leviticus regarding the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) center around two key themes: celebration and sacrifice. . The Feast of Weeks came at the end of the harvest season, a time to celebrate God's provision and give back to the Great Provider through a sacrifice of grain and livestock. It is interesting that God includes a command regarding what to do with the "gleanings"- the leftover stalks and heads of grain that remained after the initial harvest. Clearly God knew that the inclination of the Israelite harvesters would be to return and gather all of the leftovers as well; after all, the grain left behind was just as good as the grain that had been picked up! But God commands that they i...