Ruth 2:15-17 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

The commandments of God to His people was to leave the corner of the fields unharvested. The corners were meant for charity to the poor who had no land nor means of feeding themselves. It was expected of those poor to know their place and to keep to the charity provided and not take from the land owners.

Ruth was not Jewish by birth but stayed with Naomi, her mother-in-law, by choice after her husband died. Boaz saw something in her that was special and offered her help that went against and above custom.

Charity is shown to the charitable. Ruth had no legal responsibility to care for Naomi, but she loved her and in that she did not stick to custom. Ruth went above and beyond what was expected.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Ruth diligently sought and found God in her service, for what is seeking God if it is not to love as God loves, beyond measure, beyond what is expect? The image of Boaz withholding chastening is an image of God’s grace and mercy shown to us, when we act out of love and not self-interest.

Boaz loved Ruth and made her his bride. Christ loves us and we are His bride.

Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

I do not recall anyone ever asking this question: Where did Aaron learn the skills to fashion a golden idol? In this moment, when we look at the sins of the exiles who came out of Egypt, what is talked about more than anything else is the rebellion, unfaithfulness, and their returning to pagan worship.

Say what you will about Aaron’s behavior and rationalize his response to the demands of the people but please do not lose focus on the how in exclaiming the why.

Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

The trap here is falling back into how you did things in the past. Learned behavior is one of the hardest things for us to overcome, especially if we have had some success in the effort. Behaviors become a thoughtless action, they are so ingrained into our actions and reactions we seldom give thought to them.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

How will you get to see these new things if you will not go where God is doing His new thing? He said in 42:9 that before they happen He will declare them to you. Are you going to remain where the past has some hold on you or are you going to break the mold of the golden calf and spring forward to see what the Lord is doing?