Tag: omer

2 X 3000 = A Marriage Made In Heaven?

2 X 3000 = A Marriage Made In Heaven?

In the Hebrew Spiritual Calendar, we have just come from 1st Spring Appointed Time of Passover/Pesach to the 4th Spring Appointed Time, Pentecost/Shavuot.

Pronounced sha-voo-ote.

We may have met Messiah along the Emmaus road and been compelled to return to Jerusalem and WAIT for the Promise while Counting the Omer.

These 50 days between the Feasts, are designated as a time of introspection, repentance and preparation; making ourselves ready for His coming, the outpouring of Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh.

The infilling of His power for us to become His witnesses. The Appointed Times/Feasts of the Lord, were part of the annual cycle of Adonai’s Plan of redemption and kept by the Israelites as part of their normal lifestyle.

So why are these Appointed Times important to us?

Here are some things to consider.

If we are the grafted in believers that we say we are; then, as part of the Olive Tree/ spiritual Israel, what affects Israel and what is important to them should also be important to us. We cannot be joined to them in one way and not in others and it’s not for us to pick and choose which bits we want or not.

An understanding of the meaning behind their observances gives a clear picture of Messiah and how it all fits together.

In Deut.16:10-11 and Leviticus 23:15-21, God commands the Israelites to count 50 days from Passover/Pesach to Pentecost/Shavuot. (Another name for Shavuot is Feast of Weeks). This 50 day count is known as “the counting of the Omer.”  An omer is a biblical measure of grain. 

On the second day of Passover, an omer of barley was offered in the temple signaling the start of the harvest and the beginning of the 50 day count to Shavuot. This is because it’s a commandment of the Lord/Adonai, to always remember the appointed times that He set into the calendar at the time He made His first covenant with the children of Israel.And because this was an annual rehearsal for them, which they would pass down through the generations until the time that it was fulfilled in the person of Messiah.

Exodus 32:20; Leviticus 23:15– 21. You shall count 50 days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.The Omer was parched in fire –

Fire represents Judgment – Gen 19:24; Ex 9:23 Jer 52:13, Rev 20:10

Fire represents Refinement and Purification Ps 12:6; Zech 13:9,M 3:3

Fire represents the Trials of our Faith – 1 Pet 1:7, James 1:2,3,12

The Omer was tossed in the wind – Omer tossed to the wind represents Every Kind of Doctrine – Eph 4:8-14;

A time of counting the days for (50) PENTE the COST of being His disciple. Luke 14:25. Prepares us to receive all He will release preparation through fire, repentance and cleansing leads to deliverance and freedom.

I set you free to serve Me.

(Actually meaning to return to the WAY that He had intended for humanity to walk before Him, was now given in Torah/Instructions)

This is in reference to the prophecy in Malachi and will be mentioned later.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/counting-our-blessings-with-omer/

This was the observance for the feast of Shavuot.It takes place seven weeks, or 50 days after the Passover/Pesach. The rabbis realized that this was the same time Moses had gone up on Mount Sinai to receive the guidelines for their new lifestyle having come out of the bondage of Egypt.(We know it as the 10 Commandments).

 So Shavuot became a day to remember the giving of the Torah directions.

It is one of and the 3 annual appointed times of the Lord when all men were required to go to Jerusalem.

then

and now. (Passover, Pentecost and Yom Kippur)So on the 50th day, the barley harvest ends and the wheat harvest begins, the change in harvest symbolized by the waving of two wheat loaves by the High Priest in the temple before the Lord.The waving of the two leavened loaves, also, representing those who would be harvested;

 both Jew and Gentile – which is why the Torah and the ‘Church’/Ecclesia/Congregation/Called out ones, share the same birthday.

On Shavuot, the holiday celebrating the harvest, the holiday of the first fruits.

Israel marks not just the giving of the Torah by God, (also known as ‘Zman Mattan Torah’, ‘the time of the giving of the Torah’.) but their acceptance of the Torah.

The integration between celebrating the giving of the Torah and our gratitude for the land, between a holiday that is solely connected to “heaven” and one connected to the earth, to the land of Israel. On the one hand, we aspire to reach the highest place, to receive the Torah, and on the other hand, we are connecting to what is under our feet, to the land and its crops to understand that building the Israelite homeland is a process that starts with the earth and continues on up to heaven. Nothing in scripture stands alone everything is interconnected and when we see how, it becomes clear and all begins to make sense.

One way the holiday is observed is through the reading of the Book of Ruth, the story of a woman who converts to Judaism and accepts the Torah.It is appropriate to read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot for several reasons:

First, because it gives us a picture of how the poor were treated in the harvest season with sympathy and love.

Secondly, because in the Book of Ruth we are shown the origin of the House of David — King David was the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz. And it recounts the story of the Gentile woman (Ruth) who becomes the bride of the Hebrew Boaz, the kinsman redeemer.

Their union produced the most famous of all Israel’s kings, King David. Who incidentally, was born on this very same date (Shavuot) and amazingly Shavuot is also the yahrzeit (anniversary of the death) of King David.

In the Book of Ruth, it is written that when Ruth wanted to stay with Naomi she said, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.Your people will be my people and your God my God.”  Ruth first committed herself to another human being, to Naomi, and afterwards to her people and then to her God.It is well accepted that Ruth, the foreigner represents the largely gentile church redeemed by Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, the Lord of the harvest, as represented by Boaz, who functioned as her kinsman redeemer. It’s interesting that Boaz instructs her to stay through out the barley and the wheat harvest.  For as we have noted in Jewish tradition, the counting of the Omer is said to be a time of preparation for receiving the Torah.The Exodus was looked on as a gift, while the giving of the Torah required some spiritual preparation or readiness. This presents an interesting picture.  Do the fifty days between the First fruits resurrection of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus and the receiving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost constitute a period of ‘readiness’ for the congregation of believers, Body of Yesuhua, (church), as well? The book of Ruth is replete with symbolism regarding the gentile bride and her kinsmen redeemer.

“So Boaz, said to Ruth, “My daughter listen to me.  Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here …So, Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and the wheat harvest were finished.” Ruth 2:8,23

 If Messiah Yeshua/Jesus returns for His bride before the 50th day, she would qualify as a first fruits bride (barley); a bride who has made her self ready.  While those who are not ready would still be here after the 50th day and become part of the wheat harvest – foreshadowed, possibly by Ruth who gleaned throughout the barley and the wheat harvests? A connection to the parable of the 10 virgins and the condition of their spiritual preparedness?

Also indicated in the instructions Messiah Yeshua/Jesus gave His disciples before He ascended into heaven –

 “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father has promised ” Acts 1:4

Is this why He met them on the Emmaus Road? To make sure they were where they were supposed to be?And meeting with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “But you shall receive power when the Set-apart Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judah and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:4,8Messiah Yeshua/Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the promise of receiving the power of the Set-apart Spirit came upon them; because, ONLY when this happened could they begin to spread the message of the Good News!

Why did they have to wait in Jerusalem?First, we are instructed by YHVH that Shavuot is a feast celebrated in Jerusalem – Messiah Yeshua/Jesus was instructing His disciples to keep Torah.Second, judgment – and blessing – are first for the house of Israel and then for the surrounding nations. Likewise, the Good News began in Jerusalem and was sent out from there.This is also one of the reasons that Messiah’s disciples and so many other crowds of people, were still together in Jerusalem.For most the trip back home, only to return it again 50 days later, would have been too arduous, (most walked), so they stayed their through the counting of the Omer.  Briefly noted above,

the love story between Boaz and Ruth

that took place during Shavuot.But there is another love story

that takes place during the

season of Shavuot.

A love story 5,000 years in the making.

The story of a King who is scorned by His beloved bride and vows to redeem her to Himself. The story of a King’s waiting that transcends time…a price He willingly pays in order to reclaim His precious bride.

Over a thousand years after the giving of the law, when the first covenant was given on Mount Sinai,

the renewed covenantobtained through Messiah Yeshua’s /Jesus’ death and resurrection…was energized and quickened by the Spirit of God on the Hebrew feast of Shavuot.It became known as the feast of the 50th day or pentecoste because the rabbis of the Greek world had to give a Greek name to the Hebrew holy day. One of the major elements of the Good News is redemption and restoration, another parallel.

We learned from the story of Ruth and Boaz that the season of Shavuot is a season of redemption and restoration. To further this point, we learn that in Jerusalem 3,000 people were added to the assembly of believers.

Why is this 3,000 number important?

At Mt. Sinai, there were 3,000 missing from the House of Israel who should have received the Torah and didn’t because of the sin of the golden calf.And Moses saw that the people were let loose, for Aaron had let them loose, to their shame among their enemies. And Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said,

“Who is for YHVH? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves to him. And he said to them, “Thus said YHVH Elohim of Israel: ‘Each one put his sword on his side, pass over to and fro from gate to gate in the camp, and each one slay his brother, and each one his friend, and each one his relative.’ ” And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.” Exodus 32:25-

Once the people of Israel were redeemed, they could then offer their first-fruits to YHVH. At Mt. Sinai we see this redemption take place by the marriage covenant that was established.

In comparing the exchange to a marriage or other sacred covenant. Hebrew scholars have shown that it’s Not simply the giving of Torah and giving of the Holy Spirit,but a covenant of marriage between Adonai and His beloved Israel.

The form of marriage covenant agreement is called a Ketubah;the Torah (10 commandments) were part of the ketubah/written agreement,hence the scripture

In Jerusalem thousands of years later, we see this by the ingathering of the lost sheep of Israel; the ingathering of exiled Israel from the nations.

The Spirit of God was given to the believers on the same day that the law of God was given to Israel. The old or first covenant and the re-newed covenant are joined together both being initiated on the same day.

The correlation here is that when the Law was given to Moses, judgment followed, people perished and according to the Scriptures it was about 3000.

However the amazing thing is that on the second sealing of the covenant with His people, when His spirit was given, there was salvation and eternal life for the number of those who came to new life was about 3000. Acts 2:41;

(Israel, His Beloved became His ‘wife’ אִשָּׁה Ishah, pronounced Ee-sha)

Then there’s the more complimentary, dignified word – רַעְיָה Rayayah.

3000 died

and centuries later

3000 came to life

on the exact same Holy Appointed Day of the Lord.

In 2 Corinthians 3:4 -6. Paul wrote, the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. The spirit was given on the same day as the commandments were given.

This was because the Law (\commandments\ directions for living Life before the Lord;) can tell us the will of God.

However only the Spirit can give us the power to live it.

If we live by the Spirit of God we will fulfill the will of God for our lives in the same precise way that the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost fulfilled the Law of the Covenant. The outpouring of the fire of the Holy Spirit was to empower and enable His disciples then and now. Effectively, to fulfill the plan and purpose of His will in the Earth.

The manifestation of the fire was in direct correlation to the pillar of fire that was with them in the wilderness.It was His manifest presence with them along with the pillar of cloud during the day.

Elohay Ha Elohim Our God is a consuming fire.

Conclusion to follow soon = marriage made in heaven…

Haverim/Chaverim, Mishpachah

Kha-ve-ri, mish-paw-khaw’

To all Friends and Family!

https://www.minimannamoments.com/50-days-later-an-earthly-and-spiritual-harvest-pentecost-shavuot/

Please don’t leave this page before making certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Counting Our Blessings With Omer

ספירת העומר
   Sefirat HaOmer


Counting the Omer

So who is Omer?

Not a ‘who’ but a ‘what’.

It’s a time in between.

      God commanded the people to bring a sheaf of the harvest (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:10).

The Hebrew word for ‘sheaf’ is omer. An omer is defined as ‘a measure of dry things, containing a tenth part of an ephah.’

The definition of an omer being a tenth part of an ephah is found in Exodus (Shemot) 16:36. An ephah contains 10 omers of grain.

It is usually translated as ‘sheaf’,  a bundle of stalks of grain.

An omer is a dry measure of ancient Israel, one tenth of an ephah.

The value of an Omer.

An Ephah is an ancient Hebrew unit of dry volume measure, equal to a bath or to one-tenth of a homer. It is approximately equal to 22 litres, supposed to be equal to two pecks and five quarts. (Ten ephahs make one homer.)

Strongs #6016 AHLB#2554 (g) 1358 (a) Nm­

Here is a picture of an ephah container

Three times a year God commanded the people to come to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) to celebrate the festivals of Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Sukkot).

All three of these festivals are agricultural harvest festivals. Passover (Pesach) is the barley harvest. Pentecost (Shavuot) is the wheat harvest. Both of these festivals are first fruits harvests before the final harvest that was to come at the end of the year during the festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which is the fruit harvest.

The OMER LINKS PASSOVER TO SHAVUOT

Leviticus/Vayikra 23:15  And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that ye brought the omer of the wave offering; seven Shabbatot shall be complete:

Counting The Omer refers to the forty-nine day period between the second night of Passover, (Pesach) and the holiday of Pentecost, (Shavuot). This period marks the beginning of the barley harvest when, in ancient times, the Israelites would bring the first sheaves to the Temple as a means of thanking God for the harvest. The word, ‘omer’, literally means ‘sheaf’ and refers to these early offerings.

While Passover/Pesach celebrates the initial liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Pentecost/Shavuot marks the culmination of the process of liberation, when the Israelites became an autonomous community with their own laws and standards.

Counting up to Shavuot/ Pentecost, which is also the date of receiving of the 10 commandments at Sinai and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, reminds us of this process of moving from a slave mentality to a more liberated one.

Make each day count..

Teach us to number our days that we might gain a heart of wisdom.

Every day counts, if we count every day! The seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot provide for us an ideal time for introspection and spiritual progress. An opportunity to reflect upon our own souls and burnish our divine image, a time of inner transformation.

The great illumination of ‘instant’ freedom that was experienced on the Passover/Seder night so often seems to pass us by. Slaves yesterday, free men today, we simply haven’t the vessels to be able to absorb the great chesed – loving kindness – and enlightenment that God had blessed us with. For this we have Sefirat HaOmer – the counting of the days of the Omer, that prepares us gradually for the great re-illumination of God’s light – receiving Torah on Mount Sinai.

Forty-nine days that can change your world: The forty-nine days between Passover and Shavuot,
 (between leaving Egypt and receiving Torah at Sinai), are days laden with challenging spiritual potential.
 The opportunity for growth and transformation is ours for the taking. We must count our days and make our days count!

The Waving of the Omer

Likewise, the Scriptures also reveal that the offering of the Firstfruits: ‘the Waving of the Omer’ is a picture of the resurrection of the Messiah, as well as our own future resurrection. (1Cor 15:20-23; Rom 8:23; James1:18).

During the feast of unleavened bread, barley was the crop that was being harvested, so that is what would have been brought. What was significant was that this was the very first of the crop and expresses commitment to God and thanksgiving to Him for His provision.

As they waved the omer before the Lord and began counting the days between this firstfruit offering and the next firstfruit of the 2nd harvest at Pentecost/Shavuot It became known as counting the omer.

The One Redeemed by the Passover Lamb is maturing and counting the days until her betrothal to Messiah.

A OMER IS A TENTH OF AN EPHAH Exodus 16:36 Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.

A SHEAF REPRESENTS a person or a group of people – Genesis 37:5; Genesis 37:7

The journey from leaving Egypt (a type of the world) consists of a time of preparation to meet with the Elohim of Israel at Mount Sinai.

COUNTING THE OMER REPRESENTS GROWING IN SPIRITUAL MATURITY – to as believers Ephesians 4:14; Ephesians 4:15

The spiritual journey consists of:

THE OMER WAS THRESHED (BEATEN) REPRESENTS HUMILITY Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 41:15

MOUNT SINAI REPRESENTS HUMILITY

THE HUMBLE WILL BE EXALTED

Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 18:4, Matthew 23:12; Philippians 2:8; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Elohim, that he may exalt you in due time:

THE OMER WAS PARCHED IN FIRE –

FIRE REPRESENTS JUDGMENT – Genesis 19:24; Exodus 9:23 Jeremiah 52:13, Revelation 20:10

FIRE REPRESENTS REFINEMENT AND PURIFICATION Psalm 12:6; Zechariah 13:9, Malachi 3:3

FIRE REPRESENTS THE TRIALS OF OUR FAITH – 1 Peter 1:7, James 1:2 James 1:3, James 1:12

THE OMER WAS TOSSED IN THE WIND – OMER TOSSED TO THE WIND REPRESENTS EVERY KIND OF DOCTRINE – Ephesians 4:8; Ephesians 4:11; Ephesians 4:13; Ephesians 4:14

THE OMER WAS GROUND INTO FINE FLOUR: REPRESENTS REFINEMENT, PURIFICATION AND BEING MADE WHITE (RIGHTEOUS)- Isaiah 48:10; Daniel 12:10; Revelation 3:5

John 13:16-17  ‘And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever. The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.’

After the Children of Israel left Egypt, 49 days passed before they received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Tradition teaches that each of these days was necessary for the Children of Israel to refine themselves and be worthy of this gift. On each day they examined and corrected another of their inner traits and qualities. There were 49 in all.

These forty nine traits were comprised of seven basic attributes. Each of the seven contained all of the other seven, thus comprising forty nine.

Hebraic sources tell us that the soul of man includes these seven Basic Attributes: * Love/Kindness (Chessed) * Vigor/Discipline (Gevurah) * Beauty/Harmony/Compassion (Tiferet)* Victory/Endurance/Determination (Netzach) * Humility/Devotion (Hod) * Foundation/Bonding/Connection (Yesod) * Majesty/Dignity (Malchut)

The above are also found in the New Testament/Brit HaDasha, these same virtues were spoken about in 1 Peter and Galatians and 1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5:22-26 22

The Ruach HaKodesh/The Holy Spirit will only reside in clean holy vessels. This is the time where we need to examine ourselves and prepare ourselves to be filled or refilled by the Ruach HaKodesh. A time to reflect on our relationship with Him and prepare our hearts for The Feast Of Pentecost/Shavuot.

When Yeshua told the disciples/talmidim to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh. The disciples/talmidim, were waiting for the promise of the Father and preparing themselves to receive the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, they were also preparing themselves to receive the Torah in their hearts, just as the children of Israel received the Torah at Mt. Sinai.  They were preparing to become vessels for the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh and to receive the power of Messiah in their lives for the purpose of being witnesses of Messiahs love to the World .

While they were waiting the disciples were not just sitting around doing nothing, they were counting the Omer, as they had done every year, examining their lives in preparation to receiving the gift of the Ruach Ha Kodesh on Shavuot that Yeshua promised them would come. This year would be the literal fulfillment of the Feast.

All of Jesus’s/Yeshua’s post resurrection appearances occurred within the days of the Omer count.

God is looking for FRUIT to abound in our lives. Galatians 5:22.

Our place, like Mary, is to be sitting At The Feet Of Our Master Jesus/Yeshua receiving His teaching.

These 7 virtues are a perfect picture of Jesus/Yeshua our Messiah and it is His desire that we be conformed to His image by the power of Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh.  A blessed time for us to grow more spiritual fruit in our lives and die more and more to the works of the flesh so that He will be glorified in the Life He Has given us.

Week 1 Attribute 1 Love/Ahava Kindess/Chesed abundance/

Week 2 Attribute 2 – Vigor/ (Gevurah) strength/restraint/ Discipline/boundaries

Week 3 /Attribute 3 – Beauty/Harmony/Compassion/balance/heart (Tiferet)

Week 4 /Attribute 4 – Victory/Endurance/Determination (Netzach)

Week 5 /Attribute 5 – Humility/Devotion/refining/ (Hod)

Week 6 /Attribute 6 – Foundation/Bonding/Connection/foundation (Yesod)

Week 7 /Attribute 7 – Majesty/Dignity (Malchut)

Developing some of the attributes of God in our lives, e.g. Loving kindness, Justice, Beauty and Harmony. Constancy, Splendor, Sovereignty, Foundation and Connection.

We are to count 50 days, including the Day of Firstfruits, to the day after the 7th weekly Sabbath, which is Shavuot (Pentecost) (Leviticus 23:15-16).

Notice the scriptures deal mostly with the Holy days of Yom Habikkurim, the ‘counting of the omer,’ and Shavuot.

The counting of the omer can only be understood in the context of the Biblical calendar that is lunar based.

We are given more detail as the scriptures say “begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain,” (Deuteronomy 16:9). This further illustrates the theme of the Day of Firstfruits being the day when the firstfruits of barley is reaped from the field using a sickle.

Pentecost is the Greek word for 50. In Hebrew it is Shavuot pronounced Sha-voo-ote. In (Luke 6:2 and John 5:1) it is also called the feast of weeks because of the counting.

Counting the days between them ties the two first fruits harvests together, just as Jesus ties His resurrection, as sentient and the giving of the immersion of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost/ Shavuot /the feast of weeks.

In one respect, the 50th is the uncountable number. The Omer period lasts for 50 days – yet only 49 are to be counted. The counting of 49 automatically leads to the arrival of the 50th. This elevated state was reached at Sinai. It truly surpassed everything that came before it. It was on the 50th day, Shavuot, that the union between Israel and God, like a marriage, (a covenant), was solemnized.

With this act the Israelite nation supernaturally transcended worldly existence to become one with God. Israel achieved this unity when they arrived at Sinai to encamp in a unified state: like a single person with a single heart. The names of the 12 Tribes of Israel, which were engraved upon the Stones worn by the High Priest/Kohen Gadol, have a total of 50 letters, merged as one entity with their Creator. Such amazing grace!

2 other alternative ways to count the Omer are: every day read one of the 49 parables in the gospels: see

https://www.minimannamoments.com/49-parables/

or simply count each day and remember to count our blessings and name them one by one.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,


Count your blessings, see what God has done!


Count your blessings, name them one by one,


And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

(Full text of song at bottom of page.)

Yet how often do we really do that?

In today society counting blessings is often more related to the things we own, worldly possessions etc., however, Jesus tells us in Luke 12:15 that a man’s success is not measured by such. Our sophisticated society and culture has altered our thinking and reasonings and in doing so has dulled our sensitivity to how to keep a childlike quality in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Remaining simple in a childlike faith and humble in attitude is a key to total trust in Him and His ability to provide for us, instead of our puffed up declarations of, I did it my way in my own strength.

The devastating weather this spring has brought sadness, loss and suffering to many around the world, while praying for those affected by the storms, it’s comforting to remember that whatever happens, we are in His hands and that our souls/spirits ultimately belong to Him; Ecc 12:7; and that we should not neglect to: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:



Psalms 103:2 – and to give thanks unto the LORD; for [He is] good: because His mercy [endureth] for ever. Psalms 118:1-18 for when we go through hardships; Is 43:2 confirms He is with us. As we trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own natural understanding. Prov 3:5 He will never leave us nor forsake us and He will restore those whose trust is in Him.

~

This post is part of the 4 Spring Festivals of Gods Appointed Seasons and should be read in conjunction with the previous posts all available at https://www.minimannamoments.com/ More Post links at the bottom of page.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,


When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,


Count your many blessings, name them one by one,


And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

 

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,


Count your blessings, see what God has done!


Count your blessings, name them one by one,


*Count your many blessings, see what God has done.


[*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?


Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?


Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,


And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,


Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;


Count your many blessings—*money cannot buy [*wealth can never buy]


Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,


Do not be discouraged, God is over all;


Count your many blessings, angels will attend,


Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Johnson Oatman, Jr., pub.1897

Shalom and please don’t leave this site if you are not 100% sure you are saved..you are greatly loved.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/welcome-come-taste-some-bread-of-life-bread-from-heaven/life-changing-information-guaranteed/

First Fruits

First Fruits (Yom Habikkurim).

Continuing the overview of the Spring Festivals, Gods Appointed Times. (Again this is just a basic overview and not designed to be an in depth study.)

If you are new to MMM other posts in connection to this series at:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/not-passing-over-passover-week/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/unleavened-bread-matzot-week/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/midweek-mannabite-secrets-of-the-seder-plate/

The 3rd Feast is called First Fruits. It is the barley harvest (Bikkurim) and is observed during the week of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah).

It will always be the day following the weekly sabbath, the first day of the week (Yom Rishon), which we call Sunday (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:9-11). On this day, sheaves of barley were waved before the Lord in a prescribed ceremony.

Biblical/Hebrew Name – Bikkurim  

English Name – First Fruits of Barley Harvest

Time of Observance – The morrow after the sabbath during Hag HaMatzah

The HISTORICAL APPLICATION OF THE FEAST of First Fruits – Crossing the Red Sea (Bikkurim)

Probable MESSIANIC APPLICATION & FULFILLMENT OF THE FEAST First Fruits   – Resurrection of Yeshua (Bikkurim)

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION ( Halacha) of First Fruits – Walking (Halacha) in newness of life (Bikkurim)

Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:9-14

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Now on the day when you wave the sheaf you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord. Its grain offering shall then be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil an offering by fire to the Lord for a soothing aroma, with its libation, a fourth of a hin of wine. Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places’ “

First Fruits (Yom Habikkurim). “On the morrow after the Sabbath” following Unleavened Bread, Leviticus 23:11 schedules First Fruits, the feast for acknowledging the fertility of the land He gave the Israelites. They were to bring the early crops of their spring planting and “wave the sheaf before the Lord.”

Understanding the Festival Ceremony

When the standing ripe harvest of barley and wheat was ready to be reaped one sheaf from the standing harvest was brought to the priest. The lone sheaf was called “the sheaf of the first fruits.” The priest was then to take this one sheaf and wave it before the Lord in His house. (Where His Presence was in The Temple in Jerusalem.) This was to be done “the day after the sabbath.” Prescribed offerings were also to be presented along with the sheaf.

The Sheaf of First Fruits in the Bible

God commanded the people to bring a sheaf of the harvest (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:10). The Hebrew word for “sheaf” is omer.

Just what is the “wave sheaf” offering, anyway? The original Hebrew word translated “sheaf” is omer. This word means “a heap” or “sheaf”, a dry measure. Says Gesenius Hebrew Chaldee Lexicon, it means “a measure of dry things, containing the tenth part of an ephah.” An omer, according to Unger’s Bible Dictionary, held about 5.1 pints.

Though one ephah, or ten omers, of barley was cut down, only one omer of flour, or about 5.1 pints of our measure, was offered in the Temple on the second Paschal, or 16th day of Nisan

This is a WHOLE SHEAF of barley — consisting of 5.1 pints, or a little over two quarts, at least! How many individual “grains” of barley would that be? There are multiple thousands of barley grains in one omer. The “omer” then was not one grain, or the grain from one plant, but many barley plants — many grains!

Three times a year God commanded the people to come to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) to celebrate the festivals of Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Sukkot).

All three of these festivals are agricultural harvest festivals. Passover (Pesach) is the barley harvest. Pentecost (Shavuot) is the wheat harvest. Both of these festivals are first fruits harvests before the final harvest that was to come at the end of the year during the festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which is the fruit harvest.

The harvest represents all who would put their faith, trust, and confidence (emunah) in the Messiah Yeshua (Matthew [Mattityahu] 13:39; Mark 4:26-29; Luke 10:1-12; Revelation 14:14-16). So, the sheaf is the first of the first fruits. Since a sheaf in the Bible is used to typify a person or persons (Genesis [Bereishit] 37:5-11), a sheaf seems to spiritually represent people who accept the Messiah into their hearts both Israelite and gentile.

The nation of Israel was familiar with the concept of first fruits or the firstborn. The first fruits were always the choicest, the foremost, the first, the best, the preeminent of all that was to follow.

They were holy to the Lord.

The concept of first fruits or firstborn is a major theme in the Bible. This can be seen by the following Scriptures: Exodus (Shemot) 23:16,19: 34:26; Lev. (Vayikra) 2:12,14; 23:20; Numbers (Bamidbar) 18:12-15,26; Deut. (Devarim) 18:1-5; 26:2-4,10; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 10:35-39; Proverbs (Mishlai) 3:9; Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 2:3; Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 44:30; 48:14; Malachi 3:8-14; Hebrews 6:20; 7:1-8.

The Seventeenth of Nisan — Resurrection and Salvation

The theme of the festival of First Fruits is resurrection and salvation. There are several important events that happened on this day in the Bible.

Noah’s (Noach) ark rests on Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:4).

Israel crosses the Red Sea (Exodus [Shemot] 3:18; 5:3; 14).

Israel eats the first fruits of the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10-12)..

Haman is defeated (Esther 3:1-6

The resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua, the Messiah (John 12:24; 1 Corinthians 15:16-20).

Yeshua celebrated the festival of First Fruits by offering Himself as the first fruits to all future generations (Matthew [Mattityahu] 27:52-53).

Jesus/Yeshua The First Fruits of the Barley Harvest

Jesus/Yeshua is the firstborn of Miryam (Mary) (Matthew 1:23-25).

Jesus/Yeshua is the first-begotten of G-d the Father (Hebrews 1:6).

Jesus/Yeshua is the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15).

Jesus/Yeshua is the first-begotten from the dead (Revelation 1:5)

Jesus/Yeshua is the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29).

Jesus/Yeshua is the first fruits of the resurrected ones (1 Cor.15:20,23)

Jesus/Yeshua is the beginning of the creation of God (Revelation 3:14).

Jesus/Yeshua is the preeminent One (Colossians 1:18).    

Jesus/Yeshua indeed the Most Holy One of God and is sanctified by the Father.

Jesus/Yeshua is the first, the choicest, the preeminent One. He is both the firstborn of God and the first fruits unto God.

Jesus/Yeshua is the sheaf of the first fruits.

First Fruits Is Prophetic
 of the Resurrection of the Messiah

The festival of the sheaf of the first fruits is prophetic of the resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua.

Jesus/Yeshua prophesied that He would rise after He was slain on the tree (Matthew [Mattityahu 12:38-40; 16:21; Luke 24:44-46).

This was foreshadowed to happen in the Tanach (Old Testament) by type and shadow (Genesis [Bereishit] 22:1-6; Exodus [Shemot] 3:18; 5:3; 8:27; Esther 4:15-17; Jonah 1:7; 2:1-2).

Jesus/Yeshua arose from the grave on the seventeenth of Nisan, the day of the festival of First Fruits. This day would be the day after the weekly sabbath during the week of Passover (Mark 16:1-6). In fact, Jesus/Yeshua is called the first fruits of those who rise from the dead.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, after that those who are Christs’ at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NAS).

It was prophesied that Jesus/Yeshua, the Messiah, would be buried in the tomb of the rich (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 53:9; Matthew [Mattityahu] 27:57; Luke 23:51). Why was Jesus/Yeshua placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea? Arimathea was another name for Ramah, where Samuel dwelt. It is five miles north of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In fact, this place is still called Ramah today. In ancient times, it was customary for Jews to be buried in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In fact, this practice is still done today because it is a traditional belief in Judaism that the resurrection of the dead will take place in Jerusalem

“For Christ, OUR PASSOVER also has been sacrificed. LET US therefore CELEBRATE THE FEAST, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the UNLEAVENED BREAD of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)

The way the feast days were set up by the Lord, the chief priests would have to offer up the sheaf of the first fruits of the harvest with a torn Veil.

Later they would hear that the Lord Jesus resurrected on the day of first fruits and would have to look at and eat unleavened bread up until the day they crucified him.

At the moment of Jesus death the veil in the temple was torn in two!

It must have made them think.

“On the morrow after the Sabbath” following Unleavened Bread, Leviticus 23:11 schedules First Fruits, the feast for acknowledging the fertility of the land He gave the Israelites.

They were to bring the early crops of their spring planting and “wave the sheaf before the Lord.”

The Spiritual Understanding of First Fruits

Spiritual Application (Halacha). A sheaf in the Bible is used to typify a person or persons (Genesis [Bereishit] 37:5-11). Yeshua will return to earth (Zechariah 14:4) during His second coming as King over all the earth. He also will bring the sheaves (the believers in Yeshua as the Messiah) with Him (Psalm (Tehillim) 126; Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 31:9-14; Joel 3:11-13; Zechariah 14:3-5; Matthew [Mattityahu] 13:37-39; Mark 4:26-29; Hebrews 12:1; Jude 14; Revelation 1:7).

The 144,000 Jewish witnesses who witness of Yeshua during the Chevlai shel Mashiach, the birthpangs of the Messiah (also known as the tribulation/Jacobs trouble) are first fruits to God during the tribulation (Revelation 14:1-4).

Because of the blood covenant God made with Abraham when God asked if he was willing to sacrifice his only son so then reciprocally God was able to offer His only Son for everyone who will believe.

The modern church has come to call this feast “Easter,” named after Ishtar, the pagan goddess of fertility. In searching the Scriptures there is no reference to Easter as their name in the text, only to Passover Seder. Luke 22:1–24.

So here is a Brief explanation and meaning: In the fourth century 196A.D. the church leaders for various reasons brought about the changes by introducing Easter which was the celebration of the fertility goddess Ishtar in Syria and Babylon. (Todays Iraq.)

The name Ishtar was written in Greek as Istar because there is no’sh’ sound in the Greek language. Also the Greek and Latin letters for the letter I are pronounced EE, Istar became Easter when spelt with English letters. The celebration of Ishtar brought with it symbols of reproduction example eggs and rabbits. This was done to separate from Jewish groups and to make it easier for heathens to become ‘Christians’, by letting them retain the pagan customs.

The First Fruits celebration was to be over God’s replanting of the earth in the spring. It quickly became traditional and could be seen as something to be thought about in light of Jesus’s comment in Mark 7:13

‘Thus you are nullifying and making void and of no effect [the authority of] the Word of God through your tradition, which you [in turn] hand on. And many things of this kind you are doing.’

Rabbits and eggs are not bad in themselves but we know only the sacrifice of Jesus will bring salvation, indeed Jesus became our Passover Lamb and was raised from the dead on First Fruits.

And today these spring feasts celebrate that which actually occurred and also eventually, the resurrection of the entire Body of Jesus our Messiah when He returns as King! For He is neither in a crib nor on the cross or in a grave for..