Tag: Shavuot

Sapphire And 10 Sayings

At this date in God’s calendar we are over half way in the Omer count to Shavuot – Pentecost –

We normally associate this time with the giving of God’s Spirit by Ruach HaKodesh and the receiving of the Holy /Kadosh power of His presence into individual lives;

first by the disciples waiting in Jerusalem and since then to all believers ‘who so ever will’, ask and receive.

It’s the anniversary of the birth, genesis, the beginning of the called out – ecclesia; and also the anniversary of the Sinai covenant, together with the giving of Torah to Moses on the 2 stone Tablets engraved with the 10 commandments.

The ‘Aseret haDibrot -“Ten Commandments” to us, however, as it is written in the Hebrew scroll, it is not “The Ten Commandments” because The Torah calls it the “aseret ha-d’varim.”

In later rabbinic texts the collection is referred to as Aseret ha-Dibrot, Ten Sayings.

Both mean “ten statements,” or “ten utterances,” or “ten declarations,” but It is never referred to as the Aseret ha-Mitzvot, Ten Commandments.

On the 1st day of the month of Sivan, which was the third new moon since leaving Egypt, the children of Israel camped opposite Mt. Sinai. This was the same location where Moses had received his calling from the Lord with the burning bush.

Moses ascended the mountain and God commanded him to tell the leaders that if they would obey Him and keep His covenant, then they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation unto Him. When Moses/Moshe conveyed this message to the people they agreed and responded saying, all that the Lord has spoken we shall do.

Moses went back up the mountain and was told to inform the people to sanctify themselves prior to the Lord descending on the mountain in three days time. Exactly 7 weeks after the exodus, (49 days); on the 6th of Sivan, which was the morning of the third day.

As the children of Israel waited at the foot of Mount Sinai the Lord descended in billows of smoke and fire accompanied with thunder, lightning and the loud blast of the shofar.

The Lord declared the foundation of moral conduct that He required of the people by giving them the 10 Commandments –

Aseret ha-Dibrot

Literally the 10 sayings, (a translation based on the paleo-Hebrew

and Archaic Hebrew)

The words d’varim and dibrot come from the Hebrew root Dalet-Beit-Reish, meaning: WORD, SPEAK or THING;

thus, the phrase is accurately translated as the Ten Sayings,

the Ten Statements,

the Ten Declarations,

the Ten Words

or even the Ten Things,

but not as the Ten Commandments, which would be Aseret ha-Mitzvot.

עשרת המצוות

Judaism teaches that the first tablet, containing the first five declarations, identifies duties regarding our relationship with G-d,

while the second tablet, containing the last five declarations, identifies duties regarding our relationship with other people.

There is an interesting account in the Jewish writings describing this event and according to this account, Sivan 6 was the morning of a Shabbat and the children of Israel were woken up by the loud thunder, only to see the smoky fire and lightning bolts surrounding Mount Sinai. It is recorded that the sound of the shofar continued to increase in volume until the people were completely terrified.

Moses told the Israelites to draw closer to the mountain and as they did the heavens were ripped open

and the entire mountain was uprooted and suspended in the air!

The dirt and rock of Mount Sinai were transformed into pure crystal, so much so, that the children of Israel were able to look up through the transparent layer. Then suddenly the voice of the Lord called out to the Israelites, ‘either you will accept the Torah or be buried here’. The Israelites cried out again in response:

Kol asher diber Adonai na’aseh.

All that the Lord speaks we shall do.

The Lord then spoke in a single utterance all 10 commandments at once.

The heavens and the earth trembled and rivers reversed their course.

After the people regained their composure, the Lord slowly repeated the list of the Commandments (mishpatim) beginning with the first one: I am the Lord thy God who took you out of Egypt. As the Lord began speaking the second commandment however, the people began falling back in fear that they would die in His presence and begged Moses to be the middleman or mediator before God.

So the people stood far off and Moses came alone into the thick darkness where God was.

Here is an opportunity for us to show how grateful we are that the Lord has provided us with a greater mediator than Moses to enter into the darkness where God is.

Jesus the Messiah/Yeshua the Mashiach is our high priest of the better renewed-covenant based on better promises. Hebrews 8:6. By means of His sacrificial work, we can now draw near to God without fearing His wrath. The third day of Moses at Mount Sinai meant death and fear for ancient Israel; but the third day of Yeshua at Moriah means life and love for all of Israel and all grafted in believers forevermore.

Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu together with 70 of the elders of Israel, 74 in total, ascended Mount Sinai to eat a meal with the Lord to confirm the covenant.

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under his feet … a paved work of……[a] sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel he did not lay his hand. So they saw God, and they ate and [they] drank. Exodus 24:9

It is the same as our traditions today, after a wedding we eat a meal. From the ancient practice that after a covenant is sealed, you have a meal. Jesus/Yeshua sealed the re-new ed covenant in the upper room in the New Testament at the last seder/supper.

Here the elders experienced the magnificent glory of the God of Israel.

Under whose feet was a PAVEMENT of SAPPHIRES like the very heaven for clearness.

Ex. 24:9.10; Deut. 4:12; Ex. 33:20-23; Ez. 28:14.

 Other scripture that mention the sapphire stones and stones of fire:

Ezekiel 28:14-16 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC). 14 You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing [wings], and I set you so. You were upon the holy mountain of God; you walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire

Mexican Fire Agates

[like the paved work of gleaming sapphire stone upon which the God of Israel walked on Mount Sinai].

 

The first foundation of the New Jerusalem is an emerald green crystalline hue, like jasper, with the Throne of God and the Almighty sitting upon it within its midst. The second foundation is the brilliant blue of sapphire, the same as the foundation below the throne of God, seen as the sea of glass, clear as crystal.

Sapphire refers to God’s chariot throne (Eze.1:26-28; 10:1). Without the refining work of the All-Consuming Fire (Job 23:10; Heb. 12:29) who sits on the sapphire throne; being a reality in believers’ lives, there is no throne room (intimate face-to-face) relationship like Moses had. This is where the fruit of perpetual righteousness, holiness – (set apartness), and truth is.

King James Version (KJV) … and as it were the body of heaven in his … that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire ..

Would there be any lasting, eternal ministry without the sapphire throne? The place under the feet of the God of Israel appeared to be paved with sapphire stone when heaven made contact with the earth. (Ex. 24:10). 

The figure upon this throne was the likeness of the glory of YHWH (Ezek. 1:28). Like the appearance of God to the elders of Israel, this too was God in the person of the Son. These two accounts of God appearing are of such a similarity that it is reasonable to conclude that the sapphire foundation and the sapphire throne are the same.

He saw Messiahs’ Throne as sapphire (blue). The firmament is a crystal floor extending out from Messiahs’ Throne that goes out into the vast Sea. It is the same color as the Fathers’ Throne.  Rev. 4:6; 15:2

Ezekiel 10:1, 20 was seeing the very same throne where Yeshua/Jesus is enthroned as the Lamb of God; which John saw concerning the end of the world.  The same scene is recorded in Revelation 4:6-9

It was after returning from the mountain with the elders that the Lord commanded Moses to go back up to receive the tablets of stone,

luchot ha’even,

inscribed with the 10 Commandments as well as other additional instruction and commandments of Torah which Moses had to learn plus the instructions for building the mishkan/tabernacle in which the presence of God would dwell in the ark along with the luchot.

   (Mitzvoth מצוות)

These were written by God Himself.

Ex 24: 12-18 verse 12 which I have written

KJV: and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone,

HEB: לְךָ֜ אֶת־ לֻחֹ֣ת הָאֶ֗בֶן וְהַתּוֹרָה֙

Tablets in Hebrew – LuChot – Strongs 3871 luach לוּח (loo’-akh) – a tablet, board or plank, a plate.

Or luach {loo’-akh}; from a primitive root; probably meaning:

TO GLISTEN;

a tablet (as polished), of stone,

wood or metal — board, plate, table.

 In traditional Jewish sources, the size and shape of the Luchot are derived in the Talmud based on the dimensions of the Ark.

   – written by the finger of God. Ex 31:18

The words were written in a new and very unique texts, we might call it heavenly texts, by the fingers of the Almighty. The letters were in use for some time until they were changed and later replaced by the present Hebrew texts, although the names of the letters remained.

The image below are the ten commandments in Exodus in the present Hebrew texts equally divided in two tablets.

 

Again according to ancient Hebrew Jewish texts, the tablets of stone were made of blue sapphire as a symbol of the heavens and God’s throne and written by the finger of God.

The Hebrew letters were said to be bored fully through the stone; (Ex 32:15) Which was a miracle since the inner part of some of the Hebrew letters e.g. the letter Samekh and the final Mem, floated in place.

Even more remarkable was that even though the letters were bored fully through the stone, both sides appeared normal, meaning, that the back of the tablet looked exactly the same as the front. (Shabbos 104a)

These were the tablets that were destroyed as Moses came down the mountain to find them worshiping the golden calf.

Later Moses was told to prepare a new set of tablets and once again go up the mountain where God would graciously reinstate His covenant with the children of Israel. He was followed by Joshua who remained at the base of the mountain; Moses re-ascended the mountain of God, which was still covered by a shining cloud of fire.

The ancient texts note these events: on the 6th Sivan Moses went up onto the mountain. On the 17th of Tammuz the tablets were broken, this was the first 40 days he was on the mountain.

On the 18th Moses burned the golden calf and judged those who were involved.

On the 19th he went up for 40 days and pleaded for mercy this was the 2nd 40 days.

On the 1st of Elul, He went up to receive the 2nd set of tablets and was there for 40 days. This was the 3rd forty days.

On the 10th of Tishri, God wholeheartedly restored His goodwill with the children of Israel and told Moses, I have forgiven as you asked and gave him the second tablets.

Understanding the timing of these events as explained in their tradition.

Festival of Pentecost celebrated as the giving of Torah

The 17th of Tammuz is observed as a time of national tragedy.

The month of Elul is a time of appeals for forgiveness, called selichot.

The 10th of Tishri marks the day of Atonement.

Some thoughts on this amazing scene:

Did the 70 elders see the sapphire throne of the place of His presence? Probably, as they were standing on it.

Where did the Luchot come from?

Did God cut them from the sapphire of His throne?

Exodus 24:12

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and [the] commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.”

The literal rendering in the Hebrew reads:

…I will give you tablets of THE STONE…

that’s the definite article. 

What stone is this referring to? The only other stone, that’s mentioned, is in verse 10 being the sapphire stone that His throne (the place of His presence) is made of. It sounds probable that the Ten Commandments were carved out of that blue sapphire stone that makes up God’s standing platform and throne. And in Exodus 32:16 Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on tablets. not only did God write it — God made those tablets.

Worth a mention here is Numbers 15: 37-39 “Speak to the children of Israel: [and] tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a BLUE thread in the tassels of the corners… And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them… that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy for [I am] your God. I am the Lord … God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt…

Why would BLUE in the tassels/zitzit of the prayer shawl/tallit, remind them of the commandments?

Could it be because the commandments were written on … BLUE… sapphire … stone?

https://www.minimannamoments.com/mysterious-secret-of-the-hilazon/

Also in Ex.28:31 “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.” For Aaron and his sons to wear as the priests.

Taken from the official historical document, Legends of the Jews, Volume 3 by Louis Ginzberg, page 118 and 119 “Moses departed from the heavens with the two tables on which the Ten Commandments were engraved and they were made of a sapphire-like stone.” “Ancient Jewish scholars state that the sapphire employed for the tables was taken from the throne of Glory.”

The law was placed in the ark.

The ark is a symbol of the throne of God.

And between those two angels was the mercy seat.

Above the mercy seat the Shechinah Glory — which represented the very presence of God Himself, so here, in the most holy place of the sanctuary is the mercy seat, the throne, and what’s under the throne? …the tablets of stone made out of blue sapphire cut from the very throne of God!

…to be continued..

Shalom shalom!

Please don’t leave this site without knowing you are saved and assured that you belong to Him; with a deep conviction that you know where you will go, when your body can no longer sustain you in this realm. 

Make 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?

Then simply 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 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.

Shavuot 2 x 3000 = A Marriage Made in Heaven – Conclusion

According to the scriptures, at the Beginning when God’s relationship with His creation was broken through disobedience/sin, He had to send them out of His presence. However He was already working on the plan of redemption and restoration, which was declared in Genesis, the book of Beginnings.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Berashit bara Elohim ET את Ha Shamayim V’ET ואת Ha Aretz.

When Jesus/Yeshua said “I am the Alpha and the Omega” Greek (Alef Tav את in Hebrew/Aramaic) (Rev.22:13), He was possibly meaning much more than just that.

Was He saying He was there in the beginning?

(This can be said to be true, if we believe that He said, If you have seen Me you have seen the Father and I and My Father are One.)

to see more on this click link below

NAIL I AM

Continued from Part 1:

Before The Lord/Adonai could fulfill the promise of a Redeemer, He made various covenants with people of faith including Noah, Abraham and Moses. Each time His people chose to worship/serve other gods and betrayed their relationship with Him.

Often described in scripture terms as equal to adultery committed in a marriage covenant relationship.

Each time it did not end well and their enemies conquered them, exile and captivity ensued. After the years of bondage and slavery in Egypt He answered their cry and prepared Moses to lead them to freedom where He wanted to bring them into a stronger covenant relationship; which was the equivalent, in mutual commitment, to a covenant of marriage.

This was completed at Sinai.

This legal agreement enabled Adonai to instruct the building of the Ark for His presence to dwell with them and fulfill His part of the covenant in many ways.

After generations of living in the promised land, Israel was again unfaithful to their commitment and again enemies conquered and led them captive. Adonai was waiting to fulfill the promise of a re-new-ed covenant; a better one that would not require continual animal sacrifices of blood to atone for sin. It could be said in other words that He wanted a fresh start and to re-marry Israel.

However from the original decrees, the only way for an individual to remarry was if a spouse died. So to betroth Himself once again to His people, the redemptive plan was that He came and died and then made the new covenant in His own blood, so that once and for all time it would pay the required price for sin. According to scripture, we are part of His espoused bride-to-be; we are in covenant with Him and engaged to Him, waiting on the return of our bridegroom, to complete His purpose and reunite us with Him.

Shavuot 2 x 3000 = A Marriage made in Heaven – Our God is a consuming fire. Conclusion and connections:

We too have been set free and received salvation to serve Him, to follow Him to embrace His Word, His Will, His Way and in our submission to His will, we become part of His purposes and plans. To receive His salvation and then continue to live our own lives, our way, is tantamount to a child receiving a gift in return for the promise of doing a task; who then takes the gift but never fulfills the promise of the commitment they made in agreeing to do their part.

The Hebrew understanding of Believe is that of change. Although repentance basically means to change your mind; it means to turn around and head the opposite direction. We are to be not only hearers but doers also.

The fire of God brings cleansing. Malachi tells us it’s a spirit of burning. Why do we need it? Because in Jeremiah 17:9 the word says

I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

This fire of judgment in the re-new-ed covenant is to burn away all that will stand between us and His continuing Presence.

 

Those who have walked through the fire leave sparks of light everywhere they go.

The Holy Spirit creates the passion of God in our hearts. After the two traveling disciples talk with the resurrected Jesus, they describe their hearts as “burning within us” (Luke 24:32).

After the disciples receive the Ruach/Spirit at Shavuot/Pentecost, they have a passion that lasts a lifetime and compels them to speak the word of God boldly (Acts 4:31). Even unto death, as all except John were killed.

As we invite Him, to sit with us, (spiritually speaking), and open the scriptures to us. As we read His word, our hearts will burn within us. 

The prophet Malachi 3:1-6 wrote that the Lord would send His messenger of the covenant, and asks who will be able to stand, to endure in that day, … He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

For He is like a refiner’s fire and … by the ministry of His Word and the convictions of His Spirit/Ruach..

For He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. … It says in Malachi 4:5, … “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.”

Like a refiner’s fire, which separates the precious metal from the refuse.

So according to Malachi, God will begin refining us with fire, … the Spirit of God is in us, refining us, this is what the fire of Pentecost is and does for us. Many refer to it as baptism in the Holy Spirit.

There are several main parallels between the 2 events:

One parallel is fire. At both Shavuots, fire was present. At Mt. Sinai, we are told that God Himself descended as fire. He was the fire that engulfed the mountain. In the Upper Room, He was in ‘tongues of fire’ descending upon the disciples.

We can deduce from the texts that if He descended on the mountain as fire, it’s a safe conclusion that He was also the fire that descended on the disciples in the Upper Room.

A common misconception is that until that day, the Holy Spirit was not present in the world. Yet we read at various places in the Bible where it is clearly stated that the Spirit of God was present before the outpouring at Shavuot.

Some of these instances, include the creation of the world (and specifically the creation of man), the Psalms consistently declaring the praises and wonders of His Spirit, and references in Haggai, Nehemiah, Zechariah, and Isaiah that the Spirit of God taught and directed Israel.

In addition, the Spirit of the Lord filled the people with the knowledge of how to build the Temple and its furnishings. The Spirit instructed Moses how and whom to appoint as the 70 elders. Joseph, Joshua, Saul, David, the Judges of Israel, and the prophets of Adonai are all said to have had the Spirit of God upon them. These are just a few, of the many examples, to show how extensively the Holy Spirit of God was present in the world before the Upper Room.

Fire is also a commonality because it is typically related to cleansing and judgment.

Think of all the times we see fire used as a tool of God.

Is it possible these times were also instances of the Holy Spirit of God? What does it tell us about the connection between judgment, His Spirit, and cleansing/purification?

Another parallel is that, in both cases, after the Spirit of God appeared, He then presents His people with the Torah/Teaching/Instruction/Scripture. Holy Spirit was present at Sinai and Shavuot filling the people with knowledge.

At Mt. Sinai the Torah was given twice on stone tablets through Moses. In the Upper Room, the Torah was written on the hearts of believers directly through His Spirit.

Deuteronomy 31:16-21 

Here these verses indicate that God knew the covenant written on stone tablets would be broken. He knew before they ever sinned against Him that their necks would be stiff and their hearts would be hard.

However, God also foretold of a time when He would renew this covenant with His people and would write His Torah on their hearts.

“See, the days are coming,” declares The Lord, “when I shall make a renewed covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, … I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31:31-34

Adonai says that He is going to make a new – or renewed – covenant with the House of Israel. Notice, however, that the Lord’s new covenant still involves Torah. The new covenant that we as believers are part of still requires us to guard and observe God’s Word/ Torah/Teaching/Instruction/Scripture.

It is common doctrine in today’s churches that Christians no longer have to keep ‘Torah’ as part of the new covenant under grace. But clearly, it seems The Lord never actually said that. He tells us that He intends to release His people from their captivity (of sin) and that He would then write His Torah in our inward parts and on our hearts. Why would He do that if it was no longer pertinent to salvation and relationship with Him?

He is essentially saying that He will make Torah a part of us; that it will be so precious to us and so inseparable from our lives that it actually becomes part of our makeup; and that we can never be separated from His Torah/Teaching/Instruction/Scripture.

Hence the Word was made flesh and lived among us. He is the Living Word the Bread from the Heavens, The Bread of Life. In the beginning was the Word….. John 1:1

Messiah Jesus/Yeshua told us to ‘Eat My Flesh’ meaning to take Him into ourselves. He is our daily Manna. We are to chew, ponder/think on and digest/absorb Him/His Words.

Tradition has it that when the Torah was given on Mt. Sinai, it was given in 70 different languages.

Perhaps this is also a foreshadowing of the division at Tower of Babel into 70 languages and of the captivity in many nations which Israel would find herself in generations later? Is it because of this captivity foretold by The Lord that it became necessary for the disciples to speak in many languages? Jesus/Yeshua had to send the disciples out to the nations because that is where the captives of Israel were! This is why it so important to believe that we are part of Israel…just as Ruth did.

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures… just as He did in Emmaus. Saying that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these matters. And see, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you, but you are to remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high. Luke 24:44-49

See post https://www.minimannamoments.com/seeing-jesus-on-the-way/

Malachi called prophetically for the WAY to be Prepared

One more connection that now makes sense, is with John who in his call to repentance, makes us aware of our need for a Savior. Scripture refers to this again when it states that Mark says that “John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Mark goes on to say that “this was his message: ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” (Mark 1:4,7,8)

Usually when we think of the call for us to repent, we think that it means that we are to be sorry for our sins. But this is not repentance. It is choosing to turn away from our sinful ways and head in a different direction. And this is precisely what John the Baptist called for the people of his day, and also calls for us, to do.

The Israelites passing through the Reed/Red sea was the prophetic shadow of being immersed by water baptism.

John is telling us of the need we have. He is reminding us that we like to head off in wicked, (out of harmony with God’s), directions and down other trails, like Emmaus roads and the one back to Egypt. He is sharing with us our need to repent. He is preparing us and our hearts for Messiah Jesus by reminding us of our spiritual situation.

John isn’t giving us the answer to the problem, he is just reminding us of the problem. He is reminding us that we are sinful beings, in need of a Savior. John’s message prepares us for Messiah Jesus’ message, then He enters the scene and meets the needs that John has reminded us we have.

Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, through His incarnation, through His life and teaching, through His death and resurrection, offers us the path to true repentance. Messiah’s death and resurrection doesn’t make sense if you don’t understand our need for it as John shares it. John’s call to repentance is impossible to truly follow if we don’t have Messiah Jesus to live that out for us and sacrifice Himself for us.

Acts 2: 1-8, 12-21, 37-41

And when the Day of the Festival or Feast of Weeks, [Shavuot], Pentecost had come, they were all with one mind in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from the heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared to them divided*tongues, as of fire, and settled on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Set-apart Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them to speak.

Now in Jerusalem there were dwelling Jews, dedicated men from every nation under the heaven. And when this sound came to be, the crowd came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to each other, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how do we hear, each one in our own language in which we were born?”

*(Divided tongues was with reference to clean /unclean animals so more than likely this was a sign to confirm to them that it was a kosher spirit of holiness.)

And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each one of you be immersed in the Name of Yeshua Messiah for the forgiveness of sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit. (The Ecclesia the called out ones the congregation of believers in Jesus, Messiah Yeshua.) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, as many as The Lord God our Elohim shall call.” And with many other words he earnestly witnessed and urged them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation.” Then those, indeed, who gladly received his word, were immersed. And on that day about 3000 beings were added to them.

Back to Malachi 3 again.  It begins by talking about a messenger who will prepare the way but then it tells us that, “suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come.” This is a different messenger.

This messenger of the covenant is Messiah Himself. And His coming isn’t necessarily going to be the wonderful thing that we all look forward to. Let us continue in Malachi, “who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

It doesn’t sound like the most comfortable process! And yet this is what we are told that Jesus is and does for us. Again, this only becomes the good thing that it is when we accept John the Baptist’s message that tells us of our need to repent. Moreover when we do repent, when we do turn ourselves over to Jesus, we discover that He is a launderer’s soap, that He is a refiner’s fire. And for a brief time this whole Discipleship life doesn’t seem like the most wonderful thing we imagine. However without our enduring some heat how could there be refining fires? Many do not make it…

Some people are lost in the flames of the fire and some are built from it.

This refiner’s fire: Not only is Jesus the refiner’s fire, He went through it Himself. The refiner’s fire that Jesus puts us through; He went through it and suffered and died for our sake so that we would not have to deal with the flames. In becoming the type of the sacrificial red heifer that was burned, Jesus took that fire upon Himself, though He did not have to, and Jesus offers us salvation from our sins because of what He did.

He then tells us that if we truly want to follow Him, we are going to have to go where He leads? Jesus doesn’t promise us complete prosperity and ease of life. What Jesus does promise, is a life that will have suffering in it, a life that will have difficulty, a life of pain and trouble, but a life that is good. He offers us a chance to follow Him, but He tells us that this will be like sending us through a refining fire, like brushing us with a hard soap.

We need to realize that the difficulty, the fire, the soap will not be there to destroy us or to hurt us. It will be there to make us stronger, to help us grow closer to Him. If we pay attention to the message of John the Baptist, we realize our need for Jesus. If we accept John’s words we acknowledge our need for refining. And when Jesus comes and offers us a life of following Him we discover that though this life may be hard, it is the most wonderful thing we can do to follow Him.

By the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.–The word for “spirit” Ruach, is better understood in its more literal meaning, as breath or blast, as in Isaiah 30:27-28; Isaiah 40:7.

The word for wind, breath or blast (same as, breath of life God breathed into Adam.)

(Psalm 18:15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the … by the breath of his nostrils. Exodus 15:8,10 And with the blast of your nostrils the waters were gathered together. Ex 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

God opens the sea with a blast of His nostrils!

‘There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.’

2 Sam 22:14-16 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice. 15 He sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning confused and troubled them. 16 The channels of the sea were visible, the foundations of the world were uncovered at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

Fire and Wind together.

Ruach has another meaning it also means the Spirit. In Hebrew Holy Spirit is the Holy Wind/Holy Breath. And just like trying to press against the wind, it gets harder, for it creates drag and we get tired when we walk against the spirit. He creates a drag on our lives.

Because the Spirit of God is Holy, it blows in the direction of the Holy and against the direction of the unholy. Consequently, when you turn around and walk back the same way you came, you are walking in the direction the wind is blowing, so the wind actually helped you walk. Similarly, if we turn around, change our course, if we repent, the drag will disappear. Then the spirit will empower us and we will move forward much easier, as the Holy Spirit of God will always be at our backs. The wind is always at our back. He is our rearguard.

A big measure of Holy fire comes in the baptism.

Matthew 3:11-12  …He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire … gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

 Matthew 3:11 also indicates that the baptism with the Spirit will have the effect of burning out the chaff. So again, this Holy Spirit fire also has a beneficial cleansing effect in our lives.

The more the wind of the spirit blows, the hotter the fire burns.

The Holy Ghost baptism is an impartation of Spirit-fire! When the 120 were baptized in the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the tongues of fire that appeared upon them was further evidence of this being an impartation of Holy Ghost fire.

The purpose of this Holy fire, of this Godly passion, is expression.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

It must not, it “cannot”, be held in.

The prophet experienced an inner pressure to speak, to declare, to express the name of God and the word of God.  The bottled-up word of God was “like a fire”inside him, and he could not hold it in.

Jeremiah 20:8-9  …if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

If you bottle up fire, pretty soon it dies out, no oxygen, no breath of life. So open up!  Speak out His word from within you. Two things will happen: (1) the fire will touch others; and (2) God will feed and increase the fire within you.

Live a life of spiritual readiness.

Tend your inner fire, keep it burning.

Otherwise, it will fade out and end up being only faintly glowing embers.

Treasure the Holy Spirits anointing… stir it up.

Fix your eyes on Jesus. Let Him talk to you and open His Word to you.

Share the fire, express it, give it out, speak up.

Do these things, and God will keep His holy fire burning within you. And you will find yourself continually bearing fruit for Him, both in your own life and in the lives of others.

In the waiting in Jerusalem their strength was to sit still they had to be patient. Patience undergirds faith, for it is the basic building block of faith, an absolute necessity in the foundation and life of every believer in order to really and fully know God.

Here is a reason for the days of the Omer. The disciples were not sitting around doing nothing, they were spending their days immersed in the Word of God/Torah.

Following God’s directions, according to the annual Appointed Times. To be at the right place at the right time at the conclusion of the Omer. The 50 days the time of preparation making ready to receive Holy spirit.

After meeting with Jesus, the two on the Road to Emmaus were turned back to where they had been told to wait. He had said, wait here in Jerusalem, they chose to leave and go another road.

Temptations of the flesh (‘carnal christianity’) Do we do it OUR WAY, when faced with:

Despair – do we just give up?

Precipitancy – Do we do something to stir ourselves – ‘we’ must be doing, ‘we’ must do it?

Presumption – Expect a miracle march into the sea asking God to bless ‘our’ going?

Or Cowardice – the world’s WAY – Retreat – go back to the worlds WAY of action and what we were familiar with.

Or THE WAY/HIS WAY – Wait on the Lord, which is the posture of an upright man/of righteousness. Ex 14:13 Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

The fire of God came to them in person and opened their eyes, when He opens your eyes, no man come close them. In which direction are we traveling on the Emmaus Road?

Are we on the Emmaus Road A-WAY from Jerusalem or on THE-WAY to meet with Him and be empowered?

Let’s make sure we are headed for the place He told us to be. The place where He will meet with us and impart to us all that we need, to be His disciple and to fulfill our call.

Another parallel is that, in both cases, after the Spirit of Adonai appeared, there was redemption and restoration; which we learned from the story of Ruth and Boaz. 

And in a final parallel:

it can be seen in both of these examples of Shavuot, that we are the first-fruits being offered to The Lord/Adonai. It is a time of the giving of the harvest. We are the harvest that is being offered. But we cannot bear fruit if we are not first connected to the Vine.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit He takes away. And every branch that bears fruit He prunes, so that it bears more fruit. You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you. Stay in Me, and I stay in you. As the branch is unable to bear fruit of itself, unless it stays in the vine, so neither you, unless you stay in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who stays in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit. Because without Me you are able to do naught! If you guard My commands, you shall stay in My love, even as I have guarded My Father’s commands and stay in His love.” John 15:1-5, 10

The Holy Spirit /Ruach haKodesh, has always played an important role in Shavuot and, as seen from these examples, Holy Spirit /Ruach haKodesh is an integral part of the covenant between Most High God/El Elyon and Israel.

Once we allow the fire of Adonai to cleanse, judge, and declare us purified, only then are we able to receive the Torah of Adonai that keeps us from sin and allows us to draw near to El Elyon. It is El Elyon’s desire that we love and guard His Torah to such a degree that it becomes inextricable from our very being. 

Torah becomes who we are; it becomes the very essence of our being.

 Once we hear and receive this message of Torah and redemption in our own language, then we become the ‘redeemed of Israel’ and are restored to our rightful place under the covering of the Most High God –El Elyon! It is only then that we can offer ourselves as first-fruits to Adonai to serve in His Kingdom and to declare the Good News: that the captives of Israel have been freed by the power and blood of Yeshua haMashiach – Yeshua the Messiah!

Offering ourselves to the Lord/Adonai is the ultimate gift of love we can offer Him. “No one has greater love than this: that he would lay down his life for his friends.” By giving Him our lives, our hopes, our fears, and everything that we will ever become, we are saying “I choose you. I choose all that You are and all that You have for me. You will never cease to be more than enough for me; You are all I will ever need or desire. I choose to love You and obey You. I choose to lay down my life for You.”

This “sacrifice” becomes our wedding vow to our King. And that is the real love story of Shavuot.

At the beginning of His ministry He met with John the Baptist and He was baptized even though He had nothing to repent for.

And at the end of His ministry He died the death of a criminal though He had done no criminal act.

This is the real message of Shavuot:

No one has greater love than this — that he should lay down his life for his friend.

It is the love story between The Lord/Adonai and Israel.

In examining the parallels between the first Shavuot that occurred at Mt. Sinai and the Shavuot that took place in Jerusalem in the Upper Room.

Both of these events have to do with a marriage.

The law has to do with Israel being married to the Lord (the Torah functions as a ketubah, a marriage contract between Jehovah and Israel, just as the New Covenant does for the Church, the bride of Christ). 

For this reason,  it is traditional for the book of Ruth to be read in the synagogue every year during this festival. Wouldn’t it be just like the Lord to call His bride home on such a special day as this? If not this year, maybe next…. One thing is certain.. He will fulfill His Word and Keep His Promises.

3000 died and 3000 lived… both were ‘marriage covenants’.

The fulfillment of ours with Him will be in the Heavens/Ha Shamayim.Revelation 19:7,  “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.”

For the spirit and the bride say come! Rev. 22:7

2 x 3000 = a marriage made in the Heavens!

Ruth, Boaz, Moses, Israelites in wilderness, Torah, Spring Feasts, Pentecost, Shavuot, Ketubah, 10 Commandments, Power, Fire, Wind, Reed Sea, Sinai, Malachi, John the Baptist, Cleansing & Purification, Baptisms, Yeshua, Emmaus Road, Disciples, Preaching the Gospel, Covenants, Ruach HaKodesh, Hearts, and Weddings…Genesis to Revelation.. Everything is connected!

Other references…

First Fruits

50 Days Later-An Earthly and Spiritual Harvest: Pentecost-Shavuot

See post https://www.minimannamoments.com/seeing-jesus-on-the-way/

Please don’t leave this page before making certain Jesus/Yeshua 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.

It’s 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.

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.

50 Days Later-An Earthly and Spiritual Harvest: Pentecost-Shavuot

Now we are at the fourth Hebrew Feast called Shavuot in Hebrew and Pentecost in Greek, from the word for 50.

Pronounced sha-voo-ote.

In parts of Europe it is also known as Whitsun, Whit Sunday or Whitsuntide.

 

In Deuteronomy 16:16, 17 Shavuot is known as the Feast of Weeks in addition to being called first fruits.

The name Shavuot, comes from the word, weeks. In Hebrew, the word weeks is Strong’s 7620, Shaabu’ot.

It is not mentioned by name but referenced in John 5:1. So called because it falls exactly 7 weeks and one day after the first fruits of Unleavened Bread following Passover.

Shavout was the Holy day that launched the reaping of wheat, the summer harvest and the second first fruits of the year.

It was during this feast that God’s Holy Spirit filled them and they spoke in tongues and 3000 came to the Lord. They were the first fruits of the congregation of believers.

These 3000 were all Israelites/Jewish men and women who had come in obedience to Jerusalem.  This was one of the three pilgrimage festivals of: Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, where all Israelite males are to appear before God with offerings, and give according to his blessings. They came to see and be seen before the ‘face of God’ in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This was not a new Holy date for them, their ancestors had been obediently keeping this command since God gave the dates to Moses in Leviticus 23:15

This is why it is also the anniversary of the giving of the 10 Commandments and the Torah, (first five books of the old Testament), on Mount Sinai. Here, God’s covenant was made with the children of Israel to come and dwell with His presence among them, to be contained in the ark of the covenant. Ex.19:1

The Israelites accepted the covenant agreements and declared ‘all He has said we will do.’ It was in effect the marriage of God to His beloved Israel and Israel became a nation that day. A chosen generation, a people set apart to Him a Holy nation, a royal priesthood. Ex 19:6 ‘And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an Holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.’

For us as believers, grafted in by grace, Holy, sanctified, set apart as 1Pet 2:9 tells us;

‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an Holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.’

Everything is connected, when we only remember some parts of the Holy days, it does not make as much sense.

50 days earlier, The children of Israel sacrificed their first Passover lambs; ate their first meal consisting of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs; fled away from Pharaoh and the Egyptians; and emerged alive from the Red Sea, all in the first month (Aviv).  They traveled for the remainder of the first month and throughout all of the second month (Zif or Iyyar).  The day the children of Israel walked out of the Red Sea (Aviv 17) is counted as day one, then Sivan 1 would have been day 45 of their journey.  They then set up camp in front of Mount Sinai which, according to Gal. 4:25, is in (Saudi) Arabia.

Although not specifically stated, it was probably the next day (day 46) that Moses ascended the mountain to speak with God Ex.19:3-6; and the following day (day 47), Moses returned to the people and told them everything God had said (19:7).  The people agreed with what God had said, so the next day (day 48) Moses brought this information back to the Lord (19:8,9). 

The Lord told Moses to return to the people that very day (day 48) and “…consecrate them today and tomorrow…and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people” (19:10,11).  The third day (Sivan 6), then, would be the fiftieth day of their trek, beginning with the day they came up out of the Red Sea (Aviv 17). 

For Shavuot, it is added also that ‘you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt,’ (Deut 16:12). In reminding ourselves, we understand both the natural and spiritual meaning to what it means to be a ‘slave in Egypt.’ For us it was to have been, ‘In bondage to the ways of the world’, and without God’s provision through Jesus, we have no hope of gaining freedom, no promise of forgiveness of sin or redemption unto eternal life in the Fathers presence. 

God’s appearance upon Mount Sinai, on the sixth day of the sixth month (Sivan), was in a manner that the children of Israel would not soon forget: 

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.  Everyone in the camp trembled. …  Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire.

The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder.

Teeth, consume, destroy:sheen   –   alef:ox, bull, strength,leader, first

Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him (Ex.19:16,18,19).

The people were too awestruck and afraid to have God speak directly to them Ex 20:18; Deut 5:5. So, then and later, God spoke to Moses the Ten Commandments and the Law (the Torah):

the instructions and guidelines by which He wanted His people to live and the means by which sacrifices were to be presented.

This was a manifestation of the same fire Moses saw in Midian many years before.

While unleavened bread symbolizes Jesus’ sinless humanity (Luke 22:19),

 the two loaves used at Shavuot / Pentecost contain yeast and symbolize that the Body of Messiah Jesus (the congregation) would be made up of sinners as well.

The two loaves used at Shavuot also symbolize Jews and Gentiles, demonstrating the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham to bless all the nations through him (Gen. 12:3; see Gal. 3:26-28).

Here is also where the story of Ruth is remembered.

On the surface a seemingly simple story, however it is profound in depth. It describes the loyalty and kindness of the gentile Moabitess, who sought refuge under the wings of the Divine presence after the death of her Israelite husband. It is also the story of the Scripture guidance and nurturing provided by her mother-in-law. Further it is the account of the older judge who became her kinsman redeemer and from whose union emerged the hidden spark of the Messiah.

Boaz became Ruth’s ‘kinsman redeemer’, (a type of Jesus the Messiah). It was prophetic of the future ‘grafting in‘, of the gentiles. (Also called, the heathen or goyim and refers to all people from non-Israelite nations.)

Boaz was true to his responsibilities and married Ruth. They had a boy and named him Obed, (Oved). He was the father of Jesse, the father of David and therefore part of the ancestral line from which Jesus/Yeshua was descended.

(See video at end for more of the Ruth and Boaz story.)

We as gentiles, are indeed grafted in by grace to the royal household of Jesus the King of Kings. Everything is connected and not one story can be left out, nor does it stand alone.

 

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

An offering of two loaves of bread was made with fine flour and baked with leaven. The bread is to be waved as a wave offering before the Lord.  (Lev. 23:16,17,20).

‘bring two loaves made of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of first fruits to the Lord’ ( Lev. 23:17).

These loaves of leavened bread were significant as a ‘mikrah’ (rehearsal), of something that God had in mind for a time in the future.

This subtle instruction indicates a great truth.

These two ‘wave loaves’ are of equal weight and they are baked with leaven called ‘firstfruits.’  Since they are baked with leaven, they represent sinful man (certainly not, for example, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who are unleavened) and since they are ‘first fruits’, they are redeemed or resurrected men.  Obviously God was predicting here that the Body of Jesus would be comprised of two parts, Jew and Gentile, of course it was originally and has always been part Jewish, since the Lord inevitably retains a remnant of His People.

We are the ONE NEW MAN: Israelite/Jew and Gentile/Heathen TOGETHER

Eph. 2:15

 Counting the ‘days between’, the disciples continued in prayer. Acts 2:42; and waited obediently and patiently for Jesus had promised the Holy Spirit would come and live in believers’ hearts (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7), and He said it would happen soon after His ascension (Acts 1:4-5)

They were Preparing their hearts to receive the gift of Holy Spirit. The comforter, the One who comes alongside to help, to empower, to quicken us, and make us alive. 

Acts 2 records the fulfillment of Shavuot as the promised Holy Spirit descends, indwells believers and ushers in the church age, which we are still in.

Holy Spirit descended upon each of them with the same Holy fire that some 3300 years before, had protected their ancestors in the wilderness.

The same ‘fire’ from the mountain that had made Moses face shine.

Now 3300 (approx.) years later His presence is with them and each individual becomes the physical container of His Glory. 

On the Day of Pentecost, as descendants of the children of Israel from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem, they read, among other Scriptures, Ezek. 1:1-28 and 3:12; and Hab. 2:20 – 3:19. These passages speak of the brightness of God’s glory. Ezekiel heard wind and voices, and saw fire; later, he witnessed the departure of the Shekinah glory from the Temple.

There was expectation on this special day that the Shekinah glory would return and take its rightful place in the Temple’s Holy of Holies. But instead, as Luke records in Acts 2, there was wind, fire, and voices (the 120 speaking in tongues). Rather than returning to reside in the Temple, the Holy Spirit took up residence in the ‘temple of God’ (1 Cor. 3:16), the bodies of believers in Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. 

(Acts 2:5). When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues [languages] as the Spirit enabled them.

‘…there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  When they heard this sound [the speaking in tongues], a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language’. (Acts 2:5,6).

In this way, God began to use believers, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, to be His witnesses, beginning in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). The 3,000 saved on the Day of Pentecost were Jews. Filling them with a bold spirit that compelled them to testify of Him in joy and truth, preaching the good news to all who would listen. 

Just as faithful Israelites brought the first fruits of their wheat harvest to the Temple on Shavuot, so the 3,000 Jewish believers on the Day of Pentecost were the first fruits of the Body of Messiah, (the congregation/church).

Peters was ‘on fire’ for the Lord and his first sermon after Pentecost is recorded in Acts 2:1-41.

This feast is very much about those of us who are grafted in by His Grace.

Jesus/Yeshua and Pentecost/Shavuot

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, fulfilled the 4th Hebrew Spring festival at Pentecost.

The Feast of Weeks always had been considered a time of offering ‘firstfruits’ to the Lord. Lev 23:20; Num.28:26, just as the Feast of First fruits had been.  Similarly, Pentecost was the beginning of the Holy Spirit’s moving upon many people who would be the ‘first fruits’ from spiritual death—‘born again,’ as it were—into spiritual Life in Jesus. John 3:3-7.

At Mount Sinai, there was an unmistakable, extraordinary, supernatural manifestation of God, to those whom He had chosen to perceive it firsthand.  At that point in time, though, God still was ‘untouchable’; and the people were so afraid to hear God speak that Moses had to be the ‘mediator’ between God and the children of Israel.

In Jerusalem on Pentecost, the manifestation of God, in Holy Spirit, not only was perceived but also received by those who believed upon Jesus as Messiah and Lord.  Jesus, manifested in the Holy Spirit, was (and is) the ultimate “mediator” between God and His people.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that He was “…going to the Father” John 14:12, 28; 16:10. In other words, He was going to leave them by ascending into heaven (after His resurrection) to join God the Father.  Then He made this promise:

‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor [or Comforter] to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.  But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.  Because I live, you also will live.’ John 14:16-19.

Jesus said that He was leaving but that the Father would send another (the Counselor or Comforter) in His place.  But then Jesus said, ‘I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you and …you will see me’.  Later He said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’.  

How could this possibly be?  Was Jesus ‘coming or going’?

Actually, and wonderfully, He was going to do both. Holy Spirit would come to dwell within all believers, enabling them spiritually to ‘see’ Jesus, John 14:19.  There is not a thought, motive, purpose, or action that the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit do not share in common.  Therefore, when Jesus claimed that the Counselor (Holy Spirit) was coming, yet in another place implied that ‘He’ was coming, there was no contradiction; Jesus was (and is) present in and through the Holy Spirit of God.

Meaning of Pentecost

Finally, this ties counting the days and the two first fruits together. Just as Jesus ties His Resurrection, Ascension and the giving of the emersion of His Holy Spirit at the Feast of Weeks.

In the same way as the farmers could not use the wheat crop until the offering of the loaves; so also Jesus the Bread of Life, had to ascend, before the rest of ‘the grain’, (His disciples), could take Holy Spirit and be used in power as recorded in Acts 2.

After Pentecost they healed the sick, delivered the oppressed and raised the dead.

It was REAL and they were forever changed. When God truly touches your life you are never the same again. There is a fire in your heart and in your bones (Jer. 20:9), and nothing else but God will satisfy. (Ps. 90:14; 107:9)

The zeal of God consumed them, (Ps.69:9) and they were on fire, a fire that cannot be quenched, the same fire that burns but does not harm, like that which Moses saw in the burning bush.

The description is of tongues of fire upon each one and may seem a little strange as some artists depict it. However, when you experience the power of the living God it is unmistakable.

It is to the Jew first and then to the gentile (Rom 1:16; 2:10) and because of their obedience to the Lord’s commands and also because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are grafted in by His grace. (Rom. 11:17) This enables us to receive the benefits of salvation, forgiveness, mercy and the opportunity to be filled with His Holy Spirit.

His priceless gift is given to every believer. 

He did not come to abolish the law (Matt. 5:17) and as Jesus told the rich young ruler to keep the commandments, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:4–9; 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–43

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and let your desire be for Him. Jesus, the Father and Holy Spirit are one and with His indwelling power we are enabled to accomplish that which is not possible by our own abilities and strength.

For as Matt.19:26; Luke 18:27 remind us..

 The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

We can experience Pentecost every day and not for a purely personal experience but to empower us to do His will and fulfill the purpose for which we are reminded here, Exodus 8:1 .. I set you free to serve Me.

The same is also true for us. We are called to leave all our idols behind, which is often hard in this materialistic, Nikolatian, humanistic, leisure filled age. Old habits die hard! As with the children of Israel in the wilderness and we often fall short in our focus on material things, instead of doing the things Jesus brings out in Matthew 25:35.

Shavout is important to believers because it ties deliverance, freedom and salvation, celebrated at Passover with Jesus crucifixion, to His resurrection and firstfruits of unleavened bread. His ascension 40 days later and then his sending the emersion/saturation of Holy Spirit on the first fruits of Shavout giving us the power to live victorious lives and to witness to non-believers.

Jesus is the promise and reality of the 10 commandments made flesh.

 This does not mean these were the first people to receive the gift of eternal life, just that they were the first to obtain access to numerous gifts of the Holy Spirit.

When invited, God’s Holy Spirit dwells inside anyone who believes in Jesus’ physical, bodily resurrection from death, one who accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord of one’s life, and who looks forward with great anticipation to the miraculous resurrection and eternal perfection of one’s own body.  Paul said that “…we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom.8:23).

This post completes the 4 Spring Feasts series and all of them are relevant to us as Christian Believers.

Links for the other 3 at the bottom of the page or: https://www.minimannamoments.com/first-fruits/ 

Below is a short video presentation including Ruth and Boaz..

Shalom and Happy Shavuot to every reader!