Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.
The season of Passover/Pesach
includes the week of Unleavened Bread
and the start of the Counting FROM the Omer
50 days towards Pentecost/Shavuot.
Some scholars say The Omer is counted every evening after nightfall, from the second night of Passover/Pesach, until the night before Shavuot/Pentecost.
There are disputes as to which day is the first day, and this has been going on since before Jesus/Yeshuas’ time; and can be studied further if the reader so desires.
Here is given a basic understanding of
thepattern
a reason to follow the main outlines for personal growth;
and
to remember and realize what Messiah has accomplished for us.
The 2 links given above have more details concerning the Omer.
The Book of Leviticus, ספר ויקרא
Vayik’ra 23:9 – 16
From the day after the Shabbat for 49 days.
In chp. 23 after the 7 day feast of
unleavened bread/Matzah
which western Christianity totally misses…
we come to a moed/appointed time
that does not have a name.
However the scripture says that at this moed or appointed time the children of Israel are commanded, notice it is not a suggestion! They are commanded to bring
an omer to the priests.
An omer is simply a sheaf;
specifically a bundle of grain
from the beginning of the first crop or harvest.
Which was most likely barley see Exodus/sh’mot 9:31…
Shemot, Shemoth, or Shemos
שְׁמוֹת Hebrew for: Names,
Book of Exodus.
…referring to the names of the Israelites who come to Egypt with Jacob.
The priest is then to
wave the omer
before Adonai/Lord God, as a
wave offering,
so that the omer
and the entire harvest will be accepted.
Note on Leviticus 8:27:
He then put all these on the hands of Aaron and on the hands of his sons and presented them as a wave offering before the LORD.
Moses took the sacred portions of the peace offering along with the breads of the grain offering and placed them into the hands of Aaron and his sons. (See previous post for more detail). As they held the sacred elements, Moses presented them as a grain offering, implying that Moses must have joined hands with the priests in holding these elements. Hand in hand with Moses, still clutching the sacred portions of the sacrifices in their hands, the new priests offered the elements before God in a wave offering.
Facing the Sanctuary/Mishkan where the shekinah presence of the Father rested, they lifted the portions before the Almighty.
Then Moses took the elements back from the new priests and offered them up on the altar.
This has a Messianic implication for believers!
People may often feel unworthy to pray/talk with the Father, and sometimes people find it difficult to lift his or her heart to heaven.
We ask ourselves, how can we even dare to approach the Father when we are bowed down with the shame of sin and guilt?
Lets think on this as we approach our Heavenly Father in worship and in prayer, offering before Him the service of our hearts, the scarred hands of our High Priest/Messiah Jesus/Yeshua join with ours to lift the offering/presentation before the Father.
He lifts our hands together with His
in a wave offering
before the Almighty! Wow!
We are to understand the pattern
that our Heavenly Father set in place by WAY
of His Appointed Times/Feasts/Moedim,
which were given to us as
an annual rehearsal
for the future fulfillment by Messiah.
This was what Yeshua/Jesus completed
He was the
first fruit
the omer of the harvest of souls
presented to His Father
so that the entire harvest
all those who in the then future and still continuing today
would be acceptable to the Father. Wow!
Then from the day of your
bringing in the omer of the wave offering
count 50 days
and you will bring near a new offering to Adonai.
Vayikra 23; 15,16
The Book of Leviticus, ספר ויקרא
‘Va•ik•ra,’ means ‘And [the Lord] called,
Hebrew: ויקרא, Wayiqra,
This was the precursor to
Shavuot/Pentecost
and the outpouring of
His Ruach HaKodesh
upon all flesh
fulfilling Joels prophecy of
the last days/end times/ end of the age.
This Shavuot was preceded by
the day of the wave offering and
49 days were to be counted forward to
bringing the new offering from the wheat harvest.
shmot 34:2
and on that day 3000 souls were added…
There is an inference to the time of counting, that the wheat crops are continuing to grow and ripen but will be ready for harvest when the counting is complete!
It also ensures the correct time (agriculturally), for the farmers to harvest the crops.
A further prophetic picture emerges if we recall that Egypt/מצרים (mitsrayim / meets-rah-yeem), is the type of the world system. This was where both the children of Israel/Yisrael, and ourselves have been freed from its’ slavery; and the one who had prepared the way for them to sojourn and be safe during the plagues so long before was Joseph. Joseph, a type of Jesus/Yeshua who had the dream of the 12 sheafs bowing /waving to his sheaf. The 12 tribes did bow down to Joseph, the type of Messiah; and One day every knee shall bow to the One who was the fulfillment of the Omer, the Wave offering before the Lord/Adonai.
Some call this day
Yom haBikurim/bikuriym Day of the First Fruits.
The scripture 23:9 does not mention bikuriym
which is the word often translated as
first fruits
in verse 10 is actually
reshiyt which means beginning
(familiar from bereshiyt/Genesis) .
The day following the first day of
Unleavened Bread
is called
Yom HaBikkurim י ום הביכורים
the Day of Firstfruits,
or
Reshit Ha’Katzir ראשית הקציר
the first of the harvest.
Reishit Qatzir ראשׁית קציר
The spring-time feast of Reishit Qatzir
Beginning of the Harvest
Numbers/B’midbar 28:26 clearly says that
Shavuot/Pentecost the moed/appointed time,
occurring 50 days later
is yom habikuriym ..
Shmot 23:16 and vayikra 23:17
also agree that
bikuriym
in this context is associated with
Shavuot/Pentecost.
Walking through the spring feasts moedim /mo’ediym we see a picture of our own walk with Messiah.
At Pesach/Passover, we are reminded of how we are set free from the bondage of sin;
then during the feast of matzah/unleavened bread, we have the chance to practice walking in our unleavened state/without sin.
As we continue towards Shavuot/Pentecost, we can count from the Omer. We are like the crops of wheat growing towards maturity, ultimately to become an abundant harvest for the Lord/Adonai.
Some important themes or subject matter for this season would be: sowing
growing
increase
being fed and nourished by His word
and
being mindful and focused
of how we are growing towards maturity in Him.
This time is often referred to as:
s’fiyrat haomer – counting the omer;
this is not exactly correct as it is
not the omers being counted but the days, that is:
the days from the day of the first offering of the Omer.
We should therefore say
counting FROM the omer
s’fiyrat meomer /sefirat ha-omer
מרעמ ספירת
The counting is to begin
according to scripture the 16th day of the first month.
Which is the first day after the first day of matzah/unleavened bread.
Yom haBikkurim /Day of the First Fruits
is at the same time.
Counting of the Omer
סְפִירַת הָעוֹמֶר,
Sefirat HaOmer,
sometimes abbreviated as
Sefira or the Omer;
is always on 16th of Nisan /Aviv.
From sunset to sunset and is counted AFTER sunset.
This מִצְוָה – mits-vah – command, decree; derives from the Torah commandment to count forty-nine days beginning from the day on which the עֹמֶר oh-mer – omer is offered.
The week of matzah unleavened bread
together with the
counting from the omer
is part of the
spiritual preparation
prior to the outpouring of His Spirit of Holiness 50 days after His Resurrection at Pentecost/Shavuot.
They had to wait in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim which would have been very dangerous for the Talmidim/Disciples of Messiah. However they were obedient and received the fullness of His Spirit/Ruach, to empower them to go out into all the world with the good news and make disciples/talmidim of all nations…….
Each year this is a great opportunity for every believer who wants to walk as His disciple/talmid
to do a spiritual check up.
We willingly get physical/medical check ups and its often required by employers/insurers. We get our vehicles/cars/transport checked regularly change the oil and tires yet we often neglect the most important area of our life and that is where we are spiritually.
This is an important if not a critical point of assessment and we tend to keep going along, without checking ourselves to see if we are still in the right condition to continue the journey as well as the right direction. We could even check our own oil level and pressure! For a car it’s important that the oil lubricates the engine parts, stopping friction from overheating and blowing up; and that there is the right amount so the engine does not dry out and seize up. So an annual spiritual checkup is just as critical for us and we should not leave it just for one time a year; however, this is a good time to do a personal one. Spiritual maintenance helps to prevent burnout when we will become unable to function effectively in our own lives and of little to no use in aiding and serving others.
How does Adam figure in this?
Take a trip all the way back in Genesis/B’resheet to the time when our Heavenly Father called to Adam in the garden, asking:
Where are you?
Genesis 3:9
It was not that He didn’t know where Adam was physically because Our Heavenly Father knows and sees everything and nothing takes Him unawares.
Adams new spiritual condition was not a surprise to the Father but He wanted Adam to own up as to what had happened to him spiritually after he was disobedient and fell in sin.
We could and should put our own name in that very searching question….
Where are we?
Right now today ….where are we?
Our Heavenly Father is asking us
about our spiritual condition
and
about our position in covenant relationship with Him.
Where are we spiritually?
Are we still on the narrow Way?
We may be doing great in the natural sense, everything may be going along fine. Or we may be filled with our own ways, our own goals and dreams; and not pressing in to the things of Jesus the Messiah/Yeshua, as we know to do if we are to call ourselves His talmidim/disciple.
So there is somewhat of a connection with Adam and Omer in that, Adam needed to check his spiritual condition and do what he was required to do on his part to fix that broken fellowship caused by his sin.
In the same way we are to take the time to assess our spiritual position before the Father and refresh our relationship in covenant with Him by the power of His Ruach haKodesh/Spirit of Holiness. This is a time of turning towards the Father, a time of introspective teshuvah /repentance.
As we count from the omer it’s a time of
reflection and growth
in preparation for
Shavuot/Pentecost/Feast of Weeks.
When we also remember Moses/the Giving of Torah and the celebration of covenant/marriage with the children of Israel who had just come out of bondage and needed guidelines for life/chaim.
According to the Torah (first 5 books of the old covenant), it took seven weeks for the Israelites to travel from Egypt to Mount Sinai.
The name Shavuot/Pentecost, meaning “weeks,”
refers to this seven-week period.
Each day is counted, which is known as the Counting of the Omer, or Sefirat HaOmer.
In the days of the Temple, the counting marked the seven weeks from the wheat harvest on the spring festival of Passover, to the harvesting of barley on Shavuot.
Festival of Reaping – חגהקציר (Exodus 23:16)
The Three Pilgrimage Festivals,
in Hebrew Shalosh Regalim (שלוש רגלים),
are three major festivals in Judaism
Pesach (Passover),
Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost),
and Sukkot (Tabernacles, Tents or Booths)
when all ancient Israelites who were able would make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem, as commanded by the Torah.
Each of the three pilgrimage festivals marks a new period in the agricultural season:
Passover is also known as Chag ha-Aviv, the Spring Festival, which marks the beginning of the new planting season. The basic meaning of the word aviv, is the stage of growth in grain when the seeds have reached full size but have not yet dried.
Chag ha-Katzir, or the Jewish Harvest Festival of Reaping, is when the first crop of the season is ready. This happens at the time of Shavuot.
The next agricultural step is for all of the crops to be gathered. This happens with the third pilgrimage festival, Sukkot, which is also referred to as the Festival of Gathering, Chag Ha-Asif.
Day of the First Fruits – יוםהבכורים (Numbers 28:26)
Yom Habikurim (Day of the First Fruits) comes from ancient times, when people would bring Bikkurim, their first and best fruits, as an offering to the Holy Temple. Bikkurim were brought from the Seven Species for which the land of Israel is praised: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates (Deuteronomy 8:8).
Shavuot and Pentecost
The Greek name for the Shavuot holiday, Pentecost, means “Fiftieth day.” This name refers to the fifty days between Passover and Shavuot.
See other posts for more detail.
The scripture
teach us to number our days
takes on a new meaning in light of
counting from the omer.
Counting 49 or 7 weeks 7×7 is like counting a complete cycle counting 7x shabbats/Sabbaths. Weekly Shabbat is a cycle straight from Genesis and 7×7 is also like a cycle. The Moedim/Appointed Times of The Lord, and His set apart people, is an annual cycle following a planned specific pattern repeated, so we will remember His instructions,His Patterns that we are to follow –
fulfilled in Jesus/Messiah
that we may continue to remember and
follow the pattern, the WAY. Come Follow Me!
One final thought is that it was during these days of
counting from the omer
that the risen/resurrected Messiah Yeshua
was seen by His talmidim /disciples. John 20:19-25.
It is recorded that Messiah stayed forty days after His resurrection on this earth. He met with His talmidim/disciples again on the mount of Olives and ordered them to wait until they received His Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit.
This has to be significant because nothing is happenstance with our Heavenly Father. There indeed is something about this period of time between His Resurrection and the giving/outpouring of His Spirit that is so prophetic and powerfilled that it should give us great pause for thought!
He also appeared to so many other people.
Mary of Magdala Mark 16:9
Joanna Mary mother of James Matthew 28:9
the 2 on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:13-32
References include: the gospels. Matt 28:8-10. Mark
Peter had also met the risen Christ. Luke 24:34.
Eight days later again Messiah manifested Himself before His disciples/talmidim, and this time Thomas was there and he touched Yeshua/Jesus and believed Him from that moment. John 20:26-31
The third time Messiah came to meet His talmidim/disciples where they were on the seashore and He had breakfast with them.
He also showed another miracle by telling them to cast the net and the net was full of around 153 fish. John 21
There are references both in John and in Acts.
Jesus/Yeshua ascended to heaven after this meeting with His disciples. Acts 1:3-12.
Messiah appeared five times on the first day of the week. He continued to meet His disciples and teach them during the forty days between Passover/Pesach and His Ascension.
Saint Augustine in his book
De Consensu Evangelistarum
(Harmony of the Gospels from about AD 400)
catalogues ten appearances of Christ.
1st to the women at the sepulchre;
2nd to the same on the way from the sepulchre;
3rd to Peter;
4th to the two disciples going to the town of Emmaus
5th to several of them in Jerusalem when Thomas was not present
He came again a 6th time when Thomas saw Him
7th time was by the sea of Tiberias at the capture of the fishes;
the 8th was on the mountain of Galilee, according to Matthew;
the 9th occasion is expressed by Mark, ‘at length when they were at table,’ because no more were they going to eat with Him upon earth;
the 10th was on the very day, when no longer upon the earth, but uplifted into the cloud, He was ascending into heaven.
However, Saint Thomas Aquinas notes, “But, as John admits, not all things were written down. And He visited them frequently before He went up to heaven,” in order to comfort them. Hence it is written (1 Corinthians 15:6-7) that “He was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once . . . after that He was seen by James”; of which apparitions no mention is made in the Gospels.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11, it is recorded that Messiah was seen by over 500 people at one time after His resurrection. Over a period of 40 days up to the day Yeshua/Jesus went back Home He was seen by, and talked to a number of individuals. He said He would come back the same way He went to Heaven.
From the very B’resheet/Genesis – beginning we were created to walk before the Father in obedience to His statutes, ordinances and ways.
The first Adam failed – the last Adam succeeded
and showed us the WAY back to the Father, the truth/emet of our condition and the life/chaim that we can live and have because of His sacrifice.
He was also
The Unleavened Bread from heaven
The Omer that was waved and
The Firstfruits from the dead.
And furthermore counting from the
Omer to Shavuot
He is the outpouring ON the harvest
through His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach HaKodesh.
This was so He could be with us always even to the end of the age; empowering all believers who unlike the first Adam, will choose to be obedient and follow Him.
50 days for us to reflect and repent and be ready for the outpouring that we will remember at Pentecost/Shavuot; refreshing and reviving us again to be witnesses to Him as He has commanded us.
Time to consider our ways
and choose life.
The question that Adam and Eve were asked still applies, because the very same question that He asked mankind in the Beginning, (B’reshyt/Genesis), is the same question He is asking mankind today!
Where are you?
So it would seem there is a connection between
Adam and Omer…
Let us allow the re-newed spirit imparted to us by the last Adam direct our steps these next days as we count them from Omer; not as a religious observance, but as one
desiring the fullness
of all Messiah won for us at Calvary
so we can be effective and bring glory
to the Name above every name.
Father teach us to count our days!
and let’s…
Make each and every day count!
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם,
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim/friends and mishpachah/family!
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,
you are greatly loved and prayed for daily.
Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation.
Let the deep inner knowing that you are sealed to the day of redemption by the Blood of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua bring you His shalom right now!
Not sure ..you can be…
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and soon returning King
and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua 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/Yeshua 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/Yeshua 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/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
From previous posts most readers will recognize that
a nun or noon;
different spellings are used.
is the 14th letter of the Hebrew alef-bet
and that it looks like this in the chart below.
The early paleo picture symbol meaning of this letter is that of a seedling/sprouting seed with the root coming from it
later it developed into
this modern shape below;
with an additional shaped letter for the
called noon sofeet;
and the symbol of a fish was also used.
In the 4 gospels
Yeshua/Jesus repeatedly speaks of the seed
as a picture reference in His parables.
Matt 13:23 Mark 4:1-20 Luke 8:1-15
are well known and popular scriptures, and with the reference Yeshua/ Jesus gives,
it is made clear how the seed grows and how
we have nothing to do with the process
once we sow the seed.
However how does this apply to our lives?
It tells us …
Although the man does not know how it grew
and we are just the same…
Many times we understand the concept. The parable or scene described is a great picture and then we are left to wonder how does this apply to me and how do I do it?
How does it become a reality in my life?
Many times the Sermons we hear are all very encouraging and uplifting and we feel great, only to have the feelings fade once we go home and face daily life.
The application of His Word needs to be evident if we are to mature and bring forth a harvest that is not only a good harvest; but an enduring one with eternal value.
That your fruit may remain. John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:
John 15:16
Your fruit should remain means:
keep up the fruit you are bearing, or
continue with the fruit you are bearing and never stop,
or keep on bearing the fruit you have started bearing.
The phrase: Your fruit should remain, expresses habit.
A habit is something we do so often and regularly that it is very hard to stop.
We should feel like this regarding the work of the Lord.
The word says we are to sow seed.
God is the supplier of all seed (Nun/Noon)
He cannot supply seed to us unless we are first born again by His RuachHaKodesh/His Spirit of Holiness; and then we need to have faith to turn over our hands, so that the seed might fall to the ground and become a great harvest in our lives.
He gives to all the measure of Faith.
After that it doesn’t need our help
it’s not the seed or the one who sows that produces the crop
but the soil by itself
with no help from humans.
The Father gives the increase.
We believe that since something grows where we scattered, that it grew from our seed.
What proof is there that the seed we scattered and planted is the same seed that sprouts and grows?
First the stalk
after that the head
and after that
the full grain in the head.
The truth is that from the moment it leaves our hand and is covered with soil we do not see the seed again. We just trust that the seed we sowed is the same seed that will grow is and is the one that pushes up through the earth.
This evidence is only based on circumstances because the truth is, once the seed leaves our hands and is put in the soil we never see the seed again!
All we can do is simply trust/faith, that what we planted will actually grow.
We wait,
we sleep at night,
awake in the day
but how does it grow?
We just don’t know!
Our work was finished at the sowing.
This parable is a picture of the kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed on the earth.
Meaning the kingdom produces through its’ own power.
Scripture says
BY ITSELF
the soil produces a crop
but the soil by itself
with no help from any person.
For by itself the earth brings forth fruit.
The person’s work has already been done by scattering the seed on the ground.
This is all the individual does and as the days pass the seeds springs up and grows.
Another verse of this parable says the seed is the Word of God and the ground/earth are the individuals who are in the world and their reaction to the word/ seed sown once embedded in its birthing place;
and the type of ground/ is the persons life.
The ground is the world.
The sower is our Heavenly Father.
Yeshua/Jesus explained it clearly.
Life springs forth –that life comes from the soil of the earth which our Father created.
In this parable/example He says:
First, the stalk
this is describing and likening his kingdom to the support structure planted deep in the life giving soil.
There is a Godly order to everything our Heavenly Father created; everything in its timeand season.Eccl.3 and Genesis 1
Yeshua/ Jesus was aware of timing and said:
My time has not yet come.
Secondly, after that the head:
which is the housing for the fruit of the crop.
The process continues, with
the third, after that the full grain in the head
Here He is giving the progress of the seed,
both as
how it is received
and then
what is produced.
Meaning, the fruit comes forth in abundance.
Here we see that in perfect time Godly order that
life gives way to fullness
and the seedling grows to maturity.
For the believer maturity is revealed by abundant fruit.
Becoming mature is to become a stable vessel fit for the Masters use.
Why is this important?
It is for Him to flow His power through us to do the works of Jesus/ the Father, the power is to make visible the works of His kingdom in visible demonstration.
This is how to apply it to ourselves we need more of His Spirit of Holiness to cleanse us and prepare us to be suitable vessels.
As it was said of Paul in
Acts 9:22more and more power flowed through him.
(Acts 9:20) Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
How do we produce lasting fruit and what is it?
Lasting fruit is in Matt.10:8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.
And Matt.28:19
AND The making of disciples who endure.
Making disciples is about continuing the cycle of redemption, passing on the faith that was passed to us; it starts with salvation and continues with a lifetime of growth.
The final destiny of the seed is realized from its humble beginning/Genesis, in the sowers hand, it has reached its potential in fullness.
However it has not yet served its ultimate purpose even in its most pristine and grandest state..
Why?
Because it cannot grow anymore… the maturity has been reached….
So what is next?
The crop is ready… the harvest is ripe
The farmer, the man, sends forth the sickle and
life gives birth to death.
The crop is cut down in its prime and
now able to finally fulfill its destiny and purpose.
This is the completion of a disciples life on earth…
as we give
birth to death, our purpose here is completed,
we die physically/ temporarily
in order to live spiritually/ eternally!
It is a transition from natural to supernatural, we are harvested by His hand and translated into His eternal kingdom in the heavens.
At the point we can go no further, when we reach the point of maturity in Him, which is destined by His plan and purpose for us. He calls us to Himself and we are plucked from the earth and gathered unto Him.
Our task complete,
once we have finished our race
He takes us home.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 2Thess. 2:1
He gathers the wheat into His barn/storehouse.
Matthew 3:12
We, like the farmers seed, have been scattered on the ground; but He is calling us today to sprout and grow.
How… we don’t know!
But by itself… His spirit…
His Ruach HaKodesh
His Spirit of holiness produces a crop!
The Lord is calling us to lay down our lives
for the time is at hand
when the head will be full of grain.
The time of the harvest has come and as soon as it is in full ripeness and ready… He will come with His sickle.
We must yield ourselves and be ready to die in order to live because the time of the harvest has come and the Lord of the harvest is coming.
For He [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender shoot (plant), And like a root out of dry ground; Is 53:2
Surely he has borne our sicknesses and suffered our pain: and we considered him stricken, smitten of God, and cast down.
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. – American Standard Version Job 14:2
Just as He grew up to be cut down
so must we grow up to be cut down.
First, we are to mature to the fullest and be taken and used for his purposes.
We are to surrender to Him because
we cannot know how seeds sprout and grow..
Only He can do that in us;
and only as we surrender and yield to His Way of raising and growing us up to maturity; allowing His Ruach/Spirit to do the hidden work in us and then through us.
We must realize we are not here for ourselves, to live a nice life, we are here to be matured into fruit worthy of the kingdom of the Heavens. We’re not to focus on things and people and places of this earth because it will all pass away very soon. We must focus on Him, on fulfilling our place and purpose, to bring Him glory and to bring many sons with us from the seeds sown.
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Heb.2:10
Every farmer/ gardener knows, we plant and watch and wait for the fruits and crops to be declared ready and ripe before reaping the harvest.
Wrong timing means a poor harvest;
which is why He waits for the precious fruit of the earth.
In Luke 6:37
But as soon as the crop is ready to yield itself, immediately the man sends forth the sickle because the harvest has come.
The only seed that flourished and produced any fruit
was the seed that fell into
good ground.
If we are not planted in the good ground of His Word – found in His kingdom, then we will neither grow to maturity nor produce any lasting fruit that will endure or bring glory to the Lord.
Our life will be fruitless and as Solomon said, all is Vanity – in vain, without purpose and useless.
Time to ready ourselves and let His Ruach Ha Kodesh
do the work in and through us,
making sure our lives are good ground.
May His true Shalom/Peace
rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.
‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’
משפחה
Mish-pa-KHa Mish-pa-KHa
you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua 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/Yeshua 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/Yeshua 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/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
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:
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.
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
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]
The Days of Omer 
Time to consider our ways 
The value of an Omer.
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