The beautiful Festival of Passover marks the beginning of the Redemption story. On the very first Passover, God’s people were set free from bondage and the sinful lifestyle in which they found themselves. They were called out of Egypt and were free men, but freedom without responsibility is not true freedom. It was not until they stood at Mt Sinai 50 days later and experienced the dramatic descent of God on the mountain and said yes to receiving His Divine Instructions, that they became a set apart holy people. Lev 20:26 reads “You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” Paul explains the principle in his letter to Timothy, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life” 2 Timothy 1:9.
The encounter at the mountain and the giving of the Torah is generally known as Shavuot which means ‘Weeks’ because it occurs at the end of a 7 week period in which the days are marked by a blessing each evening, “You shall count seven weeks for yourself…” (Deuteronomy 16:9). This year, the Jewish world celebrates Shavuot on 25th and 26th May.
Shavuot was the time of the first fruits harvest, another cause for celebration and interestingly, unlike other sacrifices which were to be leaven free, two loaves of bread containing leaven were presented before the LORD (Leviticus 23:17). Early Church leaders saw the two loaves representing a redeemed people of both Jew and Gentile, with the leaven representing their imperfection.
It was at this time, that God poured out His Spirit on the followers of the risen Jesus and 3,000 that day believed in him as Messiah. A first fruits harvest indeed.
Jurgen Buhler writes: “The Biblical Feast of Shavuot, The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, is one of the three times in the year when the people of Israel were required by God to come up to Jerusalem for a holy assembly.”
Read more about Shavuot and Pentecost below ⬇️
This week’s Biblical & Prophetic Teaching Webinar is “Shavuot: The Feast of Pentecost” hosted by ICEJ Vice President and Senior Spokesperson David Parsons, featuring Malcolm Hedding, an International Speaker for ICEJ.
Shabbat Shalom,
Sarah Way
ICEJ Australia National Director