On to the Omer! And Then... Pentecost!

We had such a meaningful time during the Lord's Spring Feasts which have just passed. But we are not finished yet!

{Original Photo Creative Commons by fredwlangjr.)

We are counting the Omer. This is our first year really learning about the Omer. We have been learning in stages, you see. Kind of like... taking baby steps. Yahweh is gently leading us and He has provided lovely friends in our lives to help us learn along the way. He has also provided our pastor and his wife to lead us in learning and understanding so many things. We are thankful for them all!

Now, we are aware that people have different understandings about when to begin counting the Omer. And quite frankly, we are only beginning our studies on this whole event so we don't have enough information from studying yet to be able to see what we understand from Scripture ourselves. Nevertheless, beginning to count the Omer at one time or another is not a salvation issue. We are all doing the best we can to learn and apply as we understand. The Lord's Feasts are like rehearsals for us- appointed times which we worship Him in Spirit and in Truth according to how He instructs His people to (John 4:24).

What is the Omer?

In short, an omer is a measurement of barley (a half gallon of barley to be exact). Why barley? Well, the cereal harvest began on the first day of the week following Passover (Pesach). The grain was sown in winter and barley was the first to ripen.

You remember that there was a Temple? Well, on the Feast of Firstfruits the sheaf was reverently cut. Then the barley was removed and filled a bowl. After this, it was taken to the Temple. It's a symbolic way of presenting to the Lord of the harvest- expressing thankfulness. And this is the day the counting of the Omer began.

So, counting the Omer is a verbal counting each of the 50 days between the Lord's Feasts of Pesach (Passover) and Shavu'ot (Pentacost). We do this because, well, God/Yahweh tells His people to do this (Leviticus 23:10-11,16). 

If you are new to my blog, you may not know that we are not Jews. Our family is Christian. But we are learning our Bible Roots and wanting to follow the teachings of Scripture vs. man-made traditions for worshiping God/Yahweh.

We are, after all, no longer Gentiles (another word for pagans). As such, having come to the faith through Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah, we are now grafted onto that Cultivated Olive Tree that the Apostle Paul teaches us about in Romans 11:17. Therefore, we have come to the understanding that we, too, are a part of Israel- this is the Cultivated Olive Tree we are grafted on to.

Why do We Count the Omer? 

First, we are told by God/Yahweh to do so. 

It leads up to Pentecost. 

And amazingly, Shavu'ot coincides with Pentecost. I recently learned about this! 

You'll remember that God/Yahweh led the Israelites out of Egypt through the wilderness to Mount Sinai- directly after Passover. It was seven weeks later that He gave them a set of laws (instructions) to live by. The instructions are good for us, too. They help to govern our relationship with Him and with each other- juts like it was meant to for the Israelites back then.

Now, skipping ahead a bit to the Apostolic books of the Bible,  we learn that Jesus/Yeshua was the Passover Lamb of God/Yahweh. He was the Firstfruits- raised on the day of Firstfruits (not Easter which does not have its origins from God). Jesus/Yeshua was in the garden, after He raised, gathering the wave offering because He fulfilled the role of High Priest. He is our High Priest! 

Now, counting the Omer (50 days) after Yeshua was raised on Firstfruits, the followers of Jesus/Yeshua were celebrating the Feast of Shavu'ot (the last of the Lord's Spring Feasts). And this, known in the Apostolic Scriptures as Pentecost, is when God/Yahweh gave the gift of His Holy Spirit to them! 

So What's the Big Deal About These 50 Days?

Well, they lead us up to The Lord's Feast of Pentecost. And as such, they are a time for us to prepare spiritually for the dual celebration: 1. When God/Yahweh gave the 10 Commandments (10 Instructions) to the Israelites and 2. When He poured out His Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus/Yeshua.

As we count the Omer, we mark off each day that passes. Just like we tend to do as we lead up to other events we are excited about and looking forward to. :-)

We like to read passages in Psalm as we lead up to Pentecost.

Do You See the Connections?

I find this so exciting! 

What we learn in the Old Testament is not just random historical information for us to read through. It's not just a bunch of interesting events and facts. It's deeper than all of that.

Passover, First Fruits and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were foreshadows of Yeshua our Messiah! Even the Omer and the handing down of Yahweh's instructions were shadows of Yahweh pouring out His Holy Spirit on His people- His followers. The Holy Spirit helps us to discern His instructions.

Everything down to the finest details about these feasts apply to the foreshadows (pictures) of what was to come.
 

Are You Excited, too?

It excites me because I see the unfolding of God/Yahweh's plan that He had there in place all along. It's all so Providential and beautiful! It excites me because it solidifies everything about Jesus/Yeshuah being the Messiah! I have not lacked faith though it has increased my faith! It builds our confidence in Him more.

And these are shadows (pictures) of things to come. It's exciting to think about His return and to understand that we will be celebrating these Feasts with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Well, there is probably so much more that I don't even know about. Every year as we celebrate the Lord's Feasts, I learn more. 

Are you looking for a resource to learn from? I recommend, "Celebrating Biblical Feasts in Your Home or Church" by Martha Zimmerman as a starting point.

Blessings to you!