In Leviticus 23, there are three major pilgrimage feasts that Adonai commands the Israelites to observe: Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. In English, we know these as Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These translated names make sense when you think about them... Passover is called such because the Angel of Death passed over the homes of the obedient. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is because we spend eight days eating nothing with leavening in it. The Feast of Tabernacles is when we celebrate by actually building and living inside temporary booths. But what is a Feast of Weeks? And why does it matter so much?
Shavuot is known as the Feast of Weeks because it counts up the weeks after Pesach. This act of counting is called the Counting of the Omer. (You can read more about that here.) For seven weeks, we live in a place of anticipation - waiting and watching for what Adonai is going to do. As I've written about before, these Pilgrimage Feasts are appointed times for the people of Adonai to purposefully meet Him in the place where He dwells. Much like an appointment for life-saving surgery or a job interview, thesemoedim aren't considered optional for the Children of Israel. And, frankly, who would want to miss an appointment with the God of All Creation?
So, as we count these weeks, we traditionally spend time remembering the things that God has given us during Shavuot in the past.
The very first Shavuot was when Adonai gave His people the Ten Words, commandments to live by in the wake of their escape from slavery. If you think about it, the Children of Israel had spent 400 years enslaved to the Egyptians. That was 400 years of Egyptian culture, religion, and expectations woven throughout their generations. But on Mount Sinai, Adonai changed all that by His own hand. Like a line in the sand, Adonai gave the Children of Israel a new set of guidelines. What a tremendous kindness! When we're given boundaries, we thrive! And from the time of Moses, year after year, the Children of Israel have often spent the night leading up to Shavuot as a special vigil - reading the Torah throughout the night to remind themselves of the gift that is God's Word.
Equally as important was the first Shavuot after Yeshua's resurrection. Most believers in Messiah know this as Pentecost, or the giving of the Holy Spirit. When the disciples sat in the Upper Room, they did so because they knew it was a time of waiting and watching for God's next big move. So, with the outpouring of the Ruach Ha-Kodesh, Adonai provided an amendment to His guidelines. But this time the guidelines were for molding His people after His own character, not just as representatives of His Name on the Earth.
The Holy Spirit, the Great Comforter, being alive and active within people results in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. These character changes set us free from the bondage of unforgiveness and slavery to our own wants and desires. So as we anticipate this year's Shavuot, consider what big move you're waiting on from Adonai. What do you need to be given in order to flourish in the year to come?
Take time during this season of waiting and watching to get excited about your future! Because God has a future and a hope - just for you!
For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declaresAdonai, “plans forshalomand not calamity—to give you a future and a hope.
- Jeremiah 29:11
If you want to learn more, watch our shavuot podcast below:
