Former & Latter
Feast of Weeks
Passport Destination No. 4
From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord. [...] When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 23:15-17,22
God's Plan for Redemption
God grants redemption to those who become one in Him
Story Destinations:
The Story of Ruth &
The Sending of
the Holy
Spirit
The Story of Ruth
As we recall the story of Ruth, many of us imagine fields, reaping, baskets of grain, and the threshing floor. These iconic pictures of Ruth place us right between Feast of Firstfruit (when the barley harvest ripens) to Feast of Weeks (49 days later which begins the wheat harvest). The relationships depicted in Ruth provide parallel insights into our relationships with God and each other.
Ruth was a foreigner (Gentile) to the land of Israel, yet because of Naomi's heritage of faith as a Jew, Ruth came to know the God of Israel as the one true and living God. Her allegiance to Naomi was much more than just love for Naomi, it was a declaration of personal faith and belief in God. Gentiles had once been considered foreigners to the faith but through Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, all Gentiles are welcome into the family of God when they become followers of Christ.
The Feast of Weeks was God's way of reminding the people of Israel that they are stewards of the gospel (fields) and are strictly responsible for sharing with the poor, widows, and foreigners. Keeping the Feast of Weeks meant intentionally leaving the corners of your field for the poor to reap. If you are familiar with the story, Boaz's obedience to this instruction led to blessings beyond his imagination. Through the marriage of Boaz and Ruth, a Jew and Gentile, they became one family and ancestors of Yeshua (Jesus)!
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It doesn't matter who you are, your heritage, whether you are a son or a daughter, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, the story of Ruth beautifully demonstrates that the family of God is one in faith, love, and obedience to the one, true and living God. Through the ultimate obedience of Yeshua, all may be redeemed and brought into one new family by faith!
The Sending of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost is a word used to describe the time between the Sabbath before Firstfruits and the day after the 7th Sabbath. This day, also called the Feast of Weeks, was celebrated since the time of Moses, but this year was different. Yeshua told them to wait for Feast of Weeks then ascended back to heaven. While they obeyed Yeshua's instruction to wait, no one could have imagined what they experienced that day!
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This Feast of Weeks was monumental. For the first time ever, people of all languages heard the gospel...a gospel invitation through the Jews to the Gentiles! This miraculous event was the gift of the Holy Spirit, sent as a guarantee that Yeshua would one day return. God's instructions which were written and hidden on stone tablets was suddenly released to be written on men's hearts. God's commands were never meant to be hoarded, concealed, or mistreated by religious leaders. They were to be taught and followed for the protection and provision of all people, both Israel and its foreigners. Israel, the primary steward of the LORD's commands, was now and forever indebted to the Holy Spirit.
Now Boarding for Feast of Weeks
Attention all family members...Now is the time to get those passports out and look at your Feast of Weeks itinerary. You will see a list of suggested destination experiences for you and your family to choose from and complete in order to earn your Weeks stamp. Enjoy this journey together and check back here when you are ready to plan your next Biblical holiday destination. Remember to contact your tour guide (me!) if you have any questions along the way.
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