Shavuot and Waiting
Waiting…
Shavuot…
Pentecost…
What do these things have in common?
What is Shavuot?
Shavuot is the culmination of the “Feast of Weeks” that happens after Passover. Most believers know this as Pentecost. It really was a Jewish celebration called Shavu’ot.
Exodus 34:22
“Observe the festival of Shavu‘ot with the first-gathered produce of the wheat harvest, and the festival of ingathering at the turn of the year.
The Israelites celebrated Passover, than began to count 7 weeks plus one day. Seven times seven is 49, plus one means 50. On that day they celebrate God giving Moses the Torah on Mt Sinai. God gave them a “blessing.”
Every year the Jews give their “first fruits offering” to God on this day. They celebrate the ingathering. They read the book of Ruth.
When Jesus died at Passover, the Promise was given that there would be a blessing coming. The disciples anticipated this. Those who knew Jesus understood that God had a plan. The disciples were already going to be gathered together to celebrate Shavuot - the Feast of Weeks - when the Holy Spirit came to them.
Acts 2:1-4
The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
Waiting… the disciples were WAITING for God’s Promise. He had given them the Torah. Now they had the Holy Spirit. The Comforter!
Why read the book of Ruth? Ruth was WAITING for the promise that God would bring. They were gathering the harvest. The threshing floor was full of grain. Ruth, believing the Torah and the Promises of God, went to Boaz, who became her kinsman redeemer. God took care of her.
God sent Jesus as our Kinsman Redeemer, and He came through the line of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth, a Gentile Moabite woman. God took care of us. God has taken care of YOU.
The disciples had to WAIT for the Holy Spirit.
But, He came as a Comforter just as God promised.
The Israelites had to wait in Egypt, but God took care of them and then blessed them with Torah. Torah took care of them and kept them alive. Torah brought them LIFE. In Torah they had FREEDOM.
As we follow Him in Spirit and Truth, we have FREEDOM. We have LIFE. In the Promises of the Word of God, when we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we have ALL we have need of.
God truly does care for us.
In the waiting, God provides.
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength,
they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings;
when they are running they won’t grow weary,
when they are walking they won’t get tired.
Tonight at sundown, Shavuot begins. Take time to really SEEK Him and ask Him to be your Kinsman Redeemer. Ask Him to show you the Promises in the Word that will bring you closer to Him. Ask HIM to give you the Holy Spirit as a Comforter and find PEACE in His Presence.
Chag Semeach Shavuot! I give Him thanks today for HIS blessings and I celebrate that He blessed me with the Holy Spirit.
Rose
There is so much I want to write but I want it to be simple. God’s Word should not be complicated. Just take it for what it is and CELEBRATE HIM!
