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Passover to Shavuot
buildontherock
2020-10-252023-09-06

What happened to Israel is a synopsis of what our lives are like. In this article I want to summarize what I believe are the most pertinent concerns. God said that the things that happened to Israel are written as examples for us.

I Corinthians 10:1-12 [KJV] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

So what example do we find in the story of the Exodus. Passover to Sinai is another way of saying from Passover to Shavuot. I do not use Pentecost because that is primarily a Roman corruption. Tradition has it that that the Ten Commandments were given at Sinai on Shavuot/Pentecost. I have not been able to prove it conclusively but it does fit and it is a firm tradition of the Jews. Assuming that it is true, then the experiences of Israel from Egypt to Sinai tell us a lot about our own journey from the threat of death and bondage to sin, to having God present with us. God could not establish Israel in Egypt, He had to first move them to the appropriate environment where they had the freedom to worship Him. We look briefly at the highlights.

This link takes you to the main article on time.

As Christians at some point we become aware that we are targeted for death and bondage to sin. In Exodus 1:1-2:25 we find Israel coming under bondage and rigour and the threat of death by Pharaoh (a representation of Satan the agent of sin), as the midwives are told to kill them (chapter 1:15-16, Acts 7:18-21). As with Israel God sends us a deliverer.

For Christians the real saga starts with God hearing our groaning in Egypt (Exodus 2:23-25). The Children of Israel faced extinction as they were instructed to kill their own males (Exodus 1:22). He sends a deliverer (Exodus 3:2-4:17) and plagues Pharaoh because of us, while preserving us by the blood of His atoning sacrifice and establishing a memorial to help us stay focused (Exodus 12:1-28). Even before we are baptized He provides for our needs from the hands of our oppressors (Exodus 11:2-3; Exodus12:35-36; Psalm 105:37). We are led by God (Exodus 13:18; Exodus13:21-22) but when we reach the border of sin our way is blocked and the adversary seeks to return us into sin (Exodus 13:20). We are pursued by our oppressors (Exodus 14:5-31) but God makes a way of safety for us to escape sin and death  (Exodus 14:19-22; Deuteronomy 11:4; Psalm 78:1-72; Psalm 105:1-107:43; Psalm 136:1-26). When we do escape we begin our lives in the wilderness. A wilderness is primarily a place of austerity. Sometimes the journey is pleasant and we can rest contented (Exodus 15:27, Numbers 33:9) but very often there are trials that are used to test us, to see if we murmur and disrespect God. Of course there are several other lessons to be learned - like believing the evil report of the spies or building the golden calf - and that is the whole point.

Our journey from death to God starts at Passover and it starts with us being vigilant and watching in faith (we talk about the vigil later). Passover is precious to us and therefore it has been the object of deception by our enemy. Once we understand it then it adds new meaning to our worship to God in Spirit and in truth. From Passover we focus on Shavuot/Pentecost. Counting the Omer means many things to a Christian. It means that we count the cost of the journey to the Promised Land but also that we look at the reward. God tells us up front that it will not be easy but for those who endure, the blessing will be beyond our wildest dreams.

A Pattern for Life

What happened to Israel is a synopsis or pattern of what our lives are like as Christians. In this article I want to summarize what I believe are the most pertinent milestones and to outline where we are now. First I will attempt to present the whole journey as it happened to Old Testament Israel. I also want to highlight what has been fulfilled and how it ties the Old Covenant to the New. Finally I intend to use this article as a base for connecting to more in depth articles on constituent elements of our journey.

God established a consistent pattern that reminds us of His plan. In order to do that He had to establish his own calendar which men had obviously rejected for inventions of their own. For more on God's calendar go here.

The calendar was given to the Israelites and they have preserved it up to today. We only know basically one tribe and that is Judah or the Jews. God gave them the commitment to keep the pattern and His explanations for all mankind. Look here for more on that commitment concerning the oracles of God.

Passover

Old Testament Israel started out just like us with Passover. Actually that Passover was only a temporary arrangement to demonstrate something that was laid out from the beginning. Explore the evidence that Passover was from the beginning because there has always only been just one Passover: Christ. For those coming from popular Christianity, Easter was associated with Passover just as Resurrection day was associated with the first omer.

Passover gave them freedom from death and the hope of new life but left them in bondage to sin. Egypt was equivalent to sin. They were told to haste away as soon as they could (Exodus 12:11). That is how we are to deal with sin. We need the sentence of death to be lifted by God who has the power to deliver us, but once we see that opening we are to hurry away as fast as we can. When God creates the window of opportunity (Exodus 12:32-34) there can be no more playing around with sin because that window will close and the heart of Pharaoh will change.

Exodus 14:1-5 [KJV] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 4 And I will harden Pharaohs heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so. 5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

Considering the history of Passover and Israel as well as the pressure to conform on our children, Passover can seem formidable and is time of concern for our families. It is a time that we are required to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith and that will leave us feeling inadequate and wondering for the future of our children. God provides peace of mind for our families in His word.

The first Passover kept by Israel was unique. Shortly after that God instituted the Passover that was preserved through Israel. In that old system God established a series of symbols with potent meaning to help us to understand life. Passover as a pattern for life was preserved for us through the centuries by the Jews. Today the deep meaning in the Passover celebration is preserved in the Last Supper and the Night to be Much Observed. One challenging debate is whether or not leaven can be used at Passover and another has to do with establishing when was the Last supper, Passover and the resurrection. You can clear this up with an understanding of the political relationship between the Pharisees and Sadducees and also an understanding of the first omer wave sheaf. The book of Ruth connects the first omer with the second omer and is symbolic of the spiritual intent. 

Most people only consider the Holy Spirit after Pentecost but in the pattern that was given the Holy Spirit is there all along. Acceptance of Passover was originally indicated by the blood on the lintel. Then they were to leave with haste. They could not go anywhere without the pillar of cloud and fire which was the Holy Spirit leading. It is the Holy Spirit that leads us to baptism.

Passover is such a big subject that I think it best to place a list of the current articles on the subject here.

Unleavened Bread

The Passover season includes the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened bread has to do with submitting to the will of God and following the Holy Spirit out of sin. It has to do with sacrificing the temporary pleasures of this life in our haste to escape the bondage of sin and death. Notice that the pleasures are not necessarily bad but we just do not have time now.

Baptism

The common view is that we only receive the Holy Spirit at baptism. The Bible says that we cannot even come to Christ without being led by the Holy Spirit, John 6:44 [KJV] No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. In order to compensate for the obvious flaw people claim that the Holy Spirit works with people but is not in them. However you look at it, none of the transformational work for the Promised Land can be done without the Holy Spirit. Fleeing sin, even being guided by the Holy Spirit, only gets us as far as the border. We can never quite make it on our own strength even with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it might feel like sin is coming to overwhelm us once again and we are trapped. By what we just read in Exodus 14:1-5, God shows us that He is aware and prepared to defend us. God will destroy the power of sin over us through Baptism where we are given a new identity in Christ, and a new lease on life. This life is possible by the Holy Spirit which would have led us away from sin as the pillar of fire and cloud and helped us to reach the border, our personal limit. Then comes the climax of our deliverance, when we can do no more for ourselves. When we were trapped at our limit God destroyed the army after us by water, while at the same time making a way to the wilderness. Baptism delivers us from the clutches of sin by the power of the Holy Spirit (the water).

Exodus 14:26-30 [KJV] And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

I have an article dealing with the subject of baptism specifically.

The wilderness

A wilderness is a place of austerity. We should not be surprised at austerity in the wilderness. The common thread of the wilderness is manna which is unleavened bread which is bread of adversity. Israel left with the understanding of going into the wilderness (Exodus 7:16) but at the time they would have gone anywhere to escape the clutches of sin and obtain the promises to Abraham. The wilderness introduces the problem of manna. Remember that Sinai was only fifty days away from Egypt. In those fifty days there was terrible complaining because they missed their lives in Egypt. The problem is the same with us. We recognise that elements of a life attached to sin provide comforts and we can begin to resent God for bringing us into the wilderness. We forget the hopelessness of Egypt against the hope of good life to come in the Promised land. Israel had the hope of the Promised Land from the time of Abraham but they now had the opportunity to actually reach it. Egypt had taken that away from them. We are now living in the wilderness NOT THE PROMISED LAND! A wilderness is a place of austerity. Anything above austerity we should show grateful thanks for. God does not owe us any good treatment in the wilderness. The wilderness provides us one special opportunity. Now that they were free they could marry the Prince. A slave cannot marry whom he/she pleases, and certainly not the enemy, but they were now free. The marriage was arranged to be at Sinai but they had to reach it without totally disgusting their husband. You can read the whole of Numbers 11 but we are only going to read a taste of it now.

Numbers 11:1-6 [KJV] And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. 2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. 3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them. 4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

In response to this the Lord did give them meat (Exodus 16, Numbers 11) but they were un-thankful. We can be difficult to please especially when we do not appreciate that we are living in the wilderness.

The two main issues of the wilderness are complaining and the Golden Calf. For more on the wilderness see the wilderness

Sinai

Passover and Shavuot are connected. Israel should have been eagerly counting to Shavuot if they were not so busy complaining. Sinai is where the wedding occurred. There is an article to help fill in some blanks about why we are so eager to count to Pentecost. At the most fundamental level Pentecost is about procreation, a marriage that can produce holy seed and that in essence is how Pentecost fits into the plan. It shows us how we can lose everything right on the verge of having everything because of the deceitfulness that is in us. God made it clear that He was jealous. That attitude is what deceives us today into being ignorant of our identity and our future. See how the same Pentecost still relates to the New testament Church (Greek: Ekklesia). God had declared His side of the vows long before. After the wedding they would go to His home in paradise.

Exodus 3:8 [KJV] And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

And it got spelled out a bit later (Exodus 23:26-31). Israel also made their vows.

Exodus 19:7-8 [KJV] And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Exodus 20:22-23 [KJV] And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

So everybody made their vows and Moses had gone up the mountain to make final arrangements. The problem was not that they thought that there was no God or that God was dead, because they could still see the manna stop every weekend and the pillar of cloud or fire was there all along, it was that they did not see God actively working in their lives, solving their problems for them. Moses was the instrument for God working in their lives and they could not see him (Moses). He was working, and even doing a critical work for them, but they could not see him so they did the same thing that we do. They attempted to solve their problems their way, which was the Egyptian way, because that was all that they knew. They got a golden calf. That act shattered the relationship (Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:21-24) and so when they could have had so much they ended up with suffering and death. They were never able to recover from it.

Exodus 33:1-7 [KJV] And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: 2 And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: 3 Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. 4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. 5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. 6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb. 7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

The closeness of the relationship was gone but it preserved the option for them to seek Him again (note verse 7 of Exodus 33, the last verse quoted). Did they go (Exodus 33:10-11)? The only person that we know went was Joshua.

The distinguishing change to the Church at Sinai was the marriage. This marriage is raised to the spiritual level in the first omer connecting Passover to the wave sheaf and the second omer connecting Christ and Shavuot to Passover via the wave sheaf, which shows that the biblical evidence is that Shavuot is counted from the first working day after Passover. The first omer is in many ways equivalent to what is called Resurrection day in popular Christianity. The Holy Spirit was leading them all along and was expected to be among them as the Shekina fire, but they caused it to move outside the camp. That fire represented God within the Church. The Ten Commandments represented the Law that bound the marriage together. Today calculating the correct day to celebrate Shavuot is challenging so I have attempted to explain the fundamentals as I see them.

The Promise of the Father

I hope that you will bear with me while I deviate from popular dogma. Shavuot (corrupted as Pentecost) represents a relationship not just an event. It does not represent the coming of the Holy Spirit but it is signified by the Holy Spirit. The promise has to do with the Holy Spirit AS SUITOR. It is about a marriage to the New Testament Church as there was a marriage to the Church in the Wilderness. Read more on this and other Significant Elements of Pentecost.

John 14:12-31 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Christ explained that they would do much better things because His going back to the Father meant that they could have a different union. He explained that the new union involved Him as a different type of helper. The Greek uses parakletos. It properly means one called near (to give help) and is also translated intercessor (one who entreats on behalf of another) or comforter. Notice that help is how Eve was described to Adam (Genesis 2:18). God also explains in John that love and obedience was critical to the relationship. It is a spiritual union. What does this explanation bring to mind? A wedding. They were currently in a relationship and were comforted by Christ but that relationship was to become closer. There is nothing here saying that they would not have the Holy Spirit before Shavuot but at that time the relationship would become a new one.

When He comes back as suitor then they will get to know Him much better.

John 15:26 (KJV) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:7-15 (KJV) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

So Shavuot represents a change in relationship with the same Christ and it requires that we already have the Holy Spirit to unite like with like. We cannot enter the new relationship without already having the courtship which requires the Holy Spirit. So the promise of the Father has to do with Christ as husband and not just friend. Friend is good, husband is better. As with all unions it is like with like so there must be the same Spirit in both.

To Shavuot and no Further

The events of Sinai centred around the marriage covenant that was made on Shavuot. That was when the mountain rumbled and was afire and when The Ten Commandments were spoken by God Himself. The agreement was made but the marriage did not last. That group never made it to the Promised Land and it was because of the Golden Calf incident. A few of them did make it and we can investigate why.

Joshua

Joshua was never among those who worshipped the golden calf (Exodus 24:12-13, Exodus 32:17-18). Joshua sustained that relationship with God even when there was no Moses around.

Exodus 33:11 [KJV] And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle

Notice the difference in the relationship.

Exodus 33:10-12 [KJV] And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. 12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

Joshua actually went to the Tabernacle but the others were satisfied with God far away because they worshipped from their tent door. There is no evidence that they sought to bring God back into their midst. Being close to God is critical. Consider David.

David

I Samuel 17:34-37 [KJV] And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his fathers sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

David was prepared for Goliath in the same way that Joshua was prepared to lead Israel. Because David was close to God he had experiences that built his faith. Those smaller challenges (the lion and the bear) prepared him for the big one (Goliath). When we act stupidly and worship our Golden Calf we must quickly repent and seek to restore the relationship or else we will die spiritually. Israel just seems to have accepted the distancing. This is where David was so different. David had his Golden Calf incident with Bathsheba. When David was confronted He repented bitterly and did all that he could to restore the relationship.

The Promised land

In the Old Testament the ones who left Egypt never made it to the promised Land. Like us they lived and died in the wilderness. Hopefully we are different in that we will not turn back but will endure in faith. Our lives are spent in the wilderness. We never reach the Promised Land in this life. That is a subject for the last harvest that is primarily revealed in the book of Revelation. I have prepared another series on that final harvest season summarised in the article called Outcasts - from rags to riches. The Prosperity Gospel misleads people into believing that the evidence of our faith is material prosperity, but when we read the Bible we see that the people mentioned in the book of Hebrews were not known for wealth but for faith in dealing with adversity. There is no common thread of prosperity of God's servants running through the Bible. This deception that caused the original Israelites to fail is still here to prevent us from reaching beyond the wilderness and eating the bread of adversity to entering the Promised Land.