7 Feasts and a Fast – FIRSTFRUITS

The Feast of First Fruits

FIRSTFRUITS / YOM HA’BIKKURIM – March/ April

A Special Sabbath

WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THIS 3RD FEAST ?
The Hebrew name is Yom Ha’Bikkurim which simple means ‘Day of the Firstfruits.

WHERE ARE GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS RECORDED ?
Leviticus 23:9-14, Deuteronomy 26:1-10.
Exodus 13:1-3, 10-16, Exodus 34:19-20, Leviticus 27:26.

WHEN IS IT CELEBRATED?
Listen carefully because this is a little tricky. It is a one day feast which occurred during the 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Leviticus 23:9-14. It was held the day after the Sabbath after Passover. Therefore it could have moved every year depending when the weekly Sabbath fell during Passover week. (See calendar) Also on this one day feast the daily ‘Omer’ offering of barley began in the Tabernacle/Temple, which continued for 50 days/ seven weeks until Pentecost. Leviticus 23:15-16 (an Omer = Hebrew- a heap, a dry measure, a sheaf.)

When does the counting of the Omer begin?
1. The Sunday after Passover (Jubilees, Essenes, Sadducees, Samaritans),
2. The Sunday of Passover (Karaites),
3. The day after Passover (Beta Israel),
4. The second day of Passover (Philo, Josephus, Pharisees, and Rabbis).
5. The simplest meaning of the verse, namely that the omer offering has no set time or date, only a range of possible dates depending on the realities of the harvest season. Deuteronomy 16:9-12. (from bibleview.org)

It began after the Israelites entered the Promised Land, after they began harvesting.

AS I SEE IT THE FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS HAS 3 THEMES:-
A small one day Feast which packed a punch.
1. Thankfulness to God for the barley harvest. Leviticus 23:9-14.
2. All firstborn males, both human and animal belonged to God. Exodus 13:1-3,10-16
3. It was connected to the crossing of the Red Sea. Exodus 15:1-18.
Also there is a strong theme of resurrection which runs through the whole Feast and its themes. Let’s see if you see it as I explain each theme.

LETS LOOK AT EACH THEME:-
1. Thankfulness to God for the barley harvest. Leviticus 23:9-14.
Leviticus 23:9-14 instructions were given a year after leaving Egypt to instruct what to do after entering the land of Canaan. There was no planting or reaping during the 40 year journey in the desert,

Procedure:-
Barley was planted in the winter in Israel, and was the first grain crop harvested in spring.
Barley for Tabernacle/Temple use was grown in fields near Bethlehem.
No new grain was eaten by anyone until after the first fruits of the harvest had been waved/offered before the Lord on the Feast of Firstfruits, in obedience to Leviticus 23:14, Malachi 3:8.

In the barley field prior to the feast, certain stalks were selected and tied together by the priests. After sunset on Shabbat (the beginning of the new day) they were pulled from the ground, roots and all. Some grains were ground into the finest barley flour ready for the offering at the morning service, other stalks were left in the sheaf.
At the morning service, around 9am, first the regular daily sacrifice was offered by the priests, then the Firstfruits offering of a male lamb, wine and the fine barley flour mixed with olive oil. Then the specially selected sheaf of barley was waved before the Lord. Later everyone brought their own firstfruits offerings. Deuteronomy 26:1-10.To neglect these first fruit offerings, or any others, was considered robbery of God according to Malachi 3:8.

Having kept the feast everyone went home and began their harvest season confident that God would provide for the rest of the harvest. They put God first. [2]

2. All firstborn males, both human and animal belonged to God. Exodus 13:1-3.10-16, Exodus 34:19-20, Leviticus 27:26, Numbers 3:11-13.
Exodus 4:22- Israel is My son, My firstborn. Hosea 11:1- When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called My son. Jerermiah 31:9b I am a Father to Israel and Ephraim is My firstborn.
God set aside for himself all firstborn males. Here the firstborn Israelite was set aside for life, but the firstborn of Egypt was set aside for death. The two happening simultaneously depending on the application of the blood. Always a firstborn and always a male. Here the concept of redemption by substitution of a person is set in motion.

The fact that they were firstborn and male reflects Jesus our SUBSTITUTE. 3. (Later God chose the tribe of Levi to be His priests instead to the firstborn males. Numbers 3:11-13.)

BY THE WAY:- Another instance was the substitute ram instead of Isaac. Genesis 22:13.
3. It was connected to the crossing of the Red Sea. Exodus 14-15.
The Rabbi’s have connected this feast with the crossing of the Red Sea considering that event happened a few days after leaving Egypt and the Feast of Firstfruits is included within the 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In Jewish thought the Red Sea crossing is the beginning of God’s Kingdom. Exodus 15:18 says, “The Lord reigns for ever and ever and ever”. (Septuagint= Translation of Hebrew Bible into Greek) The first time in the Bible where God is spoken of as reigning. Exodus 15:1-18. Pause and think about God’s GREAT deliverance.
Egyptian law stated that a slave belonged to his master until the master died.
Therefore when Pharaoh and his army were drowned, his claim on them ceased and they became God’s firstborn having been redeemed at the price of all Egyptian firstborn. They were now legally free to travel to their promised land. [4]

HOW DID JESUS FULFIL THIS FEAST?
Remember each Feast is a shadow of Jesus. Colossians 2:16-17.
– Jesus was born in Bethlehem the place where barley was grown for the Temple. (Beit Lechem in Hebrew means “House of Bread”).
– His parents presented him in the Temple because he was Mary’s firstborn son. Luke 2:23 They would have paid 5 silver shekels. Numbers 18 :16.
– Jesus was the firstborn male who was set aside for death so that by trust in Him we can be set aside for life. Revelation 13:8b, Isaiah 53:7-8, 5-6, Gal 1:4.
– Jesus called himself the Bread of Life. John 6:30-51.
– He rose from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits that particular year. John 20:1, Luke 24:21.Remember Jesus had to rise after 3 days and nights. Matt 12:40.
Firstfruits did not always fall so neatly 3 days and nights after Unleavened Bread. See calendar.
– Remember Jesus said, to Mary, “Don’t touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to MyFather…” (20:17). Maybe at the same time Jesus presented himself as the first fruits of the Great harvest in the Temple in Heaven, the Priest in the Temple on earth, was waving the sheaf of barley with gratitude for the up coming harvest.

– Jesus was not only the Firstfruits of God’s harvest, but He was also the HIGH PRIEST, who waved the finest Firstfruits offering in the temple in Heaven. Hebrews 6:20.
– Paul refers to Jesus the Firstfruits- 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
– Paul refers to Jesus the Firstborn, Romans 8:29, Col 1:18.

HISTORICAL RESURRECTION SCRIPTURE READING.
At Passover in Jesus day the disciples had expected their future Redeemer/Messiah/King to come. On the Shabbat after Passover, the day immediately preceding the Feast of Firstfruits, a dramatic prophecy was always, and still is, read in the temple.
Ezekiel 36:37 – 37:14. In it, the Lord instructed Ezekiel to declare to a valley filled with dry bones: “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” God was promising far more than just an earthly harvest. He was saying he would raise the dead to life!

Now imagine Jesus followers still stunned by his brutal execution, listening on Shabbat to this reading which recounted that God promised to bring the dead to life.
Imagine then, the next day, when they began to hear wild rumours sweeping across Jerusalem that Jesus’ tomb was empty and some of this followers claimed to have seen him! Had he really risen from the dead? Could Jesus be the first fruits of the promised resurrection?
Listen to what Paul concluded years later: “ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to Him.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
Death hangs over the human race as the darkest of shadows. But Paul’s words assure us that our fear of death can be replaced by an invincible hope. The resurrection stands as a promise of what God will do for each of us! For those who belong to his Son, eternal life is not merely a possibility, but an inevitability.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-58, Phil 3:21, 1 Thess. 4:13-18. 5.
Jesus was the First Fruit of resurrected people never to die again. This was foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures. Psm 16:8-10, written prophetically by David, not about himself obviously, because his grave had been in Jerusalem for almost 1000 years. NB:-Other people in history had been resurrected, but they later died.
If we look at Genesis 1, we will see that the first fruits were created on the third day.
Jesus was resurrected on the third day. It is as if our redemption was put in place from the beginning of time. [6]
Interestingly there are other patterns of resurrection being associated with the third day in scripture: For examples:-
– On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place where Isaac was to be offered as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. It was as if Isaac was resurrected. Genesis 22:4, Hebrews 11:17-19. The same mountain that Jesus was crucified and buried, and resurrected on!
– Jonah was resurrected out of the belly of the fish after three days and nights. Jonah 2:1.
– The prophet Hosea tells of resurrection on the third day. Hosea 6:1-2. i.

HOW IS THIS FEAST SIMILAR TO MY CHRISTIAN JOURNEY?
– We are chosen as Firstfruits. James 1:18. Revelation 14:4.
– We have been received into a community of firstborn. Hebrews 12:23.
– Water baptism is like our Red Sea crossing. Colossians 1:13 says:- He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son:- In baptism we have been cricumsised and the old nature has lost its control. Colossians 2:11-15.
The Greek word teaptizo’ means immersion, it is associated with the doth industry.
The cloth took on the properties of the dye.
When we’re baptised we can hold all these thoughts in our mind:-
– Set free from our slave master by God’s power.
– Set free so we can have allegiance to our new Master.
– Baptised into a new Kingdom.
– Absorbing the values of that new kingdom.
– Part of the harvest.
After water baptism we then move to our ‘Mt Sinai’ where we begin to team God’s ways and how He likes to do things.

IS WATER BAPTISM A NEW TESTAMENT IVENTTON?
NO:- For more than 3500 years Jewish people have used mikvahs for ritual cleansing. [8]
The archaeological remains of mikvahs are all over Israel.
A mikvah is a body of natural living water or spring.
A person completely submerges themselves under the water, opening their mouth,
eyes and hands, taking on the qualities of the living water.
Finally:- Remember the Feast of Firstfruits is an appointed time, a set apart day, appointed beforehand by God for a definite purpose. What better way than to take time on God’s appointed calendar day of Firstfruits for remembering and recounting the GREAT miracles of God’s deliverance for His people from Egypt. Also for remembering the unexpected miracle of God making a way where there was no way through the sea. It’s a time for remembering what Jesus did for us on this day and to give thanks for his resurrection, our redemption, salvation and freedom from our taskmaster made possible because of how He fulfilled this day. It’s a time to look ahead in expectation for our body to be resurrected and receive a new incorruptible body! An excellent time to keep an appointment with Him on his appointed day.

Summary:
– The firstfruits of all crops belong to God.
– The firstborn males and animals also belong to God.
– it celebrates the crossing of the Red Sea.
– Jesus Resurrection.
– Water baptism.
Sources:
1. The Feasts of the Lord. By Kevin Howard & Marvin Rosenthal. Page 76.
2. Wake Up. By Arno Lamm & Emile-Andre VanBeckevoort. Page 2555-258
3. Torah Glass. By Tom Bradford. Exodus 13.
4. Wake Up. By Arno Lamm & Emile-Andre VanBeckevoort. Page 259.
5. Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. By Ann Spangler & Lois Tverburg. Page 108-109
6. Our lost Heritage By Dennis McLeod. Page 19
7. Derek Hiebert. Bible’ Project.
8. Google.

Other Sources:
Dr. Fruchtenbaum’s “The Feasts and Fasts of Israel: Their Historic and Prophetic Significance

Jenny Milmine 2023

0. 7 Festival and a Fast – Introduction
1. 7 Festival and a Fast – The Festival of Passover
2. 7 Festival and a Fast – The Festival of Unleavened Bread
3. 7 Festival and a Fast – The Festival of First Fruits
4. 7 Festival and a Fast – The Festival of Pentecost or Shavuot
5. 7 Feasts and a Fast – The Festival of Trumpets
6. 7 Festival and a Fast – The Fast of THE DAY OF ATONEMENT/ YOM KIPPUR
7. 7 Festival and a Fast – The Festival of Tabernacles
8. 7 Festival and a Fast – The Weekly Sabbath Festival
9. 7 Feasts and a Fast – Other Information


Other slides in this module: