Pentecost
On the third day…Exodus 19:16
In the third month after leaving Egypt, the children of Israel came to the foot of Mt. Sinai, Exodus 19:1-2. On the third day, God called for Moses to come up to Him, Verse 20. There, on Mt. Sinai, Moses received the commandments of God written on stone. Shavuot, or Pentecost, or the feast of weeks, is the celebration of this event.
God’s instructions are recorded in Deuteronomy, Chapter 16, Verses 9 thru 12. Verses 9 & 10: You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.
Seven weeks corresponds with the time it took to travel from Egypt to Mt. Sinai. This year, Shavuot begins today at sundown May 25th and ends at sundown May 27th.
Though the Gentile Church does not celebrate Shavuot, we are very aware of its significance. It was on the Day of Pentecost that God chose to begin the church. That is, send His Spirit upon the believers gathered in Jerusalem celebrating Shavuot. This symbolism of the seven weeks cannot be ignored. Nor the third day.
Everything about Shavuot points to Jesus. For this reason, we acknowledge the importance of Pentecost to our faith and our church traditions. Thank God He sent His Son to redeem us. Thank God He sent His Spirit to seal us. Thank God, from Whom all blessings come!
