Author: carl

May 17, 2016

An omer is a unit measure of barley. Exodus 16:36 says “An omer is one-tenth of an eifah [which is a bushel dry-measure]” (Complete Jewish Bible). The timing of the harvesting of barley was a very big deal. The barley had to be “aviv”, a description of the amount of ripening and maturity, and a readiness for the sickle.

“Aviv” was the name of the first month of the ecclesiastical year. The Israelites were to watch for the first sliver of the new moon, AND watch for the maturity of the barley, at the same time. When the barley was mature enough to harvest, the new year was declared at the sighting of the next new moon. The maturity of the barley determined the calendar!

Leviticus 23:10-11 says “Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘After you enter the land I am giving you and harvest its ripe crops, you are to bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the cohen (the priest). He is to wave the sheaf before Adonai, so that you will be accepted; the cohen is to wave it on the day after the Shabbat.”

Wikipedia defines a sheaf as “a large bundle in which cereal plants are bound after reaping.” The priest would wave the sheaf before the Lord, as an offering of the first fruits of the barley harvest. After that offering, the people were allowed to eat the crops of their harvest.

The day of waving the sheaf is exactly the same day that Yeshua was resurrected from the grave, as the first fruit offering of the harvest!

Now the count begins. Leviticus 23:15-16 says “‘From the day after the day of rest — that is, from the day you bring the sheaf for waving — you are to count seven full weeks, until the day after the seventh week; you are to count fifty days; and then you are to present a new grain offering to Adonai.”

Fifty days from Yeshua’s resurrection was Shavuot (the Greek word is Pentecost). Shavuot is the celebration of the wheat harvest! Shavuot is the day that the Spirit was poured out upon the Jewish believers. On that day, 3000 new believers were added to the believing community. It was the beginning of the next harvest.

We count the omer in great anticipation, from Resurrection Day until Shavuot, knowing that Yeshua will pour out a major blessing on the 50th day, as we gather in His name!

May 13, 2016

In the Exodus story, during the time period of counting the omer, the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea, and were celebrating their new freedom from slavery. They were anticipating their arrival at Sinai in 50 days, when they would receive the Torah, the constitution for their new nation under YHWH.

In the time of Yeshua’s crucifixion, the time period of counting the omer began at His resurrection. His disciples were celebrating the fact that He was moving among them once again, and they were anticipating Shavuot, the celebration of the First Fruits of the harvest, in 50 days.

The day that the Spirit was given to the church is the same day that the Torah had been given to the Israelites. The Spirit was given to the church, in order that we might have the power to walk in YHWH’s holy Torah!

When the Israelites received the Torah, 3000 were struck dead because they were worshipping a golden calf. When the Messianic believers were gathered together on Shavuot, 3000 were added to the church.

When Moses received the Torah, YHWH showed Himself with signs and wonders. When the Messianic believers received the Spirit, again, there were signs and wonders.

As we count the omer, from Resurrection Day until Shavuot (Pentecost), we can anticipate the signs and wonders that will be demonstrated in our lives. As Jeremiah 31 tells us, this is the new covenant, that YHWH’s Torah would be written upon our hearts!

May 11, 2016

What exactly is “counting the omer”? In fact, what is an “omer”? An omer is a dry measure of barley, equivalent to about 3.64 liters. The omer (also translated as “sheaf”) offering was waved before YHWH by the high priest, as a first-fruit offering on the designated day after Passover. An omer is a large enough unit that the barley would have to be bundled up to present the offering.

Scripture commands us to count the omer, starting on the day of waving the sheaf in the temple, continuing on to the 50th day, which is Shavuot (also known as Pentecost).

The first Passover took place in Egypt, just prior to the Israelite exodus. Passover was the day that Yeshua was crucified.

The Israelites took three days to reach the Red Sea, where they were issued across on dry land. In future years, the Israelites waved the sheaf offering in commemoration of this day. This is also the day of Yeshua’s resurrection from being in the tomb for three days. Resurrection Day is Day One of the Counting of the Omer.

Moses (a prince, a shepherd, and a deliverer) received the Torah (with the Ten Commandments) on the 50th day after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. Yeshua (a prince, shepherd, and deliverer) gave the Spirit to the church on the 50th day, Pentecost.

The period of 50 days of counting the omer is a time of watching the barley harvest mature and be harvested. During this time period, Yeshua made several appearances to his disciples, and these appearances brought an increasing harvest of souls.

Yeshua is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. If he appeared to his disciples then, making himself real, we can expect him to do that today. If the harvest of souls was maturing and increasing at that time, we can expect the same in our day. That’s why we count the omer! It’s an exciting time!

May 4, 2016

Immediately after Yeshua’s resurrection, he appeared to Miriam of Magdala and she didn’t recognize him, and then, other disciples who were also surprised to see him. When his disciple, Thomas, heard that Yeshua was alive, he said he needed proof so he could believe such a wild story. So Yeshua appeared to Thomas, and gave him the proof he needed.

In this season of counting the omer, the count begins with the Resurrection, and culminates in Shavuot (Pentecost). It’s a perfect picture of the fact that our new life begins because of the Resurrection, and that Yeshua keeps appearing in our paths and making himself real, when we least expect to see him, and even when we doubt him or don’t recognize him!

We serve an awesome God!

May 3, 2016

During this season of counting the omer, I’ve really been pouring through the Scriptures for buried treasure on this topic. Here’s one of the nuggets I discovered.

The biblical feasts all have a specific date attached to them, except one, Shavuot (also known as Pentecost). For example, Passover is to be celebrated on the 14th day of the first month (Aviv, or the Babylonian name of Nisan); The Feast of Unleavened Bread starts on the 15th day of the first month. In the seventh month of the biblical year, The Feast of Trumpets begins on the 1st day, Yom Kippur is on the 10th day, and the Feast of Tabernacles begins on the 15th day.

Why is Shavuot the exception? It does not have a specific date. You have to COUNT THE OMER to get to the date. Shavuot totally depends upon Passover! Then, the day of waving the sheaf offering before the Lord is the day after the Sabbath that follows Passover. Waving of the sheaf offering was Yeshua’s resurrection day, and the beginning of the first day of counting the omer. So, counting the omer determines the date of Shavuot. What’s the significance of this?

Shavuot, historically, was the day that Moses was given the Torah, and the day that the early believers were given the Spirit. There would be no Torah until the Israelites were delivered from bondage. Likewise, there would be no Spirit poured out until there were believers to receive it. Shavuot absolutely depends on Passover! And counting the omer is the way to Shavuot. Every word of Scripture is by design, and has a truth to be revealed.

May 2, 2016

We count the omer (the measure of barley), observing the growth of the barley harvest, while anticipating the second harvest, which is of wheat. In the Old Testament, the counting of the omer started with the Israelites, on their day of deliverance from Pharaoh. In the New Testament, the counting of the omer started with Yeshua’s resurrection.

By the 9th day of counting the omer, Yeshua had appeared in his resurrected body to several different people. He was anticipating the second harvest — the day the Spirit would be poured out, which signaled the beginning of the wheat harvest. Let’s look at these appearances that occurred by the 9th day of the omer:

On the first day of the omer, Yeshua appeared to Miriam of Magdala (Mark 16:9; John 20:16-18), some other women (Matt. 28:5-10), and then to Simon Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5).

On the second day, He appeared to the two on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32) and later that evening to the twelve disciples (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:33-39; John 20:19).

A week later, He appeared to the Twelve again (John 20:26)

Eight days later, Yeshua appeared to Thomas (John 20:24-29).

April 30, 2016

We are in the season of counting the omer, a celebration of the barley harvest, and it is significant to note that Yeshua’s resurrection is Day 1 of the count. On Day 7 (see John 20:26), His disciples were gathered together in a locked room, and Yeshua showed up in the midst of them without coming through the door. Imagine what that experience was like!

Yeshua extended his hands to Thomas (who missed Yeshua’s previous visit), and told Thomas to look at the evidence of where the nails had pierced his wrists. He challenged Thomas to look at the wound in his side, so Thomas would believe that it really was Yeshua, resurrected from the dead.

Thomas was embarrassed that he had not believed the other disciples’ reports of Yeshua’s resurrection. Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!” (John 20:29)

Today is Day 7 of the counting of the omer, the anniversary of this event, and I’m challenged to ask myself, are there different ways in my own life that I don’t believe Yeshua is present, because I don’t see him? Will I be embarrassed of my doubts when I have the opportunity to see Yeshua face to face? What blessings will I have missed because I chose doubt rather than trust?

This is only Day 7! There is more to come! Shabbat Shalom!

April 27, 2016

For those who are unaware of the purpose of counting the omer, consider this. If a child had a special event coming up in 30 days, he might start counting in anticipation, saying that it’s Day 1 until the visit to Disneyland, Day 2 until the visit to Disneyland, etc. Back in the Exodus story, the Israelites were told to count 50 days from the day they were delivered by the parting of the Sea of Reeds. On the 50th day, Moses was given the Commandments. In Yeshua’s day, the Jews were counting 50 days from the day of the Resurrection, and on that day they were given the Spirit. Counting the omer is an anticipation of the day when the Spirit was given, to enable us to live out the Commandments.