Before proceeding to review of the last four of seven high festivals it would seem to make sense to look at the early Spring festivals: Pesach, Chag HaMatzot and Yom Habikkurim from a collective perspective in as much that all three are deeply connected with each other and seasonally centered within the same time frame … the early Spring season. Given the placement of these festivals within the annual cycle, and the relevance of the Spring season, there should be no doubt that collectively there is purpose and meaning with G_D’s festival design. If this is not yet apparent then this work is of course failing to reveal this truth.
As we begin this brief “Early Spring Mo’adim” overview let us recall that Chag HaMatzot (Unleavened Bread) is the first of three pilgrimage seasons and let us also recall that encapsulated within this first pilgrimage journey (this aliyah) are all of the early Spring Mo’adim … Pesach, Chag HaMatzot and Yom Habikkurim. Consequently, by design, G_D has forever wrapped up these Mo’adim into an aggregate festival component wherein Israel, by commandment, is mandated to come before G_D.
As previously mentioned we as people traditionally look upon “Spring” as the beginning season within our annual cycle … and naturally we people tend to associate this season with re-birth and hope. Spring represents the emergence from the traditional darkness, hardship and uncertainty of the Winter season.
When viewed simply in very tactical terms we should be able to intuitively grasp the significance of G_D’s design. The Mo’adim cycle represents much more than memorializing specific events … the Mo’adim cycle intuitively encapsulates a broader plan and purpose wherein at the most rudimentary level the early Spring Mo’adim represent the beginning or start of the plan. And staying within a Spring renewal context it would seem obvious as well, without much pondering, that this very plan itself is all about renewal and regeneration … as the sacred text has revealed when viewed within the Hebraic perspective. It would appear to be all about emerging from the cold and dark oppression of Winter into the warmth and light of Spring.
Prior to us taking a closer look at the Spring festivals we were guided by the Hebraic Biblical perspective to first consider the significance of the sacred 7th day … the sacred Shabbat. When we did so, Scriptures revealed how Shabbat encapsulates G_D’s broad sweeping plan …
• Creation;
• Redemption;
• The Eternal Covenant and promises made to Israel
• Holiness (Torah, Sacrificial System, Mishkan)
Furthermore when viewed within the glory of Yeshua we can see in a Messianic perspective how Shabbat now fully encapsulates the restoration or re-creation plan of G_D through Yeshua HaMashiach … perfectly.
We also, through the Shabbat and subsequent pondering of the Everlasting Covenant, Torah, Holy Service and Mishkan … saw concrete patterns of ascent (aliyah) emerge time and time again. Additionally we were able to see how the Mo’adim are thoroughly integrated into the “things” of G_D in a most profound and glorious manner. In essence nothing about the Mo’adim or the key elements of G_D’s plan is wholly distinct. Most assuredly the Mo’adim, Torah, Everlasting Covenant, Holy Service and Mishkan can indeed be viewed individually and reveal much about G_D … but the key to enrichment and garnering the fullness of G_D’s revelation to us is to view these things of G_D collectively … in a Hebraic perspective … while understanding that everything is perfectly integrated in a manner which only a supreme and omnipotent G_D could orchestrate. It is hoped that the attempts to depict this “connectivity” thus far herein have not been a failure and furthermore it is also hoped that there are no remaining doubts that the Hebraic perspective provides a concise framework through which we can properly view the Mo’adim and G_D’s great plan for humanity.
Most assuredly we can see the detailed manifestation of “redemption” encapsulated within the Pesach. Most assuredly we can see the detailed manifestation of “separation/liberty” encapsulated within the Chag HaMatzot. Most assuredly we can see the detailed manifestation of “temporal renewal” encapsulated within the Yom Habikkurim. But … because these elements of G_D’s plan, in and through Yeshua, are all aggregated into one early Spring festival cycle (one pilgrimage) … we must consider them to be collectively representative of the beginnings of G_D’s grand plan. As has been declared numerous times herein … it is a grand journey … a comprehensive aliyah!
Interestingly enough we should also keep in mind that this mandatory early Spring festival pilgrimage is blanketed within a “seven day cycle” of unleavened bread and preceded by Pesach … wherein unleavened bread is directly tied to the Pesach meal itself. Essentially then the entire Spring Mo’adim cycle is really a seven day cycle with a very discrete and important starting point … in this instance Pesach … or in some respects one might consider Pesach “the 8th day”!
Now we have already covered the issue of “ascent/aliyah” at a broad level … and we know that the Mo’adim themselves represent an individual element of this grand aliyah towards restoration/re-creation. But we should marvel at how G_D re-emphasizes this pattern of aliyah wherein, even within the Spring Mo’adim, we see a mini-ascent unfold. We see where “redemption” kick starts everything. We see where the seven days of “holy separation/purification”, in response to redemption, represents the second step. We see where separation from this temporal world is designed to ready us for a renewal of mind and body. A renewal wherein believers, still in our temporal state of mortality, no longer are bound to the fate of mortals because we have been adopted into the seed of G_D, by faith in and through Yeshua HaMashiach. But … like the wayward prodigal son we must be aware that we assuredly can walk away from our heritage and inheritance.
Yes indeed beloveds … through our review of the wilderness experience in a Hebraic perspective we need to be careful that we are not like the Israelites who, through lack of faith, failed to go up to the land of promise … who right after the spectacular events of the Exodus began to murmur in discontent:
And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; and the children of Israel said unto them: 'Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.' Then said the LORD unto Moses: 'Behold, I will cause to rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not. And it shall come to pass on the sixth day that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.' And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel: 'At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt; and in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he hath heard your murmurings against the LORD; and what are we, that ye murmur against us?' And Moses said: 'This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD hears your murmurings which ye murmur against him; and what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.' And Moses said unto Aaron: 'Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel: Come near before the LORD; for he hath heard your murmurings.' And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. (Exodus 16:1-10)
For modern believers we must realize that this translates into a failure to transform … a failure to let the old person die on the execution stake with Yeshua … a failure to emerge from the baptism of water and let G_D soften our hard hearts and stiff necks. This uncertainty experienced by the Israelites is clearly indicative of a lack of faith … a lack of trust in G_D.
We must be very careful not to believe that this first mini-ascent … encapsulated with the early Spring Mo’adim … represents the entire plan that G_D has set forth. Oh so very often we have heard the question … “are you born again?” … The bigger question, as we review this journey through G_D’s glorious Mo’adim is … “what’s next?” … It most certainly appears as we view these matters from a Hebraic perspective that there is much more to the plan than what has been revealed within the first three Mo’adim. It most certainly appears that this temporal renewal, affording us the opportunity to combat the old person, is by no means the end of the journey. In fact it would appear that this renewal to life in G_D through Yeshua … is a kin to a re-birthing and as such we should think in terms of the newly born again person as being baby-like … as being in need of nourishing, careful oversight and help. Frankly beloveds there should be no argument about this perspective. If we believe that our redemption is predicated upon a cry to ABBA G_D for redemption … than we are in effect declaring our helplessness.
As such we should fully consider the ramifications of separation and renewal … consider that the separation is mandated by G_D … consider that the renewal itself is G_D tenderizing our hearts … consider that these early Spring Mo’adim essentially represent our adoption into his family … into his fold. If we do so, than even with our limited thinking capabilities it would seem fair and objective to conclude that our next steps would be all about learning how his family operates … how his family behaves … how his family views the world we live in … how we can remain united in the family … agreed?
What we can learn from the Israelites is that our renewal is by no means the end of the matter. The renewal by no means provides us some magic ability to stop being human. The renewal does not set aside all the challenges that olam hazeh besets us with. The renewal represents the beginning of the walk of faith … the beginning of the test wherein G_D waits to see if we really trust him … G_D waits to see if we really did leave Egypt and death behind us.
Without attempting to downplay the beauty and joy of redemption, separation and renewal (Praise G_D … Praise Yeshua) we should bask in the warmth and revival of the early Spring knowing that what lies ahead is the rest of the year … the rest of the plan … the rest of the journey!
If nothing else the early Spring Mo’adim confirms G_D’s glory and might and most of all his love for us. Without G_D … without Yeshua we are captured in an eternal Winter of hardship, darkness and tribulation. But we can shout for joy because G_D is awesome and faithful and he assuredly has a plan for humanity. Thus far we’ve seen the beginnings of the grand plan … and shall we dare say that it is most wonderful … and best of all … it has only just begun!
The early Spring Mo’adim represent our calling out of darkness and adoption into the light of G_D’s Kingdom through Yeshua HaMashiach. The Early Mo’adim are now celebrated to commemorate the renewal of humanity and the firm establishment of the temporal and eternal inheritance of Israel … of the saints … to come. Mashiach is calling and waiting … are we listening?