What is First Fruits
It’s that time of year, the sun is shining and trees are blossoming. Spring is here and it’s the beginning of a New Year. Now that the Passover and feast of unleavened bread are over its time to prepare for the feast of First Fruits or Shavuot. The feast of First Fruits is to give offerings, rejoice, and thanks for God’s Provisions and blessings. (Deut 16: 9-12). This is also the time of the wheat harvest and God’s giving of the Laws to the Israelites.
The Significance of First Fruits
First Fruits is about more than showing our thanks for God’s blessings and provisions. It’s also a time to remember how he delivered the Israelites from Egypt and presented us with his laws, statutes, and commandments at Mount Sinai in (Exodus 19: 1-20 : 23). Confirming the covenant he made with our forefathers in which the Israelites accepted and agreed to do all that he commanded.
How to Prepare! Counting the Omer
Preparation for the feast of First Fruits starts with the counting of the Omer, which is fifty days, and begins on the evening following the first day of unleavened bread ( Lev 23: 15-16 ). The counting of the Omer also marks the time we are to start work on new crops (Deut 16: 9-12). This is my favorite time of year because all the feasts of the Lord call for us to start fresh from our spirit to our works.
How to celebrate first fruits
Celebrating the feast of First Fruits is done as a memorial like most other feasts. Some things we just can’t do and that’s OK the important thing is being in the right spirit and doing what we can. First Fruits is during the time of the wheat harvest in which God calls us to make two loaves of bread with leaven as our first fruits to the LORD. You can wave them and break bread so to speak with loved ones (Lev 23: 17-22). First Fruits is a holy convocation no servile work should be done on this day, so save those important emails and chores for later. We should be fellowshipping with friends and family and celebrating this new beginning our covenant with God and all the many blessings he provides. I hope this gave you a little better insight on the Feast of First Fruits and why it so important. Shalom! and Happy Shavuot.
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