Bringing Firstfruits

May 13, 2018 Background Scripture: Leviticus 2:14; 23:9 – 22 Lesson Passage: Leviticus 2:14; 23:9 – 14, 22 Oftentimes, the Law foreshadows the events of the gospel narrative. In other words, there are steps prescribed by the Law that foretell of future events with little relevance to the ritual itself—other than symbolic. The religious ritual of “first fruits” is such an example. This ritual was designated by God to begin after Israel occupied Canaan and harvested their first crop in the land of promise. The first sheaf of grain was supposed to be brought to the priest who would wave it before the Lord as a wave offering. This was accompanied by a sin offering and a peace offering. Fifty days later (seven Sabbaths plus one day) the first fruits were to be celebrated. Prior to the wave offering, Israel was told to eat unleavened bread; however, the celebration of first fruits, fifty days later, would take place with leavened bread. This timeframe coincided with the Passover and the Day of Pentecost (fifty days after Passover). The first offering using unleavened bread foreshadowed the crucifixion of Jesus, the sinless (unleavened) Lamb of God. Fifty days after the crucifixion, on the Day of Pentecost, the spiritual conversion of a group of saints (leavened) took place. All total, over three thousand one hundred souls were saved on that day. These souls were not sinless (unleavened) like Jesus but were delivered out of eternal damnation as a “first fruits” offering to God. The first fruits ritual of the Law was prophetic in that it looked towards Calvary in the future as the true fulfillment of God’s divine plan for the salvation of mankind. This is all instructive for us, but one must wonder, “What did it really mean to Israel?” to celebrate this ritual. What was their understanding of what the ritual really meant? Today, we celebrate this first fruits concept with a Calvary slant to it. We revel in things which are “firsts”. We believe that God also revels in “first fruits”. The scriptures declare that Jesus is the first among many brethren. Jesus is preeminent in all things so that in everything he would be to God “first fruits”. We reflect on God’s great love for humanity when we meditate on the offering of first fruits because we have our own thoughts about it. “Firsts” for us are our keepsakes. It is a very unselfish act to offer our “firsts” as sacrifices. To give feels sacrificial but to give the “first fruit” is an act of ultimate worship in acknowledging God as the true source of everything. We have nothing to offer God but that which is already His. When we freely give the first that we receive, we declare through our actions that either the first blessing from God will not be the last blessing, or we rest assured that if God chooses not to bless us again, we are satisfied in knowing that He can. This is the reason we can joyously bring God the first of the blessings He bestows on us. We release the offering to God so that it does not attach itself to us. This is accomplished when we first offer ourselves to God. After offering ourselves, offering things is not as much of a challenge. Robert C. Hudson April 18, 2018