After Passover, when we were ALL waiting for this COVID19 crisis to come to a crescendo and then flatten out – I had the wildest epiphany. I found myself passing time looking at Hebrew baby names and wondering why THIS is how my sweet daughter is enduring this sacred season of pregnancy.
Then, I stumbled across the name ‘AVIVA.’ Well, since I know ‘aviv’ is Hebrew for the word ‘Spring’ and Tel Aviv in Israel translates to ‘Spring Hill’, I naturally thought about how cool God is that Passover is the beginning of the Biblical year. Passover begins the feast of unleavened bread and eating ‘yeast free’ bread for a week reminds us that we are at the BEGINNING of life again – a new season of freedom in walking with God.
Now, watch this!
Aviv is defined as the ‘fullness of the starch inside the barley that is ready for harvesting.’
Aviv is the living seed that is not picked, or threshed or dried or cooked or stored for provision later.
Aviv is the end of the becoming and the beginning of potential.
Aviv is the SPECIFIC TIME that what God has grown is now the most vulnerable to destruction.
Likewise, Tel is more than just a hill, Tel is the name of a city that has layers and layers of civilization, generation after generation, that God has preserved by His Hand.
From the time of Passover, seven weeks of seven days is counted as the barley harvest – the WHITE Harvest – that leads to the celebration of Shavuot (aka Pentecost). Many Christians understand the idea of counting in anticipation of the arrival of a miracle – like the advent before Christmas Day.
Count the Omer with the TLV Bible Society! Download the “Counting the Omer” printable directly from the TLV All-Access App!
But, the Feast of Weeks is Biblical, and we are commanded to celebrate the FULLNESS of the Barley Harvest by bringing a special offering of the AVIV to God.
This ‘first fruits’ offering starts three days after Passover and ends at 50 days after.
Jewish children mainly celebrate Passover at home and then are taught that the Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Shavuot at synagogue.
Interesting, right?
Well, here is the bigger story.
Messiah Yeshua, the ‘seed of the woman’ prophesied in Genesis 3:15, died on Passover and rose from the dead on the first day of ‘first fruits!’
Yeshua was the first fruits of the Risen and then by Shavuot/Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled His followers in the Temple after His ascension with the fullness of God.
The disciples knew to count on Him to fill full the prophecies of His Deity! Awesome revelation, been teaching that for decades. But wait, there is more – a lot more!
When the Children of Israel left Egypt, with unleavened bread and then only manna and more manna for forty years, why did they keep counting the ‘Omer,’ the measurement of grain being harvested daily, when they were no longer slaves?
When God gave the Children of Israel their freedom, they became AVIV – full yet green, standing yet fragile, hoping yet doubtful. Miracles do that to you. God events leave you awed and weak in the knees. They always should.
When the Children of Israel left Egypt, the hail had destroyed the entire Barley crop. Like the emoji we carelessly scroll by on our phones, the full but hopelessly fragile full head of seed is dependent on God to continue to live, and become ready for use. Oh! How we need to be reminded that we are all God’s Children and we are all growing to fullness through each season and across every generation.
So, today, count the Omer and remember that life is NOT BETTER FASTER than God is growing you – because He has the power of potential packed inside you!
Enjoy WHO you are – so very blessed to be free to love your Creator.
Remember, unless a seed fall to the ground and die, and our Creator gives light and water to resurrect the seed, the harvest would never come.
Give Him glory!
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