Giving Thanks for the Feast of Harvest and the Hidden Secrets
(Exodus 23:14-17)
The churches worldwide are observing the Feast of Harvest commanded by God. A narrow minded person may think this observance may be an old feast that is far behind the time; but the Feast of Harvest is the feast that we must observe, and it is the feast that contains many deep spiritual meanings. Before, God regretted by stating in Isa 1:3-4, “An ox knows its owner, a donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know. My people do not understand.” If God regretted towards the rebellious Israelites who did not know God is their eternal Lord and did not give thanks to Him, we must avoid becoming the target of reproof by realizing today what the hidden secrets of the Feast of Harvest are.
I. The other names of the Feast of Harvest and their meanings.
When we see Deut 16:10, 16, Exo 34:21, Num 28:26 or 2 Chr 8:13, the Feast of Harvest is called as the “Firstfruits of wheat harvest” or the “Feast of Weeks.” This means that the harvest of wheat starts on the 50th day from the Passover. Furthermore, this Feast of Harvest is one of the three feasts that the Israelites observed where all adult men of Israel were obligated to come up to Jerusalem 3 times a year and observe these feasts. When they came up, they were to not come empty-handed, but had to bring the firstfruits of their harvest. If so, what are the hidden secrets behind the Feast of Harvest?
1. This is the day that Moses received the Ten Commandments. Before the Feast of Harvest, there was the Passover (1st year of Exodus, 1st month 14th day), which was the day that the Israelites were freed after 400 years of slavery in Egypt. It was at this time they slaughtered a lamb and sprinkled its blood on the sides and the tops of the door frames. After they observed this Passover, they left Egypt and arrived at Mt. Sinai on the 1st day of 3rd month. From then on, Moses climbed Mt. Sinai 8 times. On his 4th ascent (6th day, 3rd month) he received the Ten Commandments and the Laws from God (Exo 20:1-17). This day marks the 50th day of exodus (The History of Redemption Series, 7th Book, p114). This is like the Feast of Pentecost, which comes on the 50th day after the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread.
2. It is the 50th day of Jesus’ crucifixion. Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor 5:7 that Jesus came as the “Passover Lamb.” Jesus was crucified on the cross as the Passover Lamb and pardoned all of our sins with his blood. The day that Jesus was crucified was the Day of Passover. During 40 days after he was resurrected, Jesus showed himself 11 times before his disciples and sent the Holy Spirit on the 50th day, and this is the Feast of Pentecost or the Feast of Harvest. The people were amazed at the disciples when they proclaimed the Word in many different tongues as the Holy Spirit was upon these ignorant disciples. It is testified in Acts 2:37-41 that when Peter proclaimed the word, over 3000 men received the Holy Spirit as a gift as they pounded their hearts and repented. Hence, the Feast of Harvest is like the Feast of Pentecost of today which celebrates the 50th day that Jesus came as the Passover Lamb, crucified on the cross and died; and it is the day that the Holy Spirit came, as well as it being like a “birthday” for the churches worldwide.
II. The firstfruit is the wheat harvest
What is the firstfruit that we must bring? If we look at Jn 4, Jesus met a woman of Sychar. While Jesus conversed with her, he enabled her to confess her past and made her repent. The woman was astonished and said “I can see you are a prophet” (Jn 4:19). Then she left her water jars that she brought with her, went into the town and said, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” and evangelized to many people (Jan 4:28-30, 39). This fruit of evangelism is the firstfruit of harvest. Even though there are 4 more months before the harvest, Jesus was saying to look upon the spiritual field when he said, “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (Jn 4:34-35). Apostle Paul referred to Jesus’ coming, crucifixion and resurrection as the “firstfruit of resurrection” (1 Cor 15:20). He also referred to the household of Stephanas as the “house of firstfruit” (1Cor 16:15) to indicate how happy he was when he proclaimed the Word in the region of Achaia. If so, where are your firstfruits? The firstfruit is the fruit of evangelism that is produced with a promise and resolution when we repent while we give thanks and glory to God as we observe the Feast of Harvest. When we look at Lk 15:10, God rejoices more over the repentance of one sinner than the ninety-nine who have nothing to repent.
Conclusion:
The Bible testified that “Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15). Hence, as we dive into the water to save the drowning children, we must evangelize our parents, siblings and children who do not believe in God and make them the firstfruits of harvest no matter what type of persecution and objections we are faced with. Right now, our country is under a great economic hardship and danger that every household and every one we meet are pleading their difficult situations. We must proclaim the everlasting hope, the Word of Life of Jesus Christ to those spirits. When we pray for them and evangelize with all our hearts, the miracle will unfold before our eyes where our mother becomes the firstfruit of resurrection, our spouse, father and all neighbors who did not believe in God will become the firstfruits. Spiritually speaking, it is like offering the firstfruit of wheat harvest. I sincerely hope that all of us will produce abundant firstfruits.
Original Text (Korean): http://www.pyungkang.com/logos_01/169519
Translation by Kim Yeon Hee (Orlando Green Hill Church, USA)