God gave Feasts to Israel as illustrations that speak about the nature and character of the God of Israel. Aspects of each Feast point to Yeshua as the promised Jewish Messiah.
The "Feast of Weeks" is known as Shavuot in Hebrew and Pentecost in Greek. According to Leviticus 23, we should count 50 days from the Sabbath that occurs during Passover to know when to celebrate Pentecost.
God instituted Passover 1400 years before the birth of Yeshua. It connects the lamb in Egypt to the Lamb of God. In both cases, those who hid behind the blood were spared judgment.
God commanded the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-14) to fall on the first day after the Sabbath in the week of Passover. Like Passover, God instituted Firstfruits 1400 years before the birth of Yeshua. While Passover illustrates Yeshua's sacrifice, Firstfruits illustrates Yeshua's resurrection. New life springs forth from the ground, because God takes what was dead and makes life.
God told the Jewish People to count 7 weeks plus a day — 50 days — from the Feast of Firstfruits to Shavuot/Pentecost. Shavuot means sevens, and Pentecost means fiftieth. Part of celebrating Shavuot included waving two loaves of bread before God (Leviticus 23:15-21). The special thing about these two loaves is that God commanded them to be made with yeast. In the Bible, yeast often represents pride, as prideful people are puffed up like a loaf of bread. Other offerings to God were with unleavened bread, but for Pentecost, God desired two leavened loaves.
The priest lifted the two loaves before God. In a sense, they were no longer "stuck” on Earth but still connected to Earth. This is a picture of Jew and gentile — people who fall short of the Glory of God.
This offering foreshadowed the Eternal High Priest, Yeshua. He presents the loaves to God and makes them acceptable. Through Yeshua's power, those who trust in Him, both Jew and gentile, are lifted up and not limited by this physical world. To be acceptable to God, we must first believe in His plan for Salvation. We must recognize that we cannot walk in His ways unless He gives us His power. We must receive Yeshua.
"As many as believe and receive [Yeshua] — to them He gave the Power to be recognized as the children of God."
– John 1:12
God spoke, and in His awesome power, all of Creation came into existence. When God spoke to Moses at Mt. Sinai, His Word showed Israel how to be separate from the wicked world. As Israel aligned their lives to God's Word, the people reflected the nature and character of God. While still connected to Earth, they were “lifted up" just like the loaves.
When God gave the Jewish People His Word in written form, fire was on the mountain, mighty wind rushed like trumpets, and the entire mountain quaked (Exodus 19). When God gave up His Son — the Living Word — there was a tremendous earthquake (Matthew 27:51). At Pentecost, a violent wind rushed through the crowd and fire rested on each of Yeshua's disciples (Acts 2:2-4).
God promised that in The New Covenant, He would put His Word in the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:31-34). God did not put stone tablets or scrolls of sheepskin into the hearts of His people, but His own Breath — His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4, Acts 4:31).
God confirmed the importance of His Word at Sinai, at the Cross, and at Pentecost with powerful signs and by changing lives. Yeshua's disciples were filled with power and boldness to share the Good News of Yeshua.
God's Breath created everything and now lives inside each person who “believes and receives” Messiah Yeshua. Consider what power God wants to display in and through your life! Ask God to glorify Himself in you in such a way that all people — Jewish and gentile — are drawn to Him.
The Law is a tutor that points us to The Anointed One (Galatians 3:24). The entire Hebrew Bible speaks of Yeshua (John 5:39).
We find out the truth about Messiah Yeshua by hearing what is spoken of Him in the pages from Genesis to Malachi. As you read the Hebrew Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants you to hear about Yeshua. You will find that every page in the Scriptures has something to say to help us know “the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.”