SFIRAT HAOMER

“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD.”
Leviticus 23:15-16

There is a significant piece to the puzzle that takes place between Passover and Bikkurim known as Sfirat HaOmer. It is this season we are in now. In short the occasion is the actual counting of days between the two events, but in depth there is so much more that takes place within these fifty days. Counting as the Pharisees did which begins the exact day after the great Sabbath or Passover as opposed to the Sadducees understanding of counting following the next standard Sabbath, the date is understood not so much as a countdown but rather as a counting up. With anticipation for the Feast of Weeks the Omer in counted and prayed about daily. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself. Let me slow down and work to explain this concept better.
Within the Torah it is understood via Moses’ writings that during this time a special offering of barley grain is brought to the Holy Temple. This offering is called an Omer. The counting is done aloud at night with a blessing spoken over the grain. Roughly, it takes about five pounds of flour to equal an Omer. This, mixed with oil and a handful of levona spice make the sacred Omer which is then placed into a pan waved in all directions by the priests. Then a handful of the mixture is burned on the altar and the rest divided upon the priests for consumption. Beyond just being a fancy timeframe of forty-nine days to count, however, the forty-nine days also has another, greater significance and double meaning. These days represent the forty-nine days of preparation from the exodus from Egypt till the time when Egypt was delivered out of the people. To quote the musical artist David Baroni, “Lord, you took me out of Egypt, now take Egypt out of me.” Within this time God is looking for hearts dedicated to Him.
Earlier in Exodus 3:12 we read of Moses receiving instructions from God out of the burning bush. God spoke, “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” This mountain was Sinai. Once the Israelites left Egypt it took forty-nine days to reach the mountain and have a time of consecration. Departing on the 15th of Nisan, the first day of Passover, they arrived at this point before Sinai on the 6th of Sivan which is where they received the Torah from God. But in addition to the journey taking seven weeks, we also need to look separately at the numbers of 40 and 10. In forty days the Israelites were at a place where they were far enough removed physically from Egypt that God was able to see their hearts. Israel then was called to a time of consecration before the law was to be given (Ex 19:10). On the fiftieth day, the law was given. Now look at Acts 1:3 and we see Jesus appeared for forty days following His crucifixion before going to heaven. However, His last command to the disciples was not to leave but rather wait. This was the disciples’ version of consecration. This was a time of praying, fasting, and getting right with God. On the fiftieth day the Spirit was given.
Tonight at sundown will be day seven in the counting of Omer. In relation to this, I encourage you to spend some time today in consecration before God. During this time the people were encouraged to check their spiritual growth and character. It may do us well to do the same. Perhaps we find ourselves asking God the same thing as David Baroni sang. We have come out of Egypt, but has Egypt come out of us? In order for us to receive the fullness of this season of jubilee, we must check ourselves for all areas of waste that need to be removed from our lives. In saying that we give God our all we must truly give Him our all. Let us stop wandering in the desert and allowing the desert to live in us and instead come before God broken and ready for His infilling of the Spirit.