I’m a Gentile Believer, a devoted mother of five wonderful children, and the wife of an amazing husband. Nature, gardening, and dance bring joy and inspiration to my life. In my spare time, I play the piano, care for my garden, or study the Bible in Hebrew. And I’ll drop just about anything for a game of cards.
My unwavering quest for a genuine relationship with the God of the Bible has driven me to delve deeply into His Word, which guides my journey and shapes my life's path. This exploration, combined with dedication to living out my faith, is at the heart of my writing. I seek to share my insights and discoveries with readers, encouraging them to embark on their own spiritual journeys.
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Shavuot is the celebration of God’s provision – His Law, His Spirit, and His son as our Savior. Since milk and honey represent provision and plenty in the Bible, food served at Shavuot is often dairy-based and sweet. Here are some recipes for your Shavuot celebration.
Try these for a delicious gourmet Shavuot breakfast. A rich cheese filling in a thin egg wrap, and a fruity topping make this the perfect addition to your celebration!
I’ll just be honest here and say that this danish requires a lot of self control from me. I could eat the whole thing! It tastes great but is relatively simple to make.
A unique Jewish tradition, kugel can be made many different ways. This recipe is very much like cheesecake, making it fitting for your Shavuot table. This is the kugel my family likes best and it’s wonderful for Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah as well!
Here’s a simple appetizer that’s both satisfying and attractive. Dress it up with fun appetizer toothpicks to make them more festive and serve on a pretty platter.
This rich and filling Middle Eastern dessert is just heavenly! The heartiness of the nuts balances the sweetness of the honey, all encrusted in buttery, flaky phyllo dough.
Serve them tea style, on a tiered or decorative platter and remove the crusts for a delicate touch. You can make it spicy if you’d like but it’s also just wonderful without the heat.
I can think of many ways this recipe can be served during Shavuot. It would make a great salad topping, as well as a tasty addition to a tossed salad or to accompany fruits, nuts, and meats on a charcuterie platter.
This is the only way my family eats mashed potatoes. I have some potato haters but they (and the rest of us) like this rich and creamy recipe. It’s great with or without gravy!
You can make changes to this recipe to tailor it to your liking. Change the fruit on top, garnish with chocolate shavings, or serve with ice cream! The crust could be changed to an Oreo or Graham Cracker crust if that’s what you prefer.
While this recipe isn’t dairy or sweet, challah bread is often served during Shavuot. Two loaves are served to celebrate God’s lavish provision. This recipe will make two medium-sized loaves.
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Shavuot is one of the seven Biblical feasts listed in Leviticus 23. While many Christians don’t yet celebrate these important days, they’re so meaningful to our faith because all of them in some way point to Jesus as our Messiah!
Many Christians know Shavuot as Pentecost. The apostles were celebrating Shavuot when the Holy Spirit was given to them. As they praised God for giving His Law, He gave them the Holy Spirit, which enabled the Law to be written on hearts—theirs and ours!
The command to celebrate Shavuot includes bringing offerings to the Temple, which is not currently standing. Because of this, we can’t keep that command as stated in the Bible. But we can keep the tradition in order and focus on the themes of the celebration – God’s provision of both His Law and the Holy Spirit.
Since most of us aren’t yet experts at celebrating Shavuot, it’s helpful to have some ideas of how to observe it. Here are 10 great ways we can celebrate Shavuot as Christians.
1. Pray
As this is a celebration of the giving of the Holy Spirit, communicate with the Spirit in prayer. Ask for more of the Spirit’s influence in your life. Make sure to keep your heart open to what He has to teach you and convict you of.
To help you focus your prayers, the Holy Spirit’s roles include guiding, convicting, teaching, being the source of God’s power and wisdom in us, giving spiritual gifts, sealing our salvation, interceding for us, sanctifying us, and giving knowledge.
Shavuot is also known as the Feast of Proclamation so use this time to give praise to God. Proclaim that He’s your God and that you belong to Him. Proclaim His provision, salvation, and His commands given to set us apart.
2. Read the Stories
The themes of Shavuot include the giving of the Law, the giving of the Holy Spirit, and God’s provision, both for our spiritual and physical needs. A Jewish Shavuot tradition is to pull an all-nighter, studying the Bible around the clock! However you choose to study, here are some Bible selections to read to focus your mind and heart on the themes of Shavuot.
The Law: Exodus 19; Psalm 1:2, 19:7-11, 29:18, 112:1-6, 119, 128; Proverbs 4:2, 6:20-23; Matthew 5:17-20; Romans 3:31; James 1:25
Slavery in and rescue from Egypt: Exodus 3-15 (Summary here)
Slavery to sin: John 8:31-35, Romans 6, 8:1-25; Titus 3:1-10
Holy Spirit: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Joel 2:28-29; John 14:16-31; Acts 2; Romans 8:26-27
Since the command for Shavuot says that it should be a Sabbath, make rest a priority. This Sabbath differs from others in that food preparation is just fine, but it’s otherwise a time of rest. Be deliberate about choosing activities that promote togetherness and focus on God. Find some ideas in my post, “What DO we do on the Sabbath?”. Don’t let Shavuot go by without intentionally stopping and focusing on the God that provides!
4. Teach the Children
It’s so important Biblically that we pass our faith on to the next generation! If you don’t have children of your own, consider teaching your grandchildren or those at your church or synagogue about Shavuot and the amazing truths of God that it highlights. Here are some resources for children on the subject of Shavuot.
I use the Bible Pathway Adventures Activity Books for my own children and recommend them highly! This one covers the Feast of Shavuot and the other Spring Feasts—Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits. It also includes lessons on Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection!
PJ Library has provided our family with so many helpful resources for teaching our children about Biblical and Jewish holidays and traditions. This page has both crafts and recipes for kids that are relevant to the themes surrounding Shavuot.
5. Provide for the Less Fortunate
Within the command for Shavuot, God specifies that, when harvesting their fields, the Israelites were to leave the corners of the fields and not pick up the harvested grain that fell to the ground during the harvesting process. This was a provision for the poor, the widowed and otherwise, who were without the ability to produce their own food.
Today, provision for the poor looks very different, but we can still demonstrate this care for those who have similar needs in our culture and communities. Your church may have a food pantry that offers supplies to the needy in your community. Even small cities have food banks that are always grateful for donations. Crisis pregnancy centers provide necessities to mothers without the means to get what they need for their little ones. With so many ways to help available, it’s simple for us to reach out and see where we can help those less fortunate.
6. Celebrate Milk and Honey
One Shavuot tradition is to prepare dishes that are sweet and dairy-based. This is to remember God’s provision as milk and honey often symbolize in the Bible. God promised that He would bring the Hebrew people into the “land of milk and honey,” which meant the Promised Land. Of course, He kept His promise as He always does, and they did (eventually) get there!
He provided for them in their land, on the way, and He still provides for all of His people’s needs and will continue! Here are some recipes for dishes to serve during Shavuot to remind you and your family of God’s perfect provision.
This recipe is so versatile! You can top it with any fruit you like, ice cream, or chocolate shavings. The crust can be vanilla wafers, as called for in the recipe, or you can use an Oreo or Graham Cracker crust.
Kugel is a traditional Jewish recipe commonly served at Rosh Hashanah. This delicious kugel recipe is very similar to cheesecake, making it a fitting dish for Shavuot as well. My family likes this recipe, but it’s also the one I used when I won the kugel contest at our synagogue! Since this was only the second kugel I’d made in my life, winning surprised me more than anyone else there!
While many serve two loaves of Challah bread on Shabbat (the Sabbath) weekly to celebrate God’s provision, Shavuot is another opportunity to celebrate it as well. Serving two loaves shows that God has given us plenty but also reminds us of the two loaves required as an offering in the Shavuot command in Leviticus 23.
Here is the Challah Bread recipe I use. It will make two medium-sized loaves or three small ones.
Another part of the command in Leviticus, a holy convocation, is a get-together, not just for fellowship but to focus on God. During Shavuot, we focus on His blessings, His Laws, and His Spirit. This would be a great time to find a Messianic synagogue near you and visit if you don’t already have one. The UMJC and MCC both have directories if you need help finding one in your area. You could also have a Shavuot get-together with people from your church or Bible study. The focus here should be on worshipping and studying as a community of believers.
9. Get Baptized
If you’ve considered being baptized as an outward expression of your faith, and haven’t yet, Shavuot is a great time to do it! The significance of celebrating the indwelling of the Holy Spirit on the day of your baptism would be very special!
10. Make a Pilgrimage
Shavuot is one of three “pilgrimage festivals” in the Bible. The command for this says that all males should present themselves before the God of Israel and offer a sacrifice three times a year, on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Due to the Temple’s absence, we don’t offer sacrifices there on these days but any one of them would be a great time to plan a trip to the city of Jerusalem!
The things we celebrate at Shavuot – God’s provision, His Laws, and the Holy Spirit are so central to our faith as Christians! Check out my calendar for the dates of Shavuot for this year and make some plans to observe it, even if you never have. I bet you’ll find it deeply spiritual and be blessed by setting this time aside to focus on what God has given.
If Shavuot and its significance to our faith is a new concept for you, here’s some further reading on the subject. Written by David Brickner from Jews for Jesus, Christ in the Feast of Pentecost will give you a greater understanding of Shavuot and the countdown to it, as well as how they relate to our Savior.
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One of the seven God-ordained Feasts in Leviticus 23, Shavuot, is also called the Feast of Weeks. It’s a harvest festival, specifically the wheat harvest, a type of Biblical Thanksgiving. It celebrates God’s provision for our physical and spiritual needs. Jews mainly observe Shavuot, but Pentecost, Shavuot’s English name derived from the Greek, is celebrated in the Catholic and some Protestant churches today.
The most apparent reason for celebrating Shavuot is that God commanded it. However, we can’t keep it exactly as it was commanded since there’s no Temple. It’s one of seven Feasts God told the Israelites to keep in Leviticus and one of the three in Deuteronomy (Deut. 16:16). It was to be observed 50 days (seven Sabbaths and one day) after the Day of First Fruits during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD” Lev. 23:15-16 (NASB)
When the Egyptians enslaved the Hebrew people, God brought ten plagues upon their captors. The last of these was the plague of the firstborn, in which the firstborn in each household died, except that of the Israelites. Out of obedience to God’s instructions, they painted the blood of a lamb on their doorposts and were then passed over by the final plague. The death of the firstborn finally caused the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. After they left Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea and headed out into the desert.
It was 50 days after the Passover in Egypt when the Hebrew people were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, that God gave the Hebrew people the gift of the Torah. Having been freed from slavery, they were free to serve God, and He chose this time to finalize His covenant with them by giving them His Law.
Likewise, 50 days after Passover, Shavuot is to be celebrated. The Day of First Fruits, or Yom HaBikkurim, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is when the counting of the omer began. On this day, the priest would wave a sheaf of green barley, an omer, to start the count. A male lamb would also be sacrificed, and God’s people would count up to Shavuot. Today, some Believers celebrate not only the First Fruits but the next 49 days also as days of spiritual introspection. Since these days lead up to the day God’s Law (the Torah) was given on Shavuot, these days are preparation to receive the word of God.
“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Jere. 31:33 (NASB)
Jeremiah prophesied that God would make a new covenant with His people, in which the Law would be on their hearts.
Jesus also prophesied the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1.
“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4-5 (NASB)
In the New Testament, the apostles of the early church observe Shavuot, which is then called Pentecost, which is derived from the Greek word meaning “fiftieth.” While gathered for Shavuot, in celebration of God giving His law to them, God chose this time to give the gift of His Spirit to His people.
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance” Acts 2:1-4(NASB)
None of this is a coincidence. The apostles knew what and why they were celebrating on Shavuot, and the timing of God giving His Spirit wasn’t lost on them. Having been newly freed from the slavery of their sin, it had come time for God to finalize the New Covenant with His people. Jesus had been crucified 50 days before to atone for our sins, ushering in a way for sinful, imperfect people to commune with a Holy God. God then solidified this New Covenant by giving us His Spirit and writing His Word on our hearts, just as He promised 1,200 years prior!
So, while Jews have gathered for Shavuot from the time of Moses to the early church in Acts and still celebrate it even today, it has meaning for Gentile Believers also. As the grafted-in or adopted people of God, the promise of the New Covenant is for us and the people of Israel. When we recognize Jesus as Messiah, we enter a Covenant with God and have not only His Torah but also His Law written on our hearts through His gift of the Holy Spirit.
Sounds like a reason to celebrate, right!?
If you’d like to explore Shavuot and Pentecost more deeply, I recommend Christ in the Feast of Pentecost by the Senior Researcher and Executive Director of Jews for Jesus. It’s a quick read but very informative.
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The Bible has a lot of guidance on how to be a Godly woman. One need only look to Jesus’s example of service to get a picture of what that looks like but there are also some straightforward ways the Bible instructs us. Proverbs provides some wonderful metaphors concerning women. Here are some I find interesting as well as challenging.
As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Prov. 11:22
Unlike animals, where the males tend to be the more beautiful of the species, human females are the ones that shine through when it comes to beauty. Both men and women naturally desire to adorn women with beautiful clothes, valuable jewelry, etc.
But who in their right mind would adorn a pig with a ring of gold? What a waste! Solomon says it’s the same with beautiful women who lack discretion. So, use your God-given discernment and judgment to filter out the things that don’t belong in your life.
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
Prov. 12:4
We all know there are ups and downs in marriage but who of us doesn’t want to strive for titles like “excellent” and “crown of her husband”? No matter my disagreement with my husband, I would never want to shame him and be like decay in his bones!
The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Prov. 14:1
I’m sure you can think of a person in your life who is your own worst enemy. As women, we can get preoccupied with keeping up with our peers, feeling neglected as we care for our families, and many other things. We often then react to those things in such a way that we tear our own homes down. We have so much control over our home’s environment; let’s make sure to use that to build and not tear it down.
…a slanderer separates intimate friends.
Prov. 16:28b
The word “slanderer” in this verse can also be translated as “gossip.” For good reason, women are SO in tune with people. We can see people’s motives and read their non-verbal messages. We can see where others are hurting and address their needs. But we can also use this skill to do damage to others. Women can be the worst when our hearts aren’t focused on God and His will! We can get such sinful satisfaction out of gossip and manipulation, though it leads to the destruction of others. We need to accept this tendency, repent for it, and move forward in our relationships with the heart for people that God desires in us.
The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
Prov. 18:8
Here’s another one about gossip and slander. God knows us a little too well, doesn’t He? And yet He still loves us and offers us forgiveness through Jesus. We can’t just sit around and take that for granted. We can strive to be who he made us to be to the people around us!
…the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
Prov. 19:13b
I want to say I don’t know what it’s like to be driven to the breaking point by something annoying like a constant drip, but that’s not me. A persistent annoyance like that becomes so pervasive in my concentration and activities that I feel like I cannot go on without addressing it. How frustrating! Let’s ensure we’re not the contentious, constantly dripping type of wife to our men!
House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Prov. 19:14
Ladies, we have such an opportunity to be a blessing to our husbands and our households. As married women, our giftedness is given to us not for our personal gain but for that of God’s glory in our lives, through our marriages and otherwise. Prudence is wisdom and sensibility. Let’s employ those for the betterment of our marriages!
It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Prov. 21:9
The corner of a roof! Can you imagine? No protection from the elements, constantly uncomfortable, not having access to the safety of the house when you need it? The word “contentious” in this verse can also be translated as “quarrelsome.” This verse is repeated in Proverbs 25:24 so it surely needs our attention! Is fighting every point of yours so vital that you’re willing to put your man in this position? I don’t think so!
It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
Prov. 21:19
Now it’s a desert – just in case we missed the point in the last few examples. It’s becoming more evident that being quarrelsome or contentious puts our husbands and others around us in some pretty undesirable spots. Since we tend to have selective blindness regarding our shortcomings, pray about this. Ask God to reveal if you’re a quarrelsome wife. If so, ask for forgiveness from God and your husband and set yourself on the path to being a better wife and bringing glory to God through your marriage!
Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
Prov. 25:16
Our culture offers many offers so many opportunities for overindulgence. It’s not just with food, either! Sleep, comfort, beautiful homes, social media, and time for ourselves are some ways we can overindulge. As Christian women, we need to restrain and discipline ourselves to enjoy the blessings in our lives but not be distracted by the comforts, lest we forget what we are really here for – serving others and glorifying God.
Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
Prov 26:17
Although not specifically directed toward women, we can all identify with a love of drama. This attraction to drama is why those cheesy soap operas and trashy talk shows keep afternoon television booked for years! It takes a conscious and targeted effort to avoid drama as a woman. Our weakness is to get sucked into the business of others and we need to stand against that and only get involved if it’s necessary and beneficial to all parties.
For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
Prov. 26:20
While we have the power to cause destruction with our words and focus on others, we also can make peace with it. We can be where the rumors and the gossip come to die. We can uplift one another by how we talk about them. We can use our ability to see the weaknesses of others to walk with them and pray for them.
What should we do?
Many direct “do not” type statements come through as you read the above Proverbs, but our God does not leave us without further instruction. We must align ourselves with what He wants for us and those around us through His plan. We’re given a clear goal at the end of Proverbs.
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Though not unattainable, it will take discipline and obedience on our part as the Spirit provides continued guidance and instruction to live up to becoming a Proverbs 31 woman. Be encouraged in that we’re all a work in progress. When convicted of things in our lives that need to change, we can ask God for help and do all in our human power to transform our lives into the wives, mothers, and women God calls us to be and bring all the glory to Him! *Drops microphone*
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Sometime between Passover and Shavuot, many people “count the omer.” While that may sound complicated, it merely means counting each of the 50 days until Shavuot.
But why count? Can’t we just look at our calendars to see when Shavuot is? What should we be doing while we’re counting the days? Most importantly, what’s the significance of this command? Exactly what is God teaching us through the process of counting? To answer these questions, let’s first look at the omer count and where it came from.
What’s an Omer?
Literally speaking, an omer is a sheaf or bundle of grain. In this case, the grains referred to are barley and wheat. It’s also a unit of measure: 1/10 of an ephah equals about 2-1/2 quarts. In Exodus, an omer is the amount of manna God provided each Israelite each day in the desert.
The Command
In Leviticus 23, God lays out the way of life He desires for His newly freed people. After He covers the instructions for the Tabernacle and the priests, God tells the people what to celebrate, when, and how.
He gives instructions on observing the Sabbath and the seven Feasts—Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Shavuot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. We find the command to count between the instructions for First Fruits and Shavuot.
You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD.
Lev. 23:16
The command to count the omer follows the command for the Festival of First Fruits. After Passover and during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the countdown to Shavuot begins on the day of First Fruits. It may seem random that God would connect these Feasts, but it’s not because they’re directly connected. Here’s a small summary of these spring Festivals in the order they occur on the calendar and are listed in Leviticus 23.
Passover
In the celebrationof Passover, the Hebrew people were to remember God rescuing them from their captivity in Egypt, as well as the provision of the Passover lamb whose blood covered them, protecting them from the plague of the firstborn brought upon Egypt.
At Passover, celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Nissan, we remember what God has done for us, both in supernaturally rescuing the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt and from our sin through Jesus. The blood of the Passover lamb caused God to overlook those covered by it in the plague of the firstborn. In somewhat the same way, the blood of Jesus, our Passover lamb, covers our sin and allows our unholy selves to have access to God.
Not literally a “feast,” this is a time of living without the leaven (yeast) that we normally do—both in our homes and our diets. God told His people to go without leaven for seven days, starting the day just after Passover.
Leaven is often used to symbolize sin in the Bible, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread effectively portrays sin in our lives. It’s not only everywhere in our diets and homes; it’s difficult to get completely cleaned out and uncomfortable to live without, just like sin. There are little “crumbs” of sin all over our lives—some we don’t want to get rid of for various reasons, and some we aren’t even aware of!
But this points us right to Jesus! He covers the sins we can’t and gives grace for even the whole “loaves” of sin we must throw in the trash. We have him to thank for allowing us to sleep at night even though there are sins we may not even be aware of in our lives.
To summarize the command for First Fruits, God tells the Hebrew people not to eat any new barley that ripens first until they have given their offering. They’re to take a sheaf (omer) of it to the priest at the Tabernacle, along with a defect-free male lamb and wine as offerings. Having no Tabernacle or Temple today, we cannot obey this command.
However, it’s traditionally thought that the day of First Fruits is the day that Jesus rose from the dead, and that’s really something to celebrate! It’s also a day on which we can remember the First Fruits offering and focus on always giving our first and best to God.
God told the Hebrew people to bring bread baked with the flour of the wheat harvest, including twice as much as the First Fruits offering, two omers. If First Fruits is to bring the very first part of the harvest as an offering out of faith that more will be provided, Shavuot is to bring another offering, this time out of the abundance of the later harvest, 50 days later.
For thousands of years, God’s people have celebrated Shavuot, when God gave His Law to the Hebrew people on Mt. Sinai. As newly freed people, they were privileged to be given a way of life that pleased their God and set them apart from the surrounding people as His chosen. In Acts, Shavuot was what the apostles were celebrating when the Holy Spirit was given to them.
During Shavuot, we remember God’s provision, not looking forward to it in faith as we did on First Fruits, but showing our gratefulness for what’s been given.
The Connection
The Spring Feast Days tell the story of our redemption. Passover reminds us of the Lamb’s blood that covers and saves us. Unleavened Bread symbolizes why we need our Savior, and First Fruits is when we look forward to God’s provision! Shavuot then celebrates God providing His rescued people with the way to live through His Laws on our hearts and through His Spirit.
Since counting the omer is from First Fruits to Shavuot, it’s helpful to see the connection between them. At First Fruits, we look forward in faith, and at Shavuot, we celebrate God’s faithfulness and provision.
During the 50-day counting period, we focus on maturing in righteousness—not to obtain salvation but to live as people belonging to people and worthy of being indwelt by His Spirit. It should be a time of cleansing our hearts to prepare them for the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us as people of God.
The number 50 in the Bible represents liberation. Each 50th year was to be the year of Jubilee, where slaves were set free, and the land was returned to its original owner. The word “Pentecost” means 50 and is the name of the Christian holiday celebrating God’s giving of the Holy Spirit.
A Time for Growth
If we focus on the Holy Days, the Hebrew people went from being slaves to Mount Sinai, where God made His covenant with them. In the same way, Jesus was crucified during Passover, raised on First Fruits, and then 50 days passed until the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles. On that Shavuot, a New Covenant was made, as God has now written His Laws on the hearts of His people.
Our Spiritual growth is the same. In the “Passover” season of our lives, we accept Jesus as our Passover Lamb. The Unleavened Bread portion of our faith is where we genuinely repent and continually try to align our lives with God’s desires. Out of our growing faith, we then celebrate that Jesus has risen and his victory over death. As our faith matures, we Christians move toward a place where the Holy Spirit can live inside us, enabling us to follow His Laws and do His work on Earth.
At the beginning of the Counting of the Omer, we’ve just experienced the celebration of Passover. We remembered what God did for the Hebrew people and us. We also observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread, where we took inventory of our lives, repented, and worked diligently to ensure there wasn’t a mess of sin left that God wouldn’t want there.
Then we arrive at the Feast of First Fruits, where we remember that we give God the best of what we have out of faith. We step forward by putting our faith in God to provide for us in the future. On Shavuot, He will provide His Law and write it on our hearts through His Spirit.
Ready for the Spirit
During the time between First Fruits and Shavuot, we grow in our faith so that we’re ready to have God’s Spirit inhabit us. As Christians, His Spirit already lives in our hearts, so this time of counting allows us to refocus on our faith and ensure that we’re growing in maturity as we should throughout our walk. Starting at Passover, we focus on moving from slaves to free people dedicated to God and in His service.
The Counting of the Omer reminds us daily that God not only deserves our best and is worthy of our faith in Him but that He provides for us at the count’s completion and always! While we count, we examine our hearts and our faith to see if they’re worthy of the Holy Spirit we’ve been given. Spoiler alert: They’re not. But as Jesus covers the sin remaining in our hearts, we do our best to make sure there’s less and less as we grow and continually align our hearts to what God wants in our lives.
Since God has a purpose for all He does, when He told the Hebrew people to simply count, He knew they needed to do that for some reason. It’s the same thing with us. Counting focuses us on the symbolism and lessons of the surrounding Feast Days. It reminds us that God is faithful. He’s provided all we need in the past and will in the future. Counting the Omer is a time of strengthening our faith.
What to Do During the Count
However, humans are doers, so being given an activity like counting over 50 days seems ambiguous. I know that it’s a time to examine my faith and growth in righteousness, but I can’t help but wonder what we DO during this time. In Orthodox Judaism, a blessing is said each evening of the count, as well as the number of the day and the week. Some also focus on different attributes of God throughout the count.
Here are a few things that will get your heart and mind in the right place for this time of counting and prepare you for the celebration of Shavuot.
Count, Of Course!
One way to take this command literally is to cross off each day on a calendar or omer counter made just for this purpose. I’ve used this one from torahcalendar.com, but there are many available! Here are some, and there’s even a LEGO Omer Counter that they’ll love!
2. Communicate with God
Wait. That doesn’t sound out of the ordinary at all! It shouldn’t be, but you and I both know that most of us allow things to creep into our daily schedules that threaten our time with God, which should be a priority. Prayer and studying God’s Word often go by the wayside when other things are put first.
During this time of counting, make it a high priority to be in constant conversation with God. Be humble and honest so you can hear what He says – even those things you’d rather not! During times of self-examination, I find it helpful to pray the following verse.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 139:23-24
Share the Count
During the Counting of the Omer, the Jewish people say a blessing each evening of the count, along with stating the day and week number. This blessing clarifies that each day has been counted and that God is getting the glory.
However you observe the omer count, don’t keep it to yourself! Include your family and your children and encourage them to grow in their faith during this time. And, as with everything you do, make sure God gets all the glory!
Part of the reason for the count is to look forward to the giving of God’s Law on Sinai and the Holy Spirit to the apostles. This makes preparing for Shavuot a very appropriate activity during the count. Make a plan of how you and your family will celebrate Shavuot and what supplies you’ll need. Read the stories of the giving of the Law and the Holy Spirit in Exodus 19 and Acts 1, respectively.
Thank God for His perfect Laws and for the Spirit that allows those Laws to be written on our hearts. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you specifically which of His Laws you need to work on. Soften your heart so you can hear His answer.
The Counting of the Omer is an important time for Believers to grow in their faith and cleanse themselves spiritually. It’s a time for us to respond to the faithfulness and provision God has lavished upon all of us.
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As Gentile believers in Jesus as the Messiah (a.k.a. Christians), Paul says in Romans 11 that we’re “wild olive” branches and that we’re “grafted in” to the “olive tree” to become partakers in the original tree – God’s promises to His people. Paul’s analogy is descriptive, showing how Gentile believers have a part in the Kingdom of God.
And I like being called a wild olive branch, don’t you? It sounds like we’re untainted in our wildness yet dignified in that we’re part of something rich and established. While this may be part of what Paul meant, there’s a lot more in this analogy for us as Christians.
Before the Wild Branch
To get some background, look at what’s going on at the beginning of Romans chapter 11. Paul is in the middle of telling his Jewish audience that they missed the messiah. By rejecting Jesus, they missed the message of grace they were offered and were still focusing on being saved by their works while waiting for the messiah. Verses 11-16 describe how the Gentiles have a chance at the Messiah because Jesus’s own people rejected him. Paul still wanted the Jewish people to see their need for Jesus (and some of them did!), but he describes their rejection as the “reconciliation of the world” (Rom. 11:15).
How blessed we are, Brothers and Sisters? It is so sad that God’s people, the Jews, shunned the messiah they had prayed for over so many years, but God brings a blessing in even something as heartbreaking as this. And it’s for us! Because of this, we have access to Israel’s Messiah, now the Savior to the entire world!
I love gardening more than most, but I haven’t attempted grafting. It isn’t easy. It’s an expert-level sort of thing. A tree farmer must do a graft correctly and carefully and take great care of the scion – the area where the two trees are attached. Even after a LOT of work and attention to detail, the graft may not take! Even when it does take, the new offshoot may not be productive. A well-grafted branch not only grows but also produces well.
Grafting only works when the new branch is of the same family as the original tree. For example, you can’t graft a cherry branch onto an orange tree. A successful graft requires a sort of “communication” between the old and new trees, which can only occur between trees of the same type.
A Farmer’s reasons for grafting may vary, but the overall goal is to get the best of both varieties. Combining the trees into one shouldn’t obscure the character of one and highlight the other but reserve the essence of both. Generally, one of the two trees has quality rootstock, and the other produces desirable fruit. Grafting gives the gardener the best of both worlds – a tree with solid roots and good fruit. The nature of each tree is reserved while allowing the best qualities of both to shine through.
Two Types of Olive Trees
In the Middle East at the time of Paul and today, two main olive tree types are commonly grafted – the wild and the cultivated varieties. The cultivated trees grow olives used for food and to produce olive oil. Wild olive fruit isn’t as flavorful and is not usually eaten. Grafting won’t make a wild branch produce olives of cultivated quality or change the solid root structure of the original tree. It would, however, allow the wild branch to benefit from the established roots and healthy base of the cultivated tree and help it to produce healthy fruit of its unique variety.
Understanding Paul’s Symbolism
To clarify Paul’s analogy, Gentiles that recognize Jesus as the messiah and thus their need for him are the wild olive branches. The cultivated olive tree and its roots represent the promises of God given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Old Testament. He is saying that, although God made these promises to the Jewish people, we have a part in them, as Gentiles, due to our belief that Jesus is who he says he is. Our faith strengthens us and allows us to be “sons of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7).
So, now that we’re grafted in, what are we? While the grafting process entitles us to be heirs to God’s promises to the Jews, it does not make us into Jews. After the graft, we maintain our original character – Jews stay Jews, and Gentiles stay Gentiles. The change is that we’re then one in our Messiah, Jesus.
The Branches Broken Off
When grafting, cutting some branches off the original tree is usually necessary to allow space or a better nutrient load for the new branch. Paul says in his grafting analogy that Jesus came to save his people, the Jewish people, but most of them rejected him as the messiah. He says that these branches were “not spared” and that they were “hardened.” Sadly, the Jewish people who did not recognize Jesus as their messiah were broken from the tree of God’s promises.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He states that God will never abandon His people Israel. Also found in 1 Samuel 12:22 and other places, God is clear about His undying love for the Jewish people. Paul continues, saying that God will readily re-graft them when they turn from unbelief.
He also says that it was the disobedience of the Jews in rejection of Jesus that made a place for Gentile believers in the Kingdom of God. Because they fell away and were broken from the tree, we can now be grafted into that tree where we wouldn’t otherwise have had a part. This redemption is just part of God’s character. He makes a perfect plan, and people mess it up, then he brings blessing out of the terrible situation that is beyond what we could have imagined. It’s part of who He is!
What should our lives look like today as successfully grafted wild olive branches? How do we reflect our roots while maintaining our Gentile character? Paul answers this as well.
Stay humble. Paul first warns us of arrogance. Because branches were broken off, allowing us to be grafted in does not give us the right to think of ourselves as superior to the Jewish people. In verse 18, he said that we should remember that it is the root that supports us and not the Gentiles that support the root. As branches that benefit from the root, Christians should stand firmly against anti-Semitism and work diligently to bridge the deep chasm between Christians and Jews that has been built throughout history.
Pray for the Jewish people. Praying for their salvation should be our prayer for the Jewish people today. If seeing them turn to Christ and be re-grafted in is a desire of God’s heart, it should also be ours!
Learn more about the tree. Being grafted in brings the opportunity for salvation to us as Gentiles. Some Christians say that the Old Testament is no longer relevant to our faith, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Genesis 12:1-3 contains God’s promise to Abraham to give him land and numerous descendants and to bless all the people of the earth through him. But the whole bible contains our story as God’s people, from Genesis to Revelation. God’s character is revealed throughout His word, and we should make it our life’s work to get to know Him and the promises (both fulfilled and yet to be) upon which our faith is built.
Have a faith worthy of jealousy. Not in a middle school mean girl way, but one where our faith is so pure and solid that outsiders, including Jews, want what we have. Paul suggests that this jealousy was one of the reasons salvation was extended to the Gentiles. Is your faith capable of making someone jealous for it? Do outsiders see your relationship with the God of the Bible and hope in our Savior and want that in their own lives?
Produce good fruit. Like a grafted branch, we are to be productive offshoots. In John 15:8, Jesus says, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” We glorify God by bearing good fruit, including the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23.
The analogy of being grafted in as wild olive branches demonstrates how we, as Gentiles, have access to God’s promises to the Hebrew people. Without this grafting and some branches being broken from the original tree, we wouldn’t have a part in these promises and wouldn’t have our Messiah, Jesus. As successfully grafted and productive branches, we should produce fruit that glorifies God and humbly honor our roots and the spiritual nutrition they provide.
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There stands in the Old City of Jerusalem a 2,000-year-old wall of limestone. Its beautifully chiseled ancient stones are of historical interest but have fueled much religious and political tension throughout its existence. But why this wall? Why is it worth all the strife and spilled blood surrounding it? Why do millions of people come from all over the world to visit this 187-foot section of wall – sometimes over 1 million people in just one month?
Mount Moriah
To fully understand the significance of The Wall, we must have at least a basic understanding of Mount Moriah. Now called the Temple Mount, and a seemingly small area comparatively, many significant acts of faith took place in this very spot. On Mount Moriah, Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him out of obedience to God. Abraham named this area “the LORD will provide” after God provided a ram to be offered in Isaac’s place.
1 Chronicles 21:18-30 and 2 Chronicles 3:1 describe Mount Moriah as the place God appeared to David and answered his prayer to end the plague on his people. It’s also the site of the threshing floor that David purchased for the Temple to be built. Ornan (or Araunah, depending on your translation), the floor’s previous owner, offered to give it to him, but David said he wouldn’t offer to God that which cost him nothing and paid for it anyway. Doesn’t that show us what’s going on in David’s heart? Service to God isn’t really sacrificing if it costs us nothing!
Solomon then built the Temple on Mount Moriah, which was later rebuilt after the first Temple was destroyed. Many places in the Bible (Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation, among others) indicate that there will be a holy temple in the future. Scripture suggests that Mount Moriah will again be where God inhabits His Temple.
Solomon’s Temple
Built almost 3,000 years ago on Mount Moriah, in the 10th century BCE, the Temple for God was among the grandest of structures in history. Read about it in 1 Kings 6-8. It was indeed a work of art! During his reign, building the Temple was on David’s heart but was later constructed by his son, Solomon. This Temple wasn’t just a beautiful church building. Called the house of God in the Bible, it contained the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies and was where sacrifices were carried out according to the Laws of God. The design came from God and was given to David (1 Ch. 28:19), who then passed it on to his son when the time came for it to be built.
In 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5, it’s recorded that the presence of God showed up in the form of a cloud during the dedication of the Temple. When the priests exited the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the Temple, after placing the Ark of the Covenant there, the glory of God filled the Temple in the form of a cloud. The Bible says that cloud permeated the building, so the priests couldn’t even stand to minister! Clearly, God thought highly of the Temple King Solomon had built for Him!
The Second Temple
In about 587 BCE, the city of Jerusalem was occupied and taken over by the Babylonians. King Nebuchadnezzar II had not only Solomon’s Temple destroyed but all of Jerusalem burned.
After the fall of the Babylonian Empire in 516 BCE, Cyrus the Great allowed the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple. It was reconstructed in the same place as the first. In 19 BCE, Herod built a semi-rectangular retaining wall around the Temple area, and the Temple was completed during the reign of his grandson, King Agrippa II, as recorded by historian Josephus Flavius. The Western wall of this rectangular retaining wall is what’s currently known as The Western Wall.
The Temple today
The story behind the celebration of Hanukkah covers the period when the Seleucid Empire controlled Jerusalem. Antiochus IV followed in his father’s footsteps in trying to Hellenize the Jews. The Temple was desecrated with the pagan practices of the Greeks, which eventually led to the Maccabean Revolt and their miraculous victory.
Roman rule over Jerusalem in 70 CE brought the most recent destruction to The Temple. This time, it wasn’t rebuilt (at least not yet!). Both the Romans and the Christians under Constantine forbade the Jews from entering Jerusalem for centuries, except just one day annually, the 9th of the month of Av, when they were allowed to visit to mourn the Temple.
In the 7th century, the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem led to them building a shrine on the Temple site, the Dome of the Rock, in 691 CE. Even after the Nation of Israel regained control over Jerusalem in 1967, the Temple Mount remained under Jordanian rule. It’s still this way today, and though Jews may visit, they may not pray there. The closest place to the Temple they’re permitted to pray is the Western Wall, which is why the Kotel, or “wall” in Hebrew, is considered the holiest site in Judaism.
Should the Western Wall be a sacred site for Christians? The short answer is yes! Though we are not Jewish, our belief in Jesus as the Messiah has allowed our Gentile selves to be grafted in, allowing us to become God’s people. God’s promises to the Israelites in the Old Testament also apply to us.
The Temple is not only part of the history of our faith as Christians and our spiritual heritage as people of the Kingdom of God; it’s also the place our God physically inhabited here on earth to be with His people, pre-Jesus. It’s easy to forget that our God is real, supernatural, and awesome! Don’t miss the significance of the history of this Temple. Your God thought the place was important enough to live there. Your God lived there. For real. Let that sink in.
Jesus at The Temple
Another reason for Christians to honor the Temple is that it was a place of worship for our Savior, Jesus. The Bible records many situations where we find Jesus in different life stages at the Temple in Jerusalem.
As an infant
Jesus’s first visit to The Temple was when he was just 40 days old. Mary and Joseph brought him there to fulfill the command in the Torah to do so (Luke 2:22-38). He also went there at least as often as once yearly as he grew up (Luke 2:41).
As a young man
At 12, Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parents to celebrate Passover. Then, he was accidentally left behind and was found asking brilliant questions of the rabbis there (Luke 2:41-51).
As a man
The most well-known story from Jesus at the Temple was when he overturned the sellers’ tables (Mark 11:15-18), but that wasn’t the only time he went to the Temple. During one period in his adult life, he taught there daily (Luke 21:37-38).
As believers in the truth of scripture, the God of the Bible, and Jesus as Lord, it can be seen that the Western Wall and the Temple it represents are of great importance. The fact that Jesus fulfills the need for a sacrifice for our sin, causing us not to need a temple for sin sacrifices, doesn’t diminish the significance of The Temple and its Western Wall. While not all of us can visit it in person, Christians can honor this site and thus our God from afar by learning more about its history and effect on the world both politically and prophetically. If you can, a visit to the Western Wall (as well as other significant sites in The Holy Land) will grow and concrete your faith and understanding of the land of the Bible.
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Discover Artza Boxes, a monthly subscription service delivering handcrafted treasures from local artisans in the Holy Land straight to your door. Each quarter, you’ll receive a thoughtfully curated box with a unique theme, featuring an array of items such as gourmet foods, home décor, artisanal crafts, and educational materials. Dive deeper into the experience with included insights about the talented artisans behind these creations, fostering a meaningful connection to the Holy Land. Perfect as a gift or a special treat for you and your loved ones, Artza Boxes bring joy and inspiration with every delivery!
This quarter’s Artza Box, themed around Genesis, celebrates creation and new beginnings. One thing you may find interesting is that some of the items included are on the subject of Shabbat, the Sabbath. The connection is what’s celebrated on the Sabbath – creation. Each Sabbath, we say the Kiddush, Genesis 2:1-3, “
Every item in the box is thoughtfully selected to reflect the essence of Genesis – creation and new beginnings. Here’s what you’ll find inside.
The included booklet features Banias, a breathtaking region of verdant landscapes and flowing waters, also known as Caesarea Philippi. This historic site holds profound biblical significance as the place where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” prompting Peter’s powerful confession that Jesus is the Messiah (Matthew 16:13-20).
Today, Banias is a vibrant destination within the Banias Nature Reserve, drawing visitors to its stunning natural beauty and rich history. Explore the serene Banias Spring, marvel at the majestic waterfall, and wander through archaeological treasures, including the ancient Cave of Pan and Roman-era ruins. Perfect for pilgrims, history enthusiasts, and nature lovers, Banias offers a captivating blend of spiritual reflection and scenic wonder.
Yair Emanuel Hand-Painted Candle Holder Set
This lovely painted metal candle holder is my standout favorite from the box! Crafted by artist Yair Emanuel, celebrated for his vibrant and meaningful Judaica designs, it’s an ideal piece for an Erev Shabbat service, designed to hold two candles and adorned with the poignant Bible verse, “God saw that the light was good and He separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4) from the creation narrative. It elevates our Shabbat table with its beauty and pairs flawlessly with the Seven Days of Creation tray below. Emanuel’s other works, featured in past Artza Boxes, consistently bring such meaningful and stunning artistry to our collection.
Yair Emanuel Seven Days of Creation Serving Tray
This exquisite tray is also created by renowned artist Yair Emanuel. Perfectly suited for placement beneath the candle holder set in this box on your dining or display table, this painted metal tray serves as both a functional piece and a work of art. It vividly depicts the Seven Days of Creation, each panel illustrating a day of creation from the Genesis narrative with Emanuel’s signature blend of bold colors and intricate patterns. Ideal for Shabbat, holidays, or as a thoughtful gift, this Yair Emanuel creation brings spiritual depth and aesthetic elegance to any table.
Halva-Coated Peanuts
Halva, a Middle Eastern confection, offers a delightful, subtly sweet complement to crunchy peanuts, making these Halva Coated Peanuts an ideal snack. This treat celebrates the Holy Land’s heritage, with its packaging featuring Genesis 1:11: “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it…” A perfect blend of flavor and tradition, it’s a meaningful addition to any snack collection.
DeKarina Milk Chocolate Treats
DeKarina’s exquisite confections, featured in past Artza Boxes, shine again in this delightful treat. Velvety dark chocolate envelops crunchy hazelnuts, crafting a delectable snack. Artisan Karina, following her grandfather’s legacy as a chocolatier, handcrafts these chocolates in a region enduring heavy rocket fire from Hezbollah, embodying remarkable resilience. This treat is a perfect blend of rich flavor and inspiring craftsmanship.
Mixture for Challah Coating
This challah coating is a stellar addition to my family’s collection of challah recipes. We’ve tried numerous variations! This coating blends Za’atar, a vibrant Middle Eastern spice mix, with other Israeli herbs, creating a flavorful and visually stunning topping for challah or any bread loaf. Sourced from Derech HaTavlinim (The Spice Road Farm) in Bethlehem of Galilee, Israel, these spices are expertly crafted. Packaged by “In the Box,” a company empowering individuals recovering from addiction through employment and training, this coating delivers rich taste and meaningful impact.
Blessing for Israel Hand-Cut Paper Artwork
This framed artwork by Noa Attias captures the Holy Land’s splendor, depicting a native Israeli tree and bird that celebrate creation’s beauty. A lifelong artist, Attias infuses her work with the essence of meaningful traditions and events. The piece features a hand-cut tree shaped like Israel, enclosing a Hebrew prayer, translated in English as: “Our Father in Heaven, Rock and Redeemer of the people Israel: Bless the State of Israel, with its promise of redemption. Shield it with Your love; spread over it the shelter of Your peace. Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth. Help them with Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of those who defend out Holy Land. Deliver them; crown their efforts with triumph. Bless the land with peace, and its inhabitants with lasting joy”. A stunning and soulful addition to any home, this artwork radiates spiritual and cultural significance.
Genesis Journal
This exquisite journal celebrates the creation story in Genesis, adorned with Hebrew words, their meanings, and selected verses. Its hand-pressed paper pages, accented by simple illustrations, offer ample space for reflections on creation, Bible study, or personal thoughts. The cover, graced with a gold olive branch, features “In the Beginning” in both Hebrew and English. The Hebrew word Beresheet (בראשית), meaning “In the beginning” and the first word of the Bible, also names the Book of Genesis, the Torah’s opening book. Learn more about the Torah here.
This quarter’s Artza Box is a radiant celebration of the Holy Land’s rich heritage, encapsulating the spirit of Israel through artisan-crafted treasures. Each item, from Hebrew-inscribed journals to Galilee-grown spice blends, weaves a story of faith, resilience, and tradition, inviting you to connect deeply with the land and its people. More than a subscription, it’s a meaningful journey that transforms unboxing into a moment of spiritual discovery. Perfect for enriching your own connection to Israel or gifting to someone who holds the Holy Land dear, this box brings the region’s timeless beauty and inspiration into your home. With every carefully curated piece, the Artza Box fosters reflection, gratitude, and a lasting bond with Israel’s sacred legacy.
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Passover is such a rich and meaningful Celebration for Christians, because it reminds us of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness to His people through both the Passover in Exodus as well as through our Savior, Jesus.
One of the reasons God tells us to celebrate Passover is to teach our children about Him through it (Ex. 12:24-27). We don’t have to add to the story of Passover to make it interesting. It’s an amazing story of an awesome God showing His supernatural power in order to rescue His people from a life of slavery to a life of freedom in Him! Here’s a brief overview of the Passover story if you need a reminder.
Kids and the Bible
I know there are some parents, grandparents, and guardians out
there that worry about teaching children the more harsh parts of the
Bible. This story contains death,
sacrifice, blood, plagues, etc. and I understand how that seems like
inappropriate material for kids.
But here’s the thing, guys.
We need to keep our eye on the goal here. Why do we spend our precious time teaching
our children stories from the Bible anyway?
Because we want them to develop a relationship with the God of the Bible
and to come to know Jesus as their Savior.
We can’t reach these goals without telling them the Gospel story, that
of Jesus’s crucifixion – the one where he bled and died and became the
sacrifice that atones for our sin. If we
were to leave this story out, we’d be wasting our time entirely.
So, are there any parts of the Bible we should leave out when
teaching children? It does depend on
their age and ability to handle difficult subjects. Some of the stories that include sexual sin,
such as the story of Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38), or the specific gristly details
like Judas’s intestines spilling out in Acts 1:18 could be left until the kids
are older. But though we increase the
detail in which we relay the stories as they mature, both the Gospel story and
that of Passover can (and should!) be told age-appropriately to children.
As with anything difficult they may encounter in life, be ready
to discuss it with your children.
Questions about death, sacrifice, the wrath of God, plague details, etc.
will come up. God’s holy Word does not
return void when it goes out, so be wise in addressing your young audience but
be cautious never to censor the words of God!
They Learn Through Stories
Why is it that we teach children Bible stories? Is it just to give them a collection of
stories to carry around in their heads for the rest of their lives? No!
The purpose of the stories in the Bible are for us to get to know
God through reading them. In Genesis, we
meet God as the creator. In Exodus, we
meet Him as our almighty God, our rescuer, and our provider. The story of Jesus’s death and resurrection
introduces us to a God that forgives, despite His perfect justice and in
Revelation, we learn of God’s supernatural side, His eternal sovereignty, and
His desire to be with His people.
It’s not just children that learn best through stories. Even Jesus knows that we all learn better this way! He very often taught in parables to give us pictures of spiritual concepts using objects and situations we’re familiar with.
3 Takeaways
Just to make sure we stay focused while teaching our kids about
Passover, here are a few of the most important points we need to make sure to
convey.
1. God is All Powerful
In the Passover story as well as throughout the Bible, God’s
infinite power is dramatically displayed.
Although kids will pick up on this in the story, be deliberate in
pointing it out so they can’t miss it.
You can even teach them the long word omnipotence which means
just that – all-powerful.
2. Jesus Died to Pay for
Our Sins
Note the parallels in the Passover story between the Passover
lamb and Jesus. This isn’t just a cool
idea, it’s the amazing thing that caused John the Baptist to proclaim Jesus as
the Messiah (John 1:29). Both Jesus’s
and the lamb’s blood saved and protected the people from God’s wrath. Jesus and the lamb were both pure and
innocent. Both Jesus and the lamb had to
die for us to be saved. There are more
but these should get you started.
3. God Loves His People
It’s out of His love for us and the Hebrew people that God
provided a substitute when His wrath would have destroyed us. Although God is completely just in punishment
for sin, He also loves us enough to provide a way for us to be forgiven. He wants a relationship with us despite our
choices to distance ourselves from Him but requires action on our part (blood
on the doorway and accepting the gift of salvation) to initiate that connection.
Here are some wonderful resources I’ve found for teaching your children about Passover. You can just teach them the story and the concepts or you can lead them through a Passover Seder, which teaches the same thing through a multi-sensory re-telling of the story. Click on the item’s name below for more information or to order.
I use Bible Pathway Adventures to teach my children (ages 2
through 12) about many Bible concepts and stories. I love that the printable and bound books
include various activities on so many subjects.
This one covers the Biblical Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread as
well as a bit on Passover Seders.
Made by a sweet friend of mine, these boxes come with everything you need to both tell the story of Passover and make a decoration for your home during the Passover season!
It’s sometimes difficult to find an educational activity that
holds the interest of toddlers and preschoolers but they love stickers! This book provides vivid pictures and an
opportunity to have conversations about Passover while also keeping little
hands busy.
This kit is helpful as a visual aid while teaching the Passover
story or during the Seder. Each of these
fun and interesting items creates opportunity for a discussion on the themes of
Passover as well as the details of the story.
Watching this movie (with plenty of popcorn!) has become a
pre-Passover tradition in our home. This
movie is unusual in that it’s pretty accurate Biblically, yet fun and
entertaining for all ages! It gets the
conversation about the upcoming celebration rolling in a family-friendly way.
This short book can just be read to teach children about Passover
or used during a Seder to explain what’s going on and why. Not just for children, it contains simple yet
meaningful explanations that even adults will find illuminating!
I love this craft from Torah Sisters! It’s simple enough for my scribblers but my older kids get into it too. It’s also very versatile in that you can print it in color or allow the children to color it themselves. You could have them cut out the circles and attach them to a poster, banner, or other project, or glue popsicle sticks to them and use them when reading the Bible story or during the Seder.
Dayenu is a Hebrew word meaning basically “it would have
been enough”. It’s sung over and over
with different verses, saying that if God had even only done one of the
billions of things He’s done for us, it would have been enough. But we know, and Passover reminds us, that he
didn’t just do one of those things. He’s
forever faithful to us from the beginning of time throughout eternity!
This kit comes with everything you need to make 10 puppets – 1 to
represent each of the plagues in the story.
You could tell the story while they’re busy assembling their puppets or
use the completed puppets for the story or Seder.
We’re planning on trying this one this year. We made sukkahs out of graham crackers during Sukkot and my kids loved it! We always have a lot of leftover matzah so these cute houses would be a great way to use it up. It’s also a great opportunity to discuss the significance of unleavened bread and the picture the Bible gives us about yeast symbolizing sin in our lives.
A website made by Jewish parent site, chabad.org, this page contains many activities, books, songs, etc. for kids that relate to Passover. Although from a Jewish perspective, it will provide useful activities and information for your children on both the Passover story and Seder.
Whether it’s your first Passover with your kids or you’re a pro at this, you’ll find many helpful resources out there as you plan to introduce your children to the God of the Passover. I’m sure you’ll be so glad you did and you may even learn something yourself in the process!
