FIRSTFRUITS

 

Write From My Heart

October 2, 2021

Introductory note:

              I have mentioned before that I have many friends who follow the Old Testament to the exclusion of the New Testament, and just as many who follow the New Testament to the exclusion of the Old Testament. I am definitely a “Both Testaments-Whole Bible” Christian as I so often see information from one testament that is supported in the other testament. Clearly the Bible is meant to be viewed in its entirety, being whole and complete in its message.

              The second thing I notice is how easy it is to skim over Old Testament passages because so many of those cultural traditions are no longer “the norm” for us today. With the death and resurrection of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, we are now under a new covenant with God. The covenants of the Old Testament have been replaced by salvation through Christ our Lord. What was once only available to a select group of chosen people is now available to any who would call upon the name of the Lord.

              For the next few days, I would like to note some observations that I believe are still applicable to the modern day Christian. Once again, what is found in the Old Testament sets the foundation for what we find in the New Testament.

FIRSTFRUITS  before any others

Exodus 23:14-15, 19 (NIV) Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib [i.e., March/April], for in that month you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

            Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.

            Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.  Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD. … Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

            My Dad’s family tree held generations of whom we might call subsistence farmers—always maintaining gardens to feed their families. Today, I have a dear friend who maintains gardens of squash, tomatoes, beans, chilies or anything else she decides to grow. It always yields a bountiful harvest which she generously shares with others. My own gardening skills are quite lacking although I do enjoy the concept of attempting to grow anything other than weeds.

            Recently I discovered some new information to deepen my understanding of “firstfruits” and early harvests. Today we have equipment and machinery that will cut, thresh, and clean grains in a relatively short time (of course dependent upon the size of fields being harvested). But during Bible times, each part of the process took days to complete by hand and different people often performed different tasks. Today, grains are typically harvested when fully ripened—when they are light brown or golden. But waiting that long in Bible times meant that there was a potential to lose grains that would shatter prematurely. Instead, farmers knew to gather stalks of grain before they were fully mature at the time when the green heads were just beginning to whiten prior to turning brown. Christ used this same analogy in his teachings regarding our witness to others.

John 4:35-38 (NLT) You know the saying, “Four months between planting and harvest.” But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest [KJV “for they are white already to harvest”]. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, “One plants and another harvests.” And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.

            Just a few quick observations: First, if we are the planters sowing the initial seeds for someone to learn about Christ, we may never see the end result. Never be discouraged! Keep doing what God would have you do. Second, if we are blessed to be the harvester leading someone to Christ, always be humbly thankful for those who planted the seeds. You most likely did not accomplished this task alone. Finally, never expect people to be fully spiritually mature at the time of harvest. It will take years of spiritual growth because that is how it is in our own lives. Always remember them in your prayers.

Philippians 1:3, 6 (NIV) I thank my God every time I remember you. …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.