Festivals of the Lord (3 of 7)

The Feast of Firstfruits took place at the beginning of the harvest and signified Israel's (1) gratitude to and dependence upon God (2). According to Leviticus 23:9–14, an Israelite would bring a sheaf of the first grain of the harvest to the priest, who would wave it before the Lord as an offering. Deuteronomy 26:1–11 states that, when the Israelites brought the firstfuits of their harvest before the priest, they were to acknowledge that God had delivered (3) them from Egypt (4) and had given them the  Promised Land (5).

This reminds us of Christ's (6) Resurrection (7), as He was the “firstfuits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Just as Christ was the first to rise from the dead and receive a glorified body, so shall all those who are born again (8) follow Him (9), being resurrected to inherit an “incorruptible body” (1 Corinthians 15:35–49).

Narrative Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/Jewish-festivals.html.

BIBLE REFERENCES:

OT Exodus 23:16-19, 34:22, 26;  Leviticus 2:12, 14, 23:9-14, 17, 20; Numbers 18:12-13, 28:26; Deuteronomy 18:4, 26:1-11; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 10:35, 12:44, 13:31; Psalm 78:51, 105:36; Proverbs 3:9; Jeremiah 2:3; Ezekiel 44:30.

NT Romans 8:23, 11:16; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:18; Revelation 14:4.

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Footnotes appear below. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (10), Home and/or Church Faith Sharing Groups (11), Discipleship Encounters (12) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!

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 Modifications are welcome at [email protected]. 

FOOTNOTES:

  (1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/twelve-tribes-of-israel

  (2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/god-of-the-bible

  (3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/exodus-from-egypt

  (4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/egypt

  (5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/promised-land

  (6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jesus-christ

  (7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/resurrection-of-jesus

  (8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/born-again

  (9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/carry-your-cross

(10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies

(11) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education

(12) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship