YEA Lesson Library

The Lesson

Can you imagine what it must have been like with more than a million freed slaves of all ages, physical conditions, and attitudes making this trek out of Egypt? The sick, handicapped, elderly, children, babies, pregnant women – some ready to deliver – along with a bunch of animals putting one foot before another. No modern conveniences were available. Sanitation for this many people would be an enormous problem, yet there was not even one flushing toilet. They didn’t have wet wipes, paper towels or Kleenex. There were no hot or cold showers. There were no McDonald’s, Burger Kings, or Pizza Huts to get a quick bite. These people experienced the most primitive standard of living.

In less than 50 days from departing Egypt, they had crossed the Red Sea and had seen one of the most awesome miracles of all times. They watched in fear as they saw the Egyptian army coming as fast as it could after them. The Egyptians had experienced a real blow to their economy by not having their unpaid slave labor. This would rapidly affect their economy and standard of living. So they wanted the Israelites back. As the Israelites approached the Red Sea, they saw the waters part while they walked across on dry land. By now, it should have been evident to every last person that they could trust God – He was taking care of them.

This mass of people made their way to Sinai and they camped in front of the mountain. “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him” Exodus 19:16-19 (NIV).

God called Moses and Aaron to the top of the mountain and warned that the people were not to come up. Then God gave the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments were very likely given on the Feast of Pentecost. In Leviticus 23:15-17 God lays out the instructions for the Feast of Pentecost. “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. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord.”

This Scripture shows you how to determine when the Feast of Pentecost should be kept. Unlike all the other holy days, it is not a set day of the month on the calendar. One must count 50 days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath. This shows you that Pentecost is always on a Sunday.

Another thing that is interesting about these verses is that two loaves of bread were baked with yeast – they were leavened. These two loaves were offered as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord.”

Pentecost and the fall festivals are harvest festivals. Pentecost being the early wheat harvest and the fall festivals being the later harvest. There is to be a holy convocation and we are to abstain from ordinary work on Pentecost. This is one of the “three seasons in the year,” when God commands us to bring an offering.

As in all of God’s festivals, Christ is very much in Pentecost. 1 Corinthians 15:20 sheds some light on this. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Jesus was crucified on the Passover and raised from the dead on the third day.

Do you recall that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried and He was not there. As she wept, she bent over and looked in the tomb and saw two angels. They asked her why she was crying. She explained it was because they had taken Jesus away. As she turned around she saw Jesus standing there. But He would not let her touch Him because “I have not yet returned to the Father.” Some time that Sunday, Jesus ascended to His Father and presented Himself as the wave sheaf offering. He was the firstfruits of many brethren – the first to be resurrected.

A week later in John 20:24-29 doubting Thomas said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Jesus told Thomas to put his finger in his hand and side. Now it was okay to touch Jesus because He had presented Himself to His Father as the wave sheaf offering.

The Israelites were fearful and doubtful when the Egyptian army was bearing down on them and the Red Sea was in front of them. God delivered and then gave the gift of the Ten Commandments. Thomas also doubted Jesus’ resurrection. As you celebrate Pentecost this year, do you doubt that Jesus can save you from your sins - or do you doubt?