The real meaning behind Counting the Omer…
The journey from Egypt to Sinai represents one of the most formative periods in Biblical history, and as we count the days between Passover and Shavuot, this is a perfect time to reflect on the significance of the Omer and its relevance to our lives today!
In Biblical times, the people found themselves in a profound transition—physically free from bondage but spiritually unprepared for covenant. It was during these 49 days between redemption and revelation that God began transforming a nation of former slaves into a kingdom of priests. This counting period wasn’t merely about marking time—it was about marking the transformation.
As we count the Omer in these modern times, we don’t simply observe a tradition—we participate in its deeper meaning! The journey from Passover to Shavuot speaks powerfully to us as Messianic believers, revealing not only God’s pattern of spiritual development, but also echoing the significant period between Yeshua’s resurrection and the outpouring of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)!
The Biblical Foundation for Sefirat HaOmer
Starting in Leviticus, we see God establish the counting of the Omer as an essential practice for His people.
The Hebrew word “omer” refers to a measure of grain. The first sheaf, or omer, of the barley harvest was ceremonially waved before the Lord. This agricultural beginning marks the start of a count that culminates in Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, when the firstfruits of the wheat harvest would be presented.
In Deuteronomy, the instruction is reinforced:
“Seven weeks you are to count for yourself–from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain you will begin to count seven weeks. Then you will keep the Feast of Shavuot to Adonai your God with a measure of a freewill offering from your hand, which you are to give according to how Adonai your God blesses you.” (Deuteronomy 16:9-10 TLV)
This period connects two pivotal moments: the redemption from Egypt and the receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai. For us as believers, this counting reminds us that spiritual growth is intentional—we must actively participate in moving from one spiritual milestone to the next, recognizing each day as valuable in God’s process of transformation.
The Journey from Redemption to Revelation
The forty-nine days of the Omer represent more than just a calendar calculation—they symbolize the spiritual journey from freedom to purpose. Exodus 19:1 tells us, “In the third month after Bnei-Yisrael had gone out of the land of Egypt, that same day they arrived at the wilderness of Sinai.” This places their arrival at Sinai around the time of Shavuot, marking the completion of their initial wilderness journey.
What is truly remarkable is what happened in between… Bnei-Yisrael experienced:
- The parting of the Red Sea
- The provision of manna
- The water from the rock
- The battle with Amalek
- The counsel of Jethro
Each experience was designed to teach them trust and dependence, and prepare them for the covenant relationship. They were physically free from the moment they left Egypt, but they weren’t yet spiritually prepared to receive God’s Torah. The wilderness journey was their preparation…
This pattern reveals a profound truth: redemption and revelation are connected by a process of preparation. As the prophet Jeremiah would later write: “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” –it is a declaration of Adonai–”I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their God and they will be My people..” (Jeremiah 31:32 TLV)
This progression—from external redemption to internal transformation—isn’t instantaneous. It requires a journey, a counting, a daily recognition of God’s work in our lives. The Omer period reminds us that freedom is just the beginning; the goal is relationship and purpose in covenant with God.
Yeshua and the Significance of the Omer
For us as Messianic believers, the Omer period takes on even greater significance when we recognize its connection to Yeshua’s resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit. Yeshua was crucified at Passover, becoming our ultimate Passover Lamb.
For forty days—nearly the entire Omer period—Yeshua taught His disciples, preparing them for their mission. Then, just before His ascension, He instructed them: “But you will receive power when the Ruach ha-Kodesh has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and through all Judah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 TLV)
Ten days later, precisely on Shavuot (Pentecost), we read: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:1-4 TLV)
The parallels are stunning! Just as Israel journeyed from redemption at Passover to revelation at Sinai, the early believers journeyed from the redemption of Yeshua’s sacrifice to the empowering revelation of the Spirit at Shavuot.
This alignment isn’t coincidental—it’s providential, revealing how Yeshua fulfilled the patterns established in Torah. The disciples’ time between resurrection and Pentecost was their own “wilderness preparation”—learning to walk in new understanding before receiving empowerment for their calling.
The Practical Application for Our Lives Today
The practice of counting the Omer offers us profound spiritual opportunities in our modern walk with the Lord. When we intentionally count each day between Passover and Shavuot, we acknowledge that every day matters in God’s process of transformation. We recognize, as Paul wrote: “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory–just as from the Lord, who is the spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLV)
This transformation isn’t instantaneous—it’s progressive, intentional, and requires our participation. Just as the Israelites had to physically journey through the wilderness, and just as the disciples had to faithfully wait in Jerusalem, we too must engage with God’s process of making us more like Him.
For us as believers, there’s an even deeper truth with Counting of the Omer in anticipation of Shavuot–it reminds us that the journey is also part of the destination. God doesn’t merely want to take us from point A to point B; He wants to transform us along the way. Just as we observed the detailed practices of Passover, the intentional counting of these 49 days is not mere ritual but an important practice that embeds God’s transformative work into our very beings. When we count the Omer, we acknowledge our need for preparation and process. We recognize that freedom without purpose leads back to bondage, but freedom directed toward covenant relationship leads to fulfillment.
And for us as Messianic believers, when we complete our counting and celebrate Shavuot, we recognize not only the giving of Torah at Sinai but also the giving of the Spirit that writes God’s law on our hearts. We acknowledge that the same God who redeemed Israel from Egypt has redeemed us through Yeshua, and is leading us step by step toward our ultimate purpose.
As the Omer counting continues this month, may we carry its lessons forward into our daily lives—embracing God’s process, recognizing His transformative hand, and anticipating the fullness of His purpose that stretches from Egypt to Sinai, from the empty tomb to the upper room, and onward into our present moment and eternity!
To follow along with us as we Count the Omer, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out our post with all the dates where you can see what day of the Omer we are up to 😊
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