Did you know that one cubic millimeter of brain tissue contains one petabyte of data? What’s a petabyte? It’s 1000 times larger than a terabyte, which is one quadrillion bytes. The average brain is 1,195,000 cubic millimeters in its size. This means the average human brain can hold 298,750 petabytes of data. And you thought your recently purchased computer with one terabyte was awesome?
What does this have to do with the study of Shavuot? I believe it is a discussion point that causes us to ask the question, “When it comes to a productive spiritual life, is it about what you know or who you know?”
Over the past 60+ years, I have come to the recognition that knowledge can be frustrating, especially if you don’t understand the knowledge you have gathered. Of course, this isn’t a statement of genius. It’s just a real one. “Think” about it. Most people have a lot of knowledge from “facts” they see, read, or hear about. These amazing facts and ideas are then stored in our brains ready to be shared with others. But, if these “facts” are not critically processed, is that knowledge beneficial?
When we fail to seek wisdom or discern knowledge, we are left with just enough knowledge to be extremely dangerous to ourselves and others. Our “knowledge” can become limited to what we agree with, and at times, fails to recognize variable outcomes. From the book of Wisdom (Proverbs) we read, “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” (1:5)
This week’s study is about a time of celebration for both Jews & Gentiles. Have you ever considered the benefits for both groups or have you discredited one of these groups due to information you agree with?
A favorite text of mine is Galatians 3:28 where we read:
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Yeshua our Messiah.”
I love this text in that it has the elements of knowledge as well as wisdom. Salvation (according to Paul) can only come from Yeshua, for when He died on the cross, He took away the sins of the world. And when He raised up from the grave, He conquered death. It’s for this reason, we are one in the Messiah. The sermon given by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2 promotes the same conclusions:
“Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for certain that Yahweh has made Yeshua both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36
Peter and Paul seem to clarify where our identity comes from and “Who” brings us together. They ask us to recognize “THE TRUTH” the One who is called The Messiah.
Even with this being said, our human flesh likes to blame others. We like to claim who “is” or “isn’t” in our spiritual walk. We lump people into groups or races to say who are the “chosen.” Of course, according to Corinthians, we know that idolaters, murderers, thieves, and immoral people will not have a place in The Kingdom. But, if we are the ones making a judgment, are we losing the capability of accepting Yah as the Almighty One? Is not Elohim the One who determines who is saved and who is lost?
Letting Yah be The Almighty is explicit when Jonah is angry with YHWH for not destroying Ninevah, even after their repentance. YHWH reminds Jonah with these words:
“You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals? Jonah 4:10-11
Maybe you are a person who is angry at Christians for embracing pagan celebrations or at Jews for not accepting Messiah. But again, is it our pay scale to determine whom YHWH saves?
According to the Jewish faith, Shavuot celebrates the time when Moses received the 10 Commandments and the Torah by divine revelation on Mount Sinai. The giving of the Torah was a far-reaching spiritual event comparing it to a wedding between God and the Jewish people.
The two-day holiday marks the end of a seven-week count called the Omer that starts during Passover week, the holiday where Jews partake in seders and remember how they were freed from Egyptian slavery.
Shavuot coincides with the grain harvest of early summer and is one of three pilgrimage festivals mentioned in the Torah, “when Israelite males were commanded to appear before God in Jerusalem, bringing offerings of the first fruits of their harvest.” According to MyJewishLearning.com, Shavuot is celebrated through desisting from work, candle-lit dinners, staying up all night to study Torah, listening to the reading of the Ten Commandments in the synagogue, enjoying dairy foods , and other festivities.
For Christians, Pentecost is a special day of worship. The feast marks the end of the Easter season for Christians and commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus. Christians around the world will celebrate this holy day, with symbols of flames, a dove, and wind marked throughout churches.
If you’re at a Sunday keeping church, you may experience a longer than usual song service, read a passage from John’s Gospel, which tells of a visit of the Risen Christ to the disciples huddled in fear, or listen to an invigorating sermon about the spirit led church in the book of Acts.
So here is my question, “Can either one of these customs or actions from either the Jew or Gentile cause someone to be awakened towards the Messiah?” I believe the answer is found in the context of the Messiah’s words, “Wherever My Name is proclaimed. . .” So, whether it is Shavuot or Pentecost, can the ideas of preparing, anticipating, partaking, proclaiming, and participating lift up His Name? If this is true, shouldn’t we then allow the Spirit to do the work of blessing those who seek Him? Like the disciples of old, we should consider praying for The Spirit to descend so that thousands from all parts of the earth, repent and seek baptism in the Living Waters of life.
Here are some rules I follow when it comes to balancing knowledge with wisdom.
- When I want to blame a group of people, I pray for Yahweh to show me how to pray, in that we do not wrestle against people, but against satanic forces. (Ephesians 6:12)
- When I gain a bit of information or knowledge, I talk about it with trusted believers and ask for spiritual discernment. (Proverbs 1:1-6)
- I purposefully remind myself that I am not YHWH and that my job is to do His will of sharing the Messiah to anyone who wants to seek Him. (Psalm 86:13)
- I choose to understand righteous anger, but I will not listen to people who display hatred or disdain. (Matthew 5:22)
- Finally, I ask and wait for the Spirit’s leading in all things. (Acts 1:24 & 2:1-3)
May you be blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn