Wave the Sheaf!

“When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, so that you may be accepted… And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord. And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin. And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations.'” Leviticus 23:10-14

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’” Deuteronomy 26:1-3

As the Lord established Israel in their land, He determined to establish rhythms of remembering and thanksgiving. All provision, tangible and intangible, as well as any spiritual fruit from personal effort, is from Jehovah Jireh. A repeated practice of celebrating firstfruits looked forward to the ultimate provision of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial firstfruit from the Father to atone for sin, bringing eternal, spiritual satisfaction. (Genesis 22:8; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Romans 8:23; James 1:17)

When we exert strain, effort, and resources to complete duties and accomplish plans, it is natural to take credit. This wouldn’t have happened without me. We think we earn the right because we do not understand that we have nothing He has not given, from resources and talent to opportunity. Any smugness on our part, even an ounce of credit or boasting, strokes greedily at the Lord’s glory, which He forbids. (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11; John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7)

Are there smidges of pride in our achievements and material goods? Have we in any way slipped into thinking this is mine, it’s my due, I’m master of my universe? Wave the sheaf! Do not forget! It’s all from Him and unto Him! (Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:15-19)

How can we honor the Heavenly Father with our first fruits today? What portion of time will we offer Him for worship and thanksgiving? Will He have the first part of our plans, energy, affection? What attention and priority will we give to build His kingdom, and build up His people? Before whom will we wave the sheaves of His honor, truth, and praise? (Deuteronomy 6:10-12; Psalm 67:6; Proverbs 3:9)

Lord, may I always offer You my first and best, proclaiming Your glory.