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The Wave Sheaf Offering
A Symbolic Journey into the Fathers Salvation Plan
The wave sheaf offering, presented on the day after the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, holds profound significance in the Father's salvation plan. It symbolizes the first fruits of the harvest, representing the Messiah's resurrection as the "first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Leviticus 23: 9 And Yahuah spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and you shall say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 ‘And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahuah, for your acceptance. On the morrow after the Sabbath the priest waves it. 12 ‘And on that day when you wave the sheaf, you shall prepare a male lamb a year old, a perfect one, as an ascending offering to Yahuah, 13 and its grain offering: two-tenths of portions of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahuah, a sweet fragrance, and its drink offering: one-fourth of a hin of wine. 14 ‘And you do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your Elohim – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
This instruction was made to the Hebrews that had existed Egypt, an everlasting instruction for all generations. The offering was a sheaf of new grain, a perfect male lamb, fine flour and oil, and wine. The Hebrews were instructed to not eat bread, or roasted grain or fresh grain until the offering was made.
By presenting the Wave Sheaf Offering of the harvest to Yahuah, the Hebrews acknowledged that all provision came from Him. It was a way of honouring Yahuah as the source of their sustenance and dedicating the first fruits of the harvest to Him before they consumed any of it. This act recognised that the land's bounty was a gift from the Father, and by offering the first of the harvest, they acknowledged His provision and sovereignty over all things.
While Leviticus 23:11 outlines the manner in which the offering is to be made and specifies that it occurs on the first day of the week (which corresponds to Sunday in the Gregorian calendar), it does not give an exact date for when that Sunday falls in relation to the rest of the Feast of Unleavened Bread or the broader annual cycle. To pinpoint when this day occurs, we turn to the book of Joshua.
In Joshua 5:10-12, I think that it is clear that the Wave Sheaf Offering was performed during the time of Passover, while the Israelites were still in the land of Canaan, shortly after their entry into the Promised Land. This indicates that the offering took place during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in accordance with the instructions in Leviticus. This also fits perfectly with the Messiahs parables of the harvest, Pauls statements in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:20 and 15:23) and the Messiahs ascension to the Father on the first day of the week immediately after he was resurrected,
Furthermore, Exodus 9:31 gives us another important clue. Just before the Exodus from Egypt, the seventh plague—the plague of hail—struck Egypt, and it destroyed the Egyptian barley crop. This is significant because it tells us that the barley in Egypt was ripe at the time of the Passover and the final plague. Therefore, the Passover took place at a time when the barley was already ready for harvest, and the Wave Sheaf Offering, which marked the beginning of the barley harvest, was closely connected to this timing.
Exodus 9:31 And the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud.
We also know that the Hebrews crossed the Jordan river on the 10th day of Nisan and camped in Gilgal from Joshua 4:19. That is, the Hebrews crossed into the promised land, at Passover, and as this was Passover, it was about the time that the barley will have been ready to harvest.
Joshua 4:19 And the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first new moon, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.
The crossing of the Jordan River marked a pivotal moment for the Hebrews as they transition from wandering in the wilderness (where they had remained because of lack of faith and disobedience), to entering the Promised Land. This event is analogous to our own spiritual crossing into a new life and represents
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Faith and Obedience: The Hebrews’ crossing was predicated on their faith and obedience to Yahuah's command. The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the river, and as they did, the waters miraculously parted. This act demonstrated their trust in Yahuah’s promises and His power.
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A New Covenant: The Jordan River crossing signifies the fulfilment of Yahuah’s promises to His people. It represents the establishment of a new covenant, where the Hebrews were to live in accordance with Yahuah’s laws in the land He had promised them.
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Spiritual Transition: Crossing the Jordan is analogous to our own journey into a new life in the Messiah. Just as the Hebrews stepped out in faith and left their past behind, we also are asked to step into the new life offered through faith and the grace of Yahuah through the Messiah.
After crossing the Jordan river, the Hebrews were instructed to circumcise all males
Joshua 5: 2 At that time Yahuah said to Joshua, “Make knives of flint for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.”
Circumcision represents the cutting away and letting go of sin in our lives, and the sinful human nature, a step we must all take in our spiritual journey. During the recovery period following the circumcision, Joshua notes that the Hebrews ate from the old grain of the land, and the manna ceased the day after.
Joshua 5:10 And the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and performed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the new moon at evening on the desert plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate of the stored grain of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened bread and roasted grain on this same day.12 And the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the stored grain of the land. And the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.
Joshua emphasis that the Hebrews ate old grain as unleavened bread and roasted grain. For this, the Wave Sheaf Offering would not have been necessary as the Hebrews had not performed the harvest. Leviticus 23:10 says “…….When you come into the land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 ‘And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahuah, for your acceptance…….”
The Scriptures tell us:
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The Wave Sheaf Offering was to be presented after the Hebrews entered the Promised Land, which occurred during Passover (Joshua 5:10) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:10).
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The Hebrews entered the Promised Land on the 10th day of the first month (Joshua 4:19).
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They observed Passover on the 14th day of the first month after their entry into the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10).
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On the day after Passover, the Hebrews ate the stored grain of the land, and the manna ceased (Joshua 5:11-12). It is likely the stored grain was only sufficient until the new harvest became available.
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In Egypt, barley was already in head just before Passover (Exodus 9:31); therefore, it would have been in the same stage of growth at Passover in the Promised Land.
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With the manna no longer provided, the Hebrews would have been motivated to secure both food and seed for the upcoming year.
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The Wave Sheaf Offering was to be presented on the first day of the week, following the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:11).
Barley must be harvested as soon as it reaches full maturity to avoid quality loss, typically within 7–10 days after it ripens. Delays beyond this period can lead to significant reductions in quality and quantity due to several factors:
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Shattering: Overripe barley heads can break off and fall to the ground due to wind, rain, or their own weight.
- Fungal Diseases: Prolonged exposure to wet weather after ripening increases the risk of fungal infections like mould, which can spoil the grain.
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Sprouting: In humid conditions, the grains may begin to sprout while still in the field, rendering them unsuitable for many uses.
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Weather Damage: Rain or storms during the harvest window can knock the barley down, making it harder to collect and potentially damaging the kernels.
Such losses would have been critical for the community, potentially causing food shortages later in the year as if the community did not harvest enough food and the manna had stopped, there was nowhere to go to get new supplies. The Hebrews needed to be self-sufficient for food. To prevent these issues, farmers aim to begin harvesting barley as soon as it is dry enough and has reached an optimal moisture content of 12–15%, ensuring the grain remains intact and of high quality.
The Hebrews would not have postponed the upcoming barley harvest and would have faithfully carried out the Wave Sheaf Offering as instructed in Leviticus 23:11 at the earliest opportunity to avoid any harvesting delay. According to the command, this offering was to be made on the first day of the week (Sunday) before the Hebrews ate of their harvest. It also marked the beginning of the counting of the Omer—a 50-day period leading up to Pentecost which is the celebration of the far greater wheat harvest—its timing determined by the Father as part of the annual biblical calendar.
This initial offering established a set time for observance, which has been maintained on the first day of the week during the Feast of Unleavened Bread each year, in accordance with the Father's instructions. The Wave Sheaf Offering, symbolising the first fruits of the barley harvest, also foreshadowed the Messiah, who, as the first-fruits of the resurrection, ascended to the Father on this very day, fulfilling the offering’s symbolic purpose as an offering of the new harvest of souls.
Thus, just as the Hebrews faithfully observed this offering each year, it continues to be celebrated annually, marking the start of the harvest season and pointing to its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah’s resurrection and His role as the first-fruits of the redeemed.
After His resurrection and prior to His ascension to the Father, the Messiah needed to remain Levitically clean in order to fulfil His role as the first-fruits offering and High Priest. According to Levitical law (Leviticus 22:1-8), any contact with uncleanness would render Him ceremonially unclean. When Mary encountered the risen Messiah, she had been in the tomb earlier that morning, making her ritually unclean because of her proximity to the burial site and its associations with death.
John 20:17 17 Yahusha said to her, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My Elohim and your Elohim.”
This explains why the Messiah instructed Mary not to touch Him at that moment, as He had not yet ascended to present Himself in the heavenly Temple as the first-fruits offering. After completing this divine act and fulfilling His priestly duties in the heavenly realm, He no longer needed to maintain Levitical cleanness in this specific sense and permitted others to touch Him—as evidenced later when He invited Thomas to touch His wounds. This progression reflects the fulfillment of both the physical and spiritual dimensions of His redemptive work.
It is most likely that the Wave Sheaf Offering occurred during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, aligning with the Messiah’s resurrection and ascension to the Father on the first day of the week. This fulfills the role of the Wave Sheaf Offering as the first-fruits of the new harvest of redeemed souls. Paul referred to the Messiah in 1 Corinthians that the Messiah was the first-fruit of the new harvest of souls.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, and has become the first-fruit of those having fallen asleep.
In summary, while Leviticus and Joshua set the requirement for the Wave Sheaf Offering on the first day of the week during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Joshua and Exodus provide the historical context that places this event during Passover, at a time when the barley was ripe for harvest, linking the Wave Sheaf Offering to the period of the Exodus and the beginning of the barley harvest.
Symbolism of the Wave Sheaf
The act of waving the sheaf is a symbol of new beginnings. It was an offering made to acknowledge Yahuah’s provision at the start of the harvest and to dedicate the entire harvest season to Him. Here’s a deeper look at its significance.
The Wave Sheaf Offering was made at the beginning of the barley harvest, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first sheaf of barley was waved before Yahuah, symbolising an acknowledgment that He is the source of all provision and abundance.
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Dedication of the Harvest: This act set apart the first portion of the crop, dedicating the entire harvest to Yahuah. By offering the first sheaf, the people expressed trust that He would bless the rest of the harvest season and provide for them. This is shown clearly in Joshua 5:10 as the manna stopped the next day after the Hebrews ate the grain of the land.
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Symbol of Resurrection and New Life: For believers, the Wave Sheaf Offering also prefigures the Messiahs resurrection. The Messiah ascended to the Father on the Wave Sheaf Offering day, becoming the “first fruits of the new harvest” of those who will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:20). Just as the first sheaf of the harvest was offered to the Father, the Messiah’s ascension to the Father as our High Priest and our Wave Sheaf Offering was the promise of the new harvest of souls. the Messiah, is the first fruits of the resurrection (new harvest) (1 Corinthians 15:20), being presented to the Father, and symbolises the victory over sin and death
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Faith in the Father’s Timing and Order: The Wave Sheaf Offering reminds believers to honour the Fathers timing and order, placing Him first in all areas of life, whether in resources, efforts, or faith. By offering the first and best of the harvest, the people recognised that blessings flow from prioritising the Father’s commands.
The barley that was lifted heavenward and waved was a prophetic picture of the Messiah’s ascension to heaven after his resurrection where he was accepted by the Father as the perfect sin offering covering the sins of mankind. The Wave Sheaf offering was an offering made without impurity, the sheaf will not have contained weeds, and it did not contain leaven. It was there for a perfect offering just as the Messiah was.
Keeping the Wave Sheaf Offering symbolises trust in the Father’s provision, dedication, and faith in renewal and resurrection. This offering links the Father’s provision in the physical harvest to His spiritual provision, through the Messiah, for our redemption.
The Spring Feasts
The Wave Sheaf Offering and the crossing of the Jordan River are symbols that represent not only the Hebrews' physical journey but also their deeper spiritual transformation. These events mark a progression in obedience, faith, and a renewed covenant relationship with the Father.
The Spring Feasts together—Passover, Unleavened Bread, and the Wave Sheaf Offering—symbolise our own transition into a renewed life of dedication, obedience, and fresh beginnings. The Wave Sheaf Offering represents our faith and reminds us of Yahuah’s provision for a new spiritual life. For the Hebrews, crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land was a physical act of stepping into new life, while for us, under the Messiah, it signifies the beginning of a personal spiritual journey as we step out of the wilderness into the promised land.
The Spring Feasts, although a fulfilled part of the Fathers Salvation Plan, should encourage us to place trust in the Father’s promises and to embrace the hope of new life through faith. Just as the Hebrews relied on the Father to lead them into the Promised Land, we, too, are called to a journey of faith, trusting in Yahuah’s guidance and provision as we step from the wilderness into a renewed spiritual life.
Fifty days later to the day is the Feast of Shavuot celebrating the ripening of the larger wheat harvest, which was a prophetic picture of all Israel and the peoples of the nation’s coming to faith in Messiah from the first century until the present time.
Web page last updated 30 November 2024
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