Daily Devotionals

Mount Sinai was enveloped in smoke, because Adonai descended onto it in fire (Exodus 19:18).

Of all the shalosh regalim (three pilgrimage festivals) which Israel was commanded to celebrate in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), Shavu'ot (the Feast of Weeks) stands out as the most dramatic. According to tradition, it was at this time—fifty days after the first Passover in Egypt—that our people came to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. As God spoke to Moshe (Moses), there were incredible signs and wonders which testified that Israel was in the presence of HaShem (God; literally,"the Name"). Fire, smoke, and lightning were all seen that day at the mountain. Hence, Shavu'ot has been celebrated as the time when Israel received the Torah and entered into a new covenant relationship with Adonai (the Lord).

Interestingly, part of the Haftarah (portion from the Prophets) read on this holy day is Ezekiel 1. This passage of Scripture was undoubtedly chosen because the prophet Ezekiel had a vision of the Shekhinah (Glory of God), as represented by the strong wind, the cloud, and the fire. Tragically, it was during Ezekiel's day that the Shekhinah departed from Israel at the destruction of the first Temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19).

While our people pray for the return of the Shekhinah, we often overlook an important event—a Shavu'ot in first-century Jerusalem: "The festival of Shavuot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house...." (Acts 2:1-2) What a sign to our people! As they worshipped on Shavu'ot, reading from the prophet Ezekiel, the manifestations of the Shekhinah returned! Little wonder that 3,000 Jewish believers were spiritually born on that day. As we celebrate Shavu'ot today, do we see the life-changing power of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) in our lives?

...die to my own ways and let the Ruach (Spirit) of God be revealed in my life.

BK