04 November Numbers 29

Rosh Hashanah foreshadows Jesus

Numbers 29 (NIV) “On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. As an aroma pleasing to the Lord, offer a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 5 Include one male goat as a sin offering[d] to make atonement for you. These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma”.

Rosh HaShanah ( ראש השנה), which translates to "Head of the Year," is the Jewish New Year and one of the holiest days in Judaism. It marks the beginning of the Jewish civil year and the start of the "High Holy Days" or "Ten Days of Repentance," culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Rosh HaShanah is a time of both solemnity and celebration. People reflect on their actions and intentions and pray for a year of blessings and happiness. Although Christians may not realise it, they celebrate the first of God’s seven holy days, Passover.

*The Passover Feast reflects Jesus’ Death on the Cross.*

Passover was celebrated when the lamb's blood allowed the angel of death to “pass over” every firstborn son during the tenth plague in Egypt.

Christ was the Passover lamb who died for us to allow judgment to “pass over” 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV) “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect”.

*The Feast of Unleavened Bread reflects Jesus’ Time in the Grave.*

The Jews celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread to remember their deliverance and cleanse themselves of sins. Christians observe this time by reflecting on Jesus’ time in the grave and turning away from their sins. 1 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) “Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed”.

*The Feast of First Fruits reflects on Jesus’ Resurrection*.

On this day, the Jews celebrate that God saved the Jews at the Red Sea. Christians call this day Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday. On this day, Jesus also rose from the grave and became the “first fruit” for those once dead.1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV) “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”.

*The Feast of Weeks reflects Pentecost.*

Many Christians also celebrate God’s fourth holy day. Fifty days after God saved His people at the Red Sea, He gave them the Ten Commandments to show His plan for their lives. Fifty days after Jesus’ death, God sent the Holy Spirit to His followers, called Pentecost. This marked the beginning of the Church. Acts 2:2-5 (NIV) “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven”.

In conclusion, the feasts outlined in Numbers 29, such as Rosh Hashanah, along with others like Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and the Feast of Weeks, hold profound significance not only for the Jewish faith but also for Christians. Each feast foreshadows key events in the life of Jesus Christ, revealing God's plan for salvation. Rosh Hashanah, with its trumpet blasts and call to reflection, mirrors the future return of Christ as King, while Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost align with His death, burial, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. These ancient feasts remind us that God’s plan, from the Old Testament to the New, is seamlessly connected, and they point us toward Jesus as the fulfilment of God's promises and the foundation of our faith.