The First Of The Fall Feasts :: Rosh Hashanah

If you were to ask me what the Biblical Feasts were years ago I wouldn't have really known what to say, except that Hanukkah was kinda of like a Jewish Christmas and you used a Menorah and a dreidel.   That was about it.  My knowledge of the Jewish feasts ordained by God was really zero...   Yikes.

Well, I am happy to report that my knowledge is growing, ever so slowly, but growing nevertheless.  My children are singing songs about Shabbot Shalom and don't jump anymore when they hear a blast on the shofar.  A pomegranate has become an interesting fruit to them and they are actually asking questions with a positive tone.  It has gone from "Do we have to learn about that Jewish stuff again!" to "Would Jesus have done these things, too?"   With which I am able to say, "Yes, He did!"  Which then follows with them telling each other that they love God more than _____. (insert name of sister or brother)

Very cool.

So, what is Rosh Hashanah?

This feast has many names:  Yom Teruah, Rosh Hashanah and The Feast of Trumpets.  Yom Teruah means 'the day of alarm or sounding.'  Rosh Hashanah which means 'Head of the Year' is the Jewish New Year.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.  Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.  Lev 23:23-25

"We can read here that the only instructions given to us for Yom Teruah is to have a complete day of rest and remembering (a shabbat), a holy convocation (a meeting with God) announced with blasts of the shofar (so you should at least hear the shofar blast if you don’t blast it yourself). To not do any ordinary work (this is part of the high sabbath), and to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai (Adonai means Lord in Hebrew) – we don’t bring offerings because there is no temple to bring to them too. It is beneficial to remember that there was an offering on this day though, and to be grateful that Jesus is our sacrifice.  

Certainly Jesus celebrated Yom Teruah each year, as it is a commandment and Jesus kept the Torah perfectly. At his first coming Jesus fulfilled each of the spring feasts (Passover, feast of unleavened bread, and Pentecost), and so we understand that for his second coming he will fulfil each of the fall feasts. We expect that when the Lord Jesus comes again he will come with the sound of the shofar blast, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians. "   Fall Feast Overview

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.   Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  1 Corinthians 15:50-52

As we have learned more about the feast, we are learning about special foods and objects that are commonly used to celebrate and symbolize the blessings we pray for for the coming year.

Apples dipped in honey: they are simply meant to symbolize a sweet new year.  Here is a link for 8 Apple crafts you might enjoy.

The head of a fish: we should be the head and not the tail.  
Pomegranate seeds: our good deeds should be plentiful like the seeds
Shofar: The rams horn will be blown as a 'wake up' to get our attention.  Here is a link that teaches a little bit more about the shofar.

I came across this video that gives the basic overview of Rosh Hashanah.  Liberty had fun watching it with me and saying the Jewish words.  

I know that there is so much more to learn.  But, I know that things take time, especially those things that are truly meaningful.  So, we will continue our walk day by day and verse by verse... allowing God to show us those things in His Word that we may have missed in the past.  

If you would like to read my other posts on the Biblical Feasts click on the links below.

Why Would A Christian Celebrate the Biblical Feasts
Have You Ever Thought Of Celebrating The Biblical Feasts
The Feast Countdown Begins

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