“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest” (Leviticus 23:10).
TEXT — Leviticus 23:9-23
Americans had celebrated Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of every November since 1621 when a group of Pilgrims shared a feast with friendly Indians. However, a reliable source states,“The first American Thanksgiving didn’t occur in 1621. The first recorded Thanksgiving took place in Virginia more than 11 years earlier, and it wasn’t a feast. The winter of 1610at Jamestown had reduced a groupof 409 settlers to 60. The survivors prayed for help without knowing when or how it might come. When help arrived, in the form of a ship filled with food and supplies from England, a prayer meeting was held to give thanks to God.”
In today’s text, God commanded the Israelites to observe the feasts of Firstfruits and Weeks (Pentecost) at the beginning of their yearly harvest. Essentially, the two feasts were thanksgiving services to appreciate God for a bountiful harvest and to acknowledge that it was not their soil or labour but God that got them their fruits. At all the feasts in Bible days, the Israelites offered prescribed offerings unto God with rejoicing. Remarkably, God commanded His people to make provision for the poor and strangers during their harvest time.
We therefore see that God’s appointed feasts for Israel provide an instructive template for modern day believers to be thankful and create time to reflect on God’s faithfulness. Firstfruits or harvest signifies soul-winning to believers, and Jesus said the field is ripe for harvest (John 4:34-38). Therefore, firstfruits is not about bringing one’s first salary or produce to the Pastor or Priest but showing gratitude to God, preaching the gospel and helping the needy. As we celebrate God’s abundant harvest, let us not forget to intentionally leave something for the less privileged.
Thought for the day
Our regular thanksgiving and generosity attracts divine favour.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
