Counting the Omer: Day 27

Let's Learn Together

The Wilderness of Shur is said to mean 'envision,' so it is thought that they followed the 'pillar of cloud' because they wanted to 'envision another encounter such as they had experienced at the Reed Sea.

However, things were to be different now. Instead of experiencing another great event they ran out of water, one of several trials the children of Israel were to go through during their journey to Sinai. When they did arrive at Marah the water there turned out to be bitter and undrinkable. They complained to Moshe, who intervened on their behalf with HaShem, and the water was made sweet.

• Lesson number one: Once we have been redeemed (bought with a price by the blood of the Lamb), and have passed through the waters of baptism, trials will be forthcoming. However, our Father in heaven can turn bitter trials into great blessings if we will only go to Him through our Mediator, Yeshua HaMashiach, and ask for help. For we are told to: "...count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4)
  

Following this trial, HaShem (YHVH) granted the children of Israel a brief time of peacefulness and plenty.

    "Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters."(Ex. 15:27)

According to tradition, there were twelve wells or springs of water at Elim so that each tribe could have one to itself. Also there were seventy palm trees so that each of the seventy elders could sit in shade while performing their judgment duties.

… will continue tomorrow

COUNT THE OMER:  DAY 27

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is twenty-seven days, which is three weeks and six days of the Omer.

For the Choirmaster; a song with instrumental music; a Psalm. God be gracious to us and bless us; may You make Your countenance shine upon us forever; that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. The nations will extol You, O God; all the nations will extol You. The nations will rejoice and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on earth forever. The peoples will extol You, O God; all the peoples will extol You, for the earth will have yielded its produce and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us; and all, from the farthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him.

We implore You, by the great power of Your right hand, release the captive. Accept the prayer of Your people; strengthen us, purify us, Awesome One. Mighty One, we beseech You, guard as the apple of the eye those who seek Your Oneness. Bless them, cleanse them; bestow upon them forever Your merciful righteousness. Powerful, Holy One, in Your abounding goodness, guide Your congregation. Only and Exalted One, turn to Your people who are mindful of Your holiness. Accept our supplication and hear our cry, You who knows secret thoughts. Blessed be the name of the glory of Your kingdom forever and ever.

Master of the universe, You have commanded us through Moses Your servant to count the Omer, in order to purify us from our evil and uncleanness. As You have written in Your Torah, "You shall count for yourselves from the day following the day of rest, from the day on which you bring the Omer as a wave-offering; [the counting] shall be for seven full weeks. Until the day following the seventh week shall you count fifty days," so that the souls of Your people may be cleansed from their defilement. Therefore, may it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that Your people may be purified and sanctified with Your holiness.  Amen, selah.