Babel's reverse in the miracle of Shavuot (Pentecost) - Dr. Erez Soref - Pod for Israel

Summary

In this special holiday podcast, the hosts explore the significance of Shavuot, also known as Pentecost, drawing parallels between the giving of the Mosaic Covenant at Mount Sinai and the descent of the Holy Spirit as described in Acts 2. They discuss the Jewish tradition, the sanctification process before meeting God, and the symbolism of the event that marked the birth of the Christian church. The conversation highlights the unity and diversity of people from all nations witnessing the supernatural, and the mission of the church to bring God's message in the heart language of every individual.

Takeaways

• 📅 Shavuot, also known as Pentecost, is a significant Jewish holiday that commemorates the giving of the Mosaic Covenant and the law on Mount Sinai.
• 🔍 The script discusses the parallels between the events at Sinai and the events described in Acts chapter 2, where the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, marking the birth of the Christian church.
• 📖 The Jewish tradition places the giving of the law on the third month, as per Exodus 19:1, which is believed to coincide with Shavuot.
• 🌄 God's descent to Earth at Sinai was accompanied by a great voice, thunders, and fire, which frightened the people and led them to ask Moses to mediate for them.
• 🕊️ In Acts, the Holy Spirit's coming was symbolized by a mighty wind and tongues of fire, which did not consume but rather spread, indicating the indwelling of the Spirit in each individual.
• 🌐 The gathering of Jews from all over the world for Pentecost in Acts is seen as a reversal of the Tower of Babel event, where languages were confused, and people were separated.
• 🗣️ The apostles spoke in different languages, allowing people from various nations to hear the gospel in their own mother tongues, symbolizing unity under God.
• 🙏 The script emphasizes the importance of repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, as taught by Peter in his first sermon, which led to the conversion of 3,000 people.
• 🕊️ The Holy Spirit's empowerment is seen as the driving force behind the spread of the gospel and the growth of the early Christian church.
• 🌱 The script reflects on the current spiritual awakening among Jewish people, with many turning to Jesus and seeking a deeper understanding of their faith.
• 🙌 It calls for prayer and fasting for revival among the people of Israel, highlighting the ongoing efforts to spread the gospel and the anticipation of a great spiritual harvest.

Q & A

What is the significance of Shavuot, also known as Pentecost, in Jewish tradition?

Shavuot, or Pentecost, is significant in Jewish tradition as it commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. It is celebrated seven weeks after Passover, marking the completion of the counting of the Omer. According to rabbinic tradition, this event is linked to the Exodus 19 account of the Israelites arriving at Mount Sinai.

What parallels are drawn between the Sinai event and Acts chapter 2 in the New Testament?

The parallels between the Sinai event and Acts chapter 2 include the giving of the Mosaic Law and the coming of the Holy Spirit, respectively. Both events are characterized by divine manifestations, with God descending on Sinai in fire and thunder and the Holy Spirit descending in tongues of fire during Pentecost. These events mark foundational moments in Judaism and Christianity, representing the creation of the Jewish nation and the Christian church.

How does the concept of language and communication relate to the story of Pentecost?

The story of Pentecost involves the miraculous event where the apostles spoke in different languages, allowing people from various nations to understand the message of Jesus Christ. This event contrasts with the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, where God confounded human language, creating separation. Pentecost signifies the reversal of Babel, as God unites people by enabling them to hear His message in their native tongues.

Why were Jews from all over the world present in Jerusalem during Pentecost?

Jews from all over the world were present in Jerusalem during Pentecost because it was one of the three pilgrimage festivals, during which Jews were expected to come to Jerusalem. Many would arrive for Passover and stay through Pentecost, filling the city with people from various regions, which provided a diverse audience for the events of Acts chapter 2.

What was the reaction of the people to Peter's speech during Pentecost, according to the New Testament?

According to the New Testament, the people were deeply moved by Peter's speech during Pentecost. After he explained that Jesus was the promised Messiah whom they had rejected, many were convicted and asked, 'What should we do?' Peter urged them to repent and be baptized, resulting in about 3,000 people being baptized and joining the early Christian community.

How does the story of Pentecost relate to the concept of revival among the Jewish people today?

The story of Pentecost relates to the concept of revival among the Jewish people today by highlighting the ongoing spiritual awakening. Just as the early church saw a significant influx of Jewish believers during Pentecost, there is a contemporary movement where many Jews are becoming interested in Jesus (Yeshua) as the Messiah, sparking a renewed interest in the gospel message among Jewish communities.

What is the significance of Jeremiah 31 in the context of the podcast discussion?

Jeremiah 31 is significant in the podcast discussion as it prophesies a new covenant where God will write His law on the hearts of His people, rather than on tablets of stone. This prophecy is seen as fulfilled through the Holy Spirit's indwelling during Pentecost, symbolizing a shift from external adherence to the law to internal transformation and relationship with God.

How do the hosts view the relationship between the events of Acts chapter 2 and the mission of the church today?

The hosts view the events of Acts chapter 2 as foundational to the mission of the church today. They emphasize the importance of spreading the gospel to all nations and languages, continuing the work begun at Pentecost, where the message of Jesus was made accessible to diverse groups of people, demonstrating God's desire to unite humanity under His covenant.

What role does prayer and fasting play in the context of the podcast's message?

Prayer and fasting are highlighted as crucial elements in the podcast's message, particularly in seeking revival among the Jewish people. The hosts express gratitude for the global Christian community's prayers for Israel and join in fasting and praying for spiritual awakening and the spread of the gospel among Jewish communities.

What is the overall message and call to action at the end of the podcast?

The overall message and call to action at the end of the podcast is an invitation for listeners to participate in the spread of the gospel by praying for the Jewish people and supporting efforts to share the message of Jesus. The hosts encourage a united effort in preparing for a spiritual harvest and being ready for the great things God is doing and will continue to do in bringing people to faith.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Shavuot and Pentecost: Biblical Parallels

This paragraph introduces a special holiday podcast focusing on Shavuot, also known as Pentecost, in Israel. The speaker, Dr. Erisorev, discusses the significance of the event, its biblical roots, and the parallels between the giving of the Mosaic Covenant on Mount Sinai and the coming of the Holy Spirit as described in Acts chapter 2. The discussion highlights the preparation for God's presence, the fear of the people, and the sanctification process that was part of the Sinai event, drawing a connection to the anticipation and preparation leading up to the establishment of the Christian church in Acts.

05:00

🌐 The Reversal of Babel: Unity in Diversity

The second paragraph delves into the parallels between the events of Genesis 11, where languages were confused at the Tower of Babel, and the events of Acts, where the Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to speak in various languages, thus reversing the division caused by Babel. It discusses the gathering of Jews from all over the world during Pentecost, symbolizing unity in diversity, and the supernatural event where Galileans spoke in perfect languages of the listeners, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in overcoming barriers and spreading the message of Christ to all nations.

10:02

🙏 Prayer and Fasting for Spiritual Awakening

The final paragraph discusses the contemporary relevance of the historical events, with a focus on prayer and fasting for spiritual revival among the people of Israel. It mentions the increase in viewership and engagement with their content as an indication of a growing interest in spiritual matters. The speaker calls for continued prayer for the people of Israel and a recognition of the ongoing spiritual awakening, also referencing Jeremiah 31 to highlight the new covenant of the heart, where God's law is written internally through the Holy Spirit.

Keywords

💡Shavuot

Shavuot is a Jewish holiday also known as the Feast of Weeks, which is celebrated 50 days after Passover. It is significant in the script as it is the historical backdrop for the events described in Acts chapter 2. The term is used to draw parallels between the giving of the law at Mount Sinai and the coming of the Holy Spirit as described in the New Testament.

💡Pentecost

Pentecost is the Christian term for the same holiday as Shavuot, emphasizing the event of the Holy Spirit's descent upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus, as described in Acts 2. It represents the birth of the Christian Church and is a central theme in the video, highlighting the spiritual significance of the event.

💡Mosaic Covenant

The Mosaic Covenant refers to the agreement God made with the Israelites at Mount Sinai, as detailed in the book of Exodus. It is a key concept in the video, illustrating the historical precedent for the new covenant established through the Holy Spirit, which is a central theme in the discussion of the parallels between the Old and New Testaments.

💡Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a divine person of the Holy Trinity in Christian theology, associated with inspiration, guidance, and empowerment for believers. In the script, the Holy Spirit's coming is likened to the giving of the law, symbolizing a new era of spiritual connection and community formation, central to the message of Acts chapter 2.

💡Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai is the location where, according to the book of Exodus, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites. In the video, it is used to contrast the giving of the law with the coming of the Holy Spirit, showing a progression from a covenant of law to a covenant of spirit.

💡Sanctify and Purify

To sanctify and purify oneself is a religious practice of preparing for a sacred encounter, as Moses instructed the Israelites before God's descent at Sinai. In the video, this preparation is paralleled with the disciples' waiting in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the spiritual readiness required for divine encounters.

💡Acts Chapter 2

Acts Chapter 2 is a pivotal New Testament passage describing the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, enabling them to speak in tongues. The video uses this chapter to draw parallels with the Sinai event and to discuss the establishment of the Christian Church.

💡Unity

Unity in the context of the video refers to the collective spirit of believers coming together in one accord, as seen in both the gathering at Mount Sinai and the events of Acts chapter 2. It contrasts the unity of purpose in the Tower of Babel narrative with the unity under God's guidance in the Christian Church.

💡Great Commission

The Great Commission is Jesus' instruction to his disciples to spread the gospel to all nations. The video connects this directive with the events of Pentecost, where the apostles spoke in various languages, symbolizing the beginning of the Church's mission to reach all people.

💡Revival

Revival refers to a period of renewed religious or spiritual interest or activity. In the script, it is mentioned in the context of prayer for a spiritual awakening among the people of Israel, tying into the larger theme of spiritual renewal and the hope for a return to God's ways.

💡Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah 31 contains a prophecy of a new covenant that God would make with the people of Israel, promising to write His law on their hearts. The video uses this scripture to draw a connection between the old law given on stone tablets and the new law written on the heart through the Holy Spirit.

Highlights

Introduction to the special holiday podcast for Israel, focusing on Shavuot or Pentecost.

Discussion with Dr. Erisorev about the significance of Shavuot in Jewish tradition and its parallels with Pentecost.

Explanation of the historical context of Shavuot, including its roots in Exodus 19.

Comparison between the Sinai event and the event in Acts chapter 2, highlighting the giving of the Mosaic Covenant and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Details on how God instructed Moses to prepare the Israelites for His descent on Mount Sinai.

Parallel drawn between the preparation for God's descent in Exodus and the disciples preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts.

Significance of the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) as one of the three major Jewish festivals requiring pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Explanation of how the events of Acts chapter 2 fulfilled the gathering of Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem.

Insight into the miracle of the disciples speaking in various languages at Pentecost, symbolizing the reversal of Babel.

Peter's first speech during Pentecost, addressing the crowd and proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.

The response of the crowd to Peter's speech, resulting in the baptism of 3,000 people.

Significance of the birth of the church and the empowerment by the Holy Spirit during Pentecost.

Discussion on the continued spread of the gospel among Jewish people and the growing spiritual hunger.

Reading from Jeremiah 31, highlighting the promise of a new covenant with the law written on the hearts of the people.

Closing prayer for the awakening and salvation of people around the world, with a focus on the Jewish community.

Call to action for listeners to support the spread of the gospel to Israel and the nations.

Transcripts

[Music]

I want to welcome you to a special

holiday pod for Israel we have Shavuot

coming up soon and we have Dr erisorev

with us and we're going to be digging

into what is chavot or as most people

call it Pentecost what is this all about

where do we find it in scripture and

what are kind of the parallels we find

between thousands of years apart you

know these different events in Scripture

that's right so hi everybody it's

wonderful to be here and uh so excited

to ramp up the um as we're coming up to

the uh Feast of Weeks or Pentecost and

we've been talking about we've been

thinking about the parallels between the

Sinai event the giving of the Mosaic

Covenant the given of the law actually

on Sinai and Acts chapter 2 the

descending or the coming of the Holy

Spirit and the creation of the community

of followers of Christ the church so

some amazing parallels we've been

talking about that wow and so part of

the context of this is in Jewish

tradition according to rabbinic

tradition that's right the law was given

on Mount Sinai on

focus on and that tradition comes from

the book of Exodus 19 and verse 1

because it says there that on the third

month of uh when the Israelites came out

of the land of Egypt and so on so on so

uh they came out on the fir the middle

of the first month right the 15th of the

first month and then 50 days after would

be the third month and so that's kind of

the uh the reason that it's uh believed

to be in Pentecost or Shavuot and um you

know in in Exodus 19 we see something

very unique God is coming to Moses and

says Moses tell the people to prepare

because in three days I'm coming down

I'm gonna meet you and I'm gonna I'm

gonna do something that I've never done

before I'm gonna come down from Heaven

to Earth to meet the people and to give

you the um you know the Covenant and so

um how do you prepare to meet God

and Moses is telling the people sanctify

and purify yourself and wash and so on

and so on and prepare your hearts as

well as your external appearance

um to meet the Living God and then on

the third day when God Appears there is

a great voice and Thunders and you know

great fire that is coming down from

heaven and and kind of eating the top of

the mountain the people were very much

scared off and then kind of went off and

told Moses you go you go we're too

scared yeah now I think it's it's

fascinating to see that

um you know on the count from Passover

from the first Sunday after the Passover

50 days seven weeks plus a day the

account of Shavuot on the 40th Day when

Jesus was resurrected after the

resurrection Jesus told the disciples

wait in Jerusalem something great is

going to happen prepare yourself for

something dramatic right again the

parallel to the Sinai event and then in

Acts chapter 2 we're reading there was

this great voice like like a great win

it wasn't a great one it was like a

great wind yeah that even people outside

of heard and then everybody comes in

some looking around and then there's

those tongues of fire but it's not

eating the mountain it's kind of

spreading and then on each one it was an

individual symbol that each one was

indwelled with the Holy Spirit wow and

you know this dramatic event of the

creation of the church began

yeah and that's such a beautiful

parallel between the two and we see a

lot of other parallels as well

um when we talk about that this event

we had all nations acts actually you

know really captured this in a beautiful

way you had Jews from every part of the

world that had been spread throughout

the Nations and they're all coming

together

for this Festival

and they were witnesses to this event

that's right so the Feast of Weeks

Pentecost is one of the three uh

occasions a year or holidays here

appointed days every year that the Jews

were supposed to physically come to

Jerusalem and in fact you know many

would come on the Passover and stay on

to Pentecost and so Jerusalem was filled

with Jewish Jewish people from all over

the world at that time now we're talking

about the time of Jesus so the picture

that's portrayed for us in the book of

Acts depicts people from all over the

ancient world all around uh Jerusalem

and Judea all over to Rome and that it

seems like I think the text is wanting

to draw our attention

to Genesis chapter 11. in Genesis

chapter 11 when God is mixing the

languages for the first time in human

history different languages different

people groups people are ever more

separated yeah than ever before from God

and from one another so further

boundaries and over here we see the

reverse right so each one I mean God is

speaking to each person in his mother

tongue right and you know those those

those galileans the simple people that

were speaking I mean they didn't study

it then they spoke perfect cappadocians

Roman whatever it was perfect language

yeah so people were wondering it's like

how come how do they do that those are

the simple galileans they couldn't have

studied it yeah so it's not definitely a

supernatural event that God is saying to

all the people on the planet I am here I

want to bring you back the message is

for you you can hear it in your heart

language which has been largely the task

of the church ever since in the Great

Commission and it's it's amazing as you

dig there's just so much here because

just even thinking of the language

that's written in Genesis they were of

one like they were one together in and

uh even God said whatever they're

seeking to do they're going to be able

to do it because they're it one Accord

well in Acts you see the same language

used they gather together with one

Accord and there was that Unity but see

different one was a Unity of we're

coming together for man's glory for

Man's power for man's might to reach

heaven and the other one was submitted

to God saying we're coming in obedience

to God's word to get to his promise

exactly to wait for God exactly and

again the the passage in Acts I think is

also significant and

in a sense also I would I would even

call it prophetic in the sense that

um Peter is giving this first speech you

know he's talking to all the Jews who

say hey everybody they're not drunk but

this is God's

act to bring the message of the Messiah

he is the one whom you have rejected

yeah Yeshua of Nazareth and he is the

Messiah that's promised to our

forefathers and to us and the amazing

thing is you know how you know thousands

of people

kind of are saddened when they hear it

and they say well what should we do yeah

what should we do what can we do now and

he says well repent or reverse your

heart so to speak return with your whole

heart to God right and believe in Yeshua

and and show it practically by

being baptized baptized in in water and

what's amazing is that we see that 3 000

people are responding and they're all

being baptized in the over 120 cisterns

and pools that are around the temple so

quite an Endeavor quite a a an outbreak

of Faith among the Jewish people and

from then on we know that in the

following chapters the message is going

out to all the nations of the earth

that's amazing so this is they talk

about this is the birth of the church

you know this is the birth of of really

this movement empowered by the Holy

Spirit empowered by God and that reverse

of Babel you know one was everyone was

coming together for man's Glory now all

of a sudden they're spread out separated

divided and now we're being united by

God under God's ways instead of man's

Glory God's glory wow it's so beautiful

to see all this interwoven story through

thousands of years for sure and and you

know I think also worth mentioning I

know that Millions probably of our

viewers and listeners millions of

Believers in Jesus all over the world

are fasting and praying for a Revival

among the people of Israel and so we are

both first of all humbled that amen

other believers are going to pray with

us for our families our friends our

neighbors our people and of course we

are joining this fast and this prayer in

those days

and um you know kind of like again

the Jewish people we read about

thousands coming in in a single event

yeah you know in Pentecost in the

following day but um really throughout

most of the last 2000 years hard to

believe but the Jewish people those that

were read about in Acts chapter 2 we

have largely been an unreached people

group with the gospel right and so um

again closing of the circle as we said

all those interconnections now the

gospel is going back among our people in

a strong and significant way and we've

been just been talking a few minutes ago

about the fact that we see in the lab

particularly the last couple of years a

great hunger among our people for

spiritual meaning and people turning to

Yeshua to Jesus people are contacting us

and want to hearing want to hear more so

just uh we we wait for this day that

more and more of our people are going to

come to the Lord and eventually all of

us as a nation we're already seeing the

first fruits of it we're just talking

this morning about some of the reports

of the numbers that we're seeing of

people watching our videos the number of

subscribers this is in Israel and we're

talking it's in the millions you know

every month so it's it's amazing to see

this movement already beginning in our

time right now this is not looking

forward to the future exclusively

although greater things are yet to come

that's the crazy part to me but when we

look at

the law given on tablets of stone

you know we we celebrate that during

this time the law was given and now we

see this parallel of the Holy Spirit

given how how do these things correlate

together

so we've been uh yeah we've been

chatting about that and maybe you can

read

um in Jeremiah 31 Yeah we actually have

the scroll here opened up exactly to the

spot uh this is a beautiful section it

says for the for this is the Covenant

that I will make with the house of

Israel after these days declares the

Lord I will put my law within them and I

will write it on their hearts and I will

be their God and they shall be my people

and no longer shall they teach each one

his neighbor and each his brother saying

know the Lord for they shall all know me

from the least of them to the greatest

declares the Lord for I will forgive

their iniquity and I'll remember their

sin no more Jeremiah 31. amen and so

just want to say a big thank you for all

of our listeners and viewers that are

praying for our people at this time yeah

and um God is doing great things but

great things are yet to come amen and so

father in this time would just come

before you and and just ask that you

would

open the hearts of your people all

around the world and all of our

listeners who might be hearing this

podcast I just pray you'd open their

hearts as well if

if uh if their heart is of stone that

you would make it a flesh that you would

write your law on their hearts through

your Holy Spirit bring Awakening to

Salvation Lord and help for more to see

the Messiah of Israel Yeshua our King

and Lord that uh you would bring great

salvation in our day Lord help for us to

be prepared for this great harvest

that's coming and Lord we just thank you

for your faithfulness and your goodness

in this type in this time of harvest in

yeshua's name we pray amen men

if this touched your heart will you help

pay it forward to reach others who need

to hear this message partner with our

team to bring the gospel to Israel and

the Nations

[Music]