GATHERING THE OLIVE OIL
Today I am thinking back to the days of Moses and the wilderness tabernacle. This was a time when there was so much for the people of God to learn about becoming His Holy Nation. They would become the pattern for the whole world to come into God’s Kingdom. Nothing could be neglected in their preparation. The eternity of the world depended on how Israel obeyed. Everything depended upon how they followed God’s careful instructions.
As we continue to study the nature of God, we clearly see the examples of God’s patience, kindness and love. In dealing with His chosen people, He slowly gives just enough instructions. His guidance for the people comes in small portions at a time. All of His holy attributes are used slowly and gently, so that the people can absorb, understand and do God’s will. He knows just what they need in order to learn to live better lives. This helps the new and holy nation form their lives in freedom, safety and love.
At one point we hear how God asks Moses to command the people to bring clear oil from pressed olives. This oil will be for providing the light of the lamps of the tabernacle.
OLIVE OIL FOR GIVING LIGHT
Whenever we hear God speak of olives, we can be sure there is some blessing tied to the end of the story. For example, we have all heard the amazing story of Jesus submitting his will to God before going to the cross. The experience happened on the Mount of Olives among many groves of olive trees.
If we study the processing of olives and the making of olive oil, we discover this process is very similar to the process of becoming a more mature Christian. We can’t help but notice that olives are very special. When produced properly, olives bring very special blessings into our lives. These good blessings are long-lasting and eternal.
On a more personal note, I have experienced a very special blessing in relation to olives in my own life. My only grand-daughter (although, I also have three amazing grandsons) is named Olivia. Several years ago her parents went on a holiday to Italy. They hiked through miles of olive groves. I was delighted when they brought back a special gift for us. It was a branch from one of the olive trees near where they stayed. I have kept it pressed between the pages of my bible.
Also, they brought us a gift of a painting done by one of the local Italian artists. It is a beautiful rendering of men cultivating olive groves in some lovely scenic mountains with a sunset in the distance. Not long after they returned with these great gifts, they announced some exciting news. Our first granddaughter was on her way to earth. Her name would be Olivia. That name, to me, would be a constant reminder of those olive groves. I love how her story began in an olive garden.
Olive oil is very special to God.
LIGHT FOR THE MENORAH
The main lamp of the Wilderness Tabernacle is a large, solid gold Menorah.
If you have not studied the significance of the Menorah, I highly recommend Dr. John Garr’s book called “God’s Lamp, Man’s Light; The Mystery of The Menorah.” https://amzn.to/4AaFn9N. This is a fascinating study full of amazing facts. Another great study involving use of the Menorah is The Creation Gospel by Dr. Hollisa Alewine. https://amzn.to/4yu7zTj. This study will totally change the way you think about the life-giving light of the Menorah in relation to the story of Creation.
The Menorah of the Temple and the Wilderness Tabernacle have a very significant story to tell. All of that story is symbolic of the coming of Messiah. The Menorah emphasizes the fact that Yeshua Messiah is The Light Of The World.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD – GOD’S GIFT TO MANKIND
These lights from the Menorah were formed from God’s own specific blueprint. The beautiful menorah was made by carefully chosen and skilled craftsmen working under Moses’ directions from God’s blueprint. These skilled artists carefully and specifically designed the Menorah according to God’s detailed instructions.
The lights were to be kept burning continually.
In speaking to Moses, God mentions the lamps outside the curtain of the Tent of Meeting which shield the Ark of The Covenant. The Ark contains the Law. This lamp would be the Menorah which sits inside The Holy Place. It is giving light out toward the Sanctuary. At the same time, this Menorah provides light for the priest who approaches The Holy of Holies during certain ritual and important appointed times of the year.
Hence, The Menorah is a very important lamp. It can use only the purest, olive oil made from crushed olives which have been sanctified and blessed.
FROM SUNSET TO SUNSET
Therefore, God instructs Moses that Aaron, the High Priest, is to tend to the lamps which shine before the LORD. He is to do this every day from evening till morning, continually. In other words, “from sunset till sunset” which constitutes a whole day for Hebraic thinking people. Consequently, we often forget how this works when we look at the ancient people and their actions. The Hebraic days of God’s chosen calendar actually begin at sunset, so light is needful first thing each day.
As a result, the light continues to shine through the whole day until the next sunset comes around and that day is done.
We know that Yeshua Messiah is now our High Priest. He is the One who tends to the light of the Heavens. He stands in The Holy Place, closest to God and shows God who we are in Him. Without Him we would all live in darkness. With Him shining down on us, we can see how to come closer to God every day.
HE IS THE WAY
This process of bringing God’s light into our days is why many of us light the candles on Sabbath. It is to remind us that Yeshua is the Light of The World. We are to keep His light constantly shinning out from our hearts. The fire that resides in our hearts now comes from God’s Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit resides inside the hearts of the followers of Yeshua, Messiah. We see this symbolized by the light of the Menorah which shines from The Holy Place of the Wilderness Tabernacle. So, this same Menorah’s light could also be seen later from the Menorah of the Temple.
God’s people are now the spiritual Temple of God on this earth. We make up a spiritual temple which is built on the light and love of Messiah.
The Menorah and the olive oil used to bring light to the Temple is like a promise from God announcing the fact that a holy fire is coming from Heaven. This Holy Fire is a special gift from our Father. Therefore, it serves like a promise until the Church can physically be re-united with Yeshua Messiah in the Second Coming.
THE TEMPLE BUILT BY MESSIAH
This pure, precious, olive oil brought many messages which related to the prophetic progression of God’s people. Eventually, it became important to Christianity and God’s Church which would be founded by Messiah.
Specifically, it is noted this light from God, whether physical or symbolic in nature, is something that will go on forever. That is to say, in the generations to come, the lamps on the pure gold lampstand must be tended continuously. To clarify, we can never let the light go out.
Our High Priest and Messiah is continuously tending to this process of bringing the light. He does this every second of every day as we pray and offer our spiritual sacrifices up to heaven. Yeshua Messiah is constantly sending The Holy Spirit to comfort and keep us.
A MESSAGE FOR YOU AND ME AS WELL AS THE ANCIENT PEOPLE
“Continually and forever, through all generations,” those important words would include you and me.
Yes, we are a very important part of God’s plan!
We studied this particular subject about the olive oil back in our Exodus study. You can review a few of those lessons here if you like. :https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/oil/ https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/the-anointing-oil-come-as-a-child-lesson-174/ https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/salt-light-obedience/ https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/following-true-light/ https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/festivals-weeks-ingathering/ https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/holy-fire-burnt-altar/.
As you can see from all the referenced links, almost everything we study relates back to the fact that Christ is The Light of The World. A deep study of this fact is always fascinating and revealing. I highly recommend it.
EXODUS AND LEVITICUS MIRROR ONE ANOTHER
Often the scriptures in Leviticus and Exodus reflect one another. We are studying the passage in Leviticus today, but the Exodus scripture reference is this one: “And thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.”
The many meanings related to the use of olive oil in God’s tabernacle could fill pages and pages of books. There will not be enough space or time to cover all of it here, even with our referenced links to previous lessons. We do have one illustration that seems to cover it all though. I will tell you about that because it shows us a very clear picture of why God chose to use olive oil inside the tabernacle.
OUR BEST REFERENCE TO THE USE OF OLIVE OIL
To obtain olive oil, one must crush the olives beneath the weight of a huge millstone. This is comparable to the way that Jesus was crucified and nailed to a cross. Our Messiah was crushed beneath the heavy weight of our sins.
There are three stages to this crushing process. Each stage produces three useful types of results.
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
The first stage of the crushing produces extra virgin olive oil. This is the oil that is used for lighting the Menorah in the tabernacle. The extra virgin olive oil is the oil spoken of by God to Moses in the passage of scripture we are studying today. It is very symbolic of Messiah being the Light of the World.
OLIVE OIL FOR HEALING AND MEDICATIONS
The second crushing of olives produces oil that is used for medicine and healing. This too paints a portrait of Messiah. We all know and cherish that well-worn scripture which speaks the words “by His stripes we are healed.”
OLIVE OIL FOR CLEANSING
The third crushing of the olives brings oil that is used to make soap. This speaks of Jesus too. It is by His precious blood that we are cleansed of our sins.
OLIVE OIL THAT SPEAKS OF REDEMPTION
In using the olive oil for anointing, God was once again pointing us to the future. He was pointing out patterns that led to the coming Messiah and our redemption. It is the olive oil that produces the light to the Sanctuary. The crushing of the fruitful life of Messiah brought many to salvation and helped us to SEE God.
This is how the Menorah works. It proves to us that Yeshua Messiah is the true light of the world.
THE PROCESS IN ELUL AND THE RESULTS AT HANUKKAH
If you love the season of Hanukkah (a post-Mosaic Holiday) as much as I do, you come to understand much of Hanukkah’s teachings incorporate this healing, revealing, living light of Messiah. The main message hiding inside Hanukkah is the fact that Messiah is The Light Of The World.
During Elul, we are studying how to get ourselves into that refining process of the olive oil. This is desired so that we may be more like this light of the world which helps us and our brother’s to see more of God.
During Elul we are being processed.
STAGES OF THE PROCESS
By the time of Hanukkah, we begin to see the results of how God forms the events of life into a glorious and useful lighted path to help us to become more like Jesus.
When we think of the great miracle of Hanukkah, we know the miracle began unseen many, many years before it happened. This is similar to the process our souls must endure in order to come closer and closer to God. In Elul the process is hidden, and not so visible. By Hanukkah, the results of the purification process are brought forth in the amazing light of God.
God instructed Moses to give the people something symbolic and physical to look at continuously. This example of the Menorah teaches more about the Messiah to come. Every time the people enter the Sanctuary they behold The Great Light of the Menorah. When they beheold the light, they rejoice before God.
This miracle of the revelation of the light was made possible earlier in the season. The crushing process is carried out annually by the crushing of many olives and the making of pure olive oil. As we come into The Fall Holy Days, may the Oil of God pour over us. I pray the precious Light of Messiah will purify our souls. May God’s will in our lives take place, so that we may lift holy hands before Him in worship and adoration.
VERSE
John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
PRAYER
Father, Thank You for sending Yeshua to be our Savior. We praise Him for becoming The Light of the World. Teach us to walk in the path of Light that He presents before us. Amen
SONG
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD by Lauren Daigle – https://youtu.be/_cLhaZIBSpo?si=BbKpIUjb5HuTv9J9.
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