After two new moons since crossing the Red Sea, we found ourselves at the base of Mount Sinai, unsure of what awaited us. The mountain was enveloped in a thick curtain of smoke, and we trembled as we prepared to meet the God who had saved us from Egypt. As He spoke, the immortal words of Torah descended from the mountain and reverberated through our camp.
God’s words that day not only showed His love and commitment to Israel but also expressed His desire for all nations to know Him. The Hebrew text suggests that we saw the voice of God that day, with rabbis interpreting this as His words dividing into 70 languages in visible flames of fire, so all nations could understand His instructions.
God’s intention was for His chosen nation to know Him personally and lead other nations to Him.
The first Shavuot highlighted God’s desire for His chosen people to know Him intimately and to bring all nations into relationship with Him. However, with no other nations present at that time, how were they to hear God’s call to worship Him?
Scripture foretells that the word of the Lord would go out from Jerusalem, indicating that other nations would come to know the God of Israel. Yet, most Jewish people do not actively seek to bring others into Judaism. The purpose of God’s gift of the Torah was to inspire us to be a light to the nations.
Throughout history, efforts have been made to attract Gentiles and unaffiliated Jewish individuals to Judaism because the foundational belief was that Israel was meant to reflect God’s holiness and lead humanity into a relationship with Him.
This principle is reflected in Hebrew Scriptures, as non-Jews have been welcomed into the Jewish community on multiple occasions, from the Egyptians at Sinai to individuals like Rahab and Ruth. Even before Sinai, Abraham shared the belief in one God with his relatives and friends in Ur. Prophets called out idolatry in Israel and among neighboring nations, welcoming those who repented. The story of Jonah exemplifies this, as does Daniel’s preaching in Babylon. The prophet Zechariah prophesied that all nations would one day worship God in Jerusalem.
However, if Jewish people do not share their relationship with God, how can this vision be realized? Over a thousand years after Sinai, on the same day of Shavuot, followers of Yeshua experienced a miraculous event in Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a rushing wind and seeing flames of fire, enabling them to speak in other languages. This allowed Jewish people from around the world to understand and believe in Yeshua as the promised Messiah.
The reconciliation of nations to the Creator through the Jewish Messiah and people.
Over three thousand individuals who witnessed this event came to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. These Jewish believers then spread the message of repentance and reconciliation with God to various regions. This marked the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s mission for the Jewish nation.
Following the Temple’s destruction, the word of the Lord could no longer go forth from Jerusalem. However, the miracle on Shavuot led to the reconciliation of Gentile nations with the Creator through the Jewish Messiah and people.
One of the young men present at this historic Shavuot later wrote about experiencing the Word of life firsthand. From Mount Sinai onwards, God has revealed Himself and His word through various means. Have you encountered Him?
Endnotes
1. Explanation of Exodus 20:15 in Hebrew. Rashi’s interpretation of the visual manifestation of God’s voice.
2. Reasons why Jews do not proselytize.
3. Explanation of why Jews do not proselytize.
4. Study on the Pharisees’ approach to conversion.
5. References to holiness in Leviticus and 1 Peter.
6. Verses pointing to the inclusion of all nations in God’s plan.
7. Reference to the Twelve Prophets.
8. Story of Abraham breaking idols and teaching monotheism.
9. Instances of welcoming repentant individuals from surrounding nations.
10. Account of Daniel preaching to Babylonian rulers.
11. Description of the Pentecost event in Jerusalem.