Barricae.com: Articles

Writings by Barri Cae Mallin

Lag B'Omer

Tuesday 25 November 2003 - 14:45:34

Today is the holiday called Lag B'Omer. It is a holiday to commemorate the thirty-third day of the (counting of the) Omer. The Hebrew word Lag represents the number - 33. Every Hebrew letter in the alphabet has a numerical value. The L - the lamed is thirty, the G - the gimmel is three, thus thirty-three.

This day is celebrated with rejoicing, maybe a feast, and bonfires are often lit. Many young boys do not get their hair cut until the age of three, and it is often done on this day. Children may even be seen playing with rainbows, as a reminder of God's promise to never flood the earth as He did in Noah's time. The counting of the Omer signifies the seven weeks between the Shabbat after Passover and Shavuot/Pentecost. During this time of the (counting of the) Omer, it has been described as a time of semi-mourning in remembrance of a plague that occurred in 2AD, that killed thousands. So Lag B'Omer has become a day of celebration, a day to count blessings.

All of us deal with afflictions whether afflictions come as trouble, illness, financial hardship, misery - affliction comes to us all. The word in Greek is thlipsis and it can mean anguish, persecution, tribulation, burdens, pressures. In Hebrew the word is oni - on-ee.

The LORD sees your affliction
And the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings Exodus 3:7

And the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, and imposed hard labor on us. 'Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction and our toil and our oppression; Deut. 26:6-7

The LORD will hear your prayer
Be gracious to me, O LORD;
Behold my affliction from those who hate me, Ps. 9:13

Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins. Ps. 25:18

The LORD will act on your behalf
"He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, Job 36:15

The LORD hears, yet takes His time
My eye has wasted away because of affliction;
I have called upon Thee every day, O LORD;
I have spread out my hands to Thee. Ps, 88:9

Sometimes it seems as though our cries hit the ceiling and stop there. Does God hear? Does He care? Why does He make me wait so long to answer my cry? Our lament is as David's.

Other than Messiah Yeshua Jesus, Paul endured the most sufferings in the Bible.

in labors
in far more imprisonments,
beaten times without number,
often in danger of death.
Five times he received from the Jews (his own people) thirty-nine lashes.
Three times he was beaten with rods
once he was stoned
three times he was shipwrecked
a night and a day he spent in the deep
he was on frequent journeys
in dangers from rivers
dangers from robbers
dangers from his countrymen
dangers from the Gentiles
dangers in the city
dangers in the wilderness
dangers on the sea
dangers among false brethren
he was in labor and hardship
through many sleepless nights
in hunger
thirst
often without food
in cold
exposure
Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure of concern for all the churches. 2 Corin. 11:23-28

This list is tiring just to read! Yet from Shaul/Paul do we get the greatest encouragement.

We exult in hope of the glory of God.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,
knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

God's promise, His word is true
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted,
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous;
But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Ps. 34:16-19

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory
far beyond all comparison
2 Corin 4:16-7