Passover is one of the most important Jewish Feasts. It is a festival the Lord asked His people to observe and remember—forever.
“Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.’”—Exodus 6:6-7
The cups of wine at the Passover Seder tell of the historical redemptive story of God’s chosen people. Wine is a royal drink that symbolizes freedom, as in the Israelites exodus out of Egyptian slavery.
Wine and vineyards are mentioned throughout Scripture in reference to freedom, abundance, celebration, blessings, and restoration prophecies for Israel.
The Passover…
Passover begins on the 15th of Nissan (Jewish calendar). This year it begins at sundown on March 30th and ends the evening of April 7th. It has great historical and agricultural significance. Not only is it a remembrance of the Israelites’ freedom from Egyptian bondage, but also the beginning of their harvest season.
Today, as we look at the story of Passover, we can see the Lord’s faithfulness to protect and provide.
The Four Cups of Wine Represent God’s Deliverance…
The Lord uses four expressions of deliverance for the Hebrew people describing their exodus out of Egypt.
- I will bring you out…
- I will rescue you…
- I will redeem you…
- I will take you as My people…
At the Seder meal, each person is given a cup, from which they drink four cups of wine.
Believers Celebrate the Passover Seder…
The cups of wine are drank at specific times throughout the Seder meal and represent different Covenant Promises.
- The first is the Cup of Sanctification. “Blessed are You, LORD our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.” This is then followed by questions discussed about the significance of the night and why the traditional foods are eaten.
- The second is the Cups of the Plagues. This cup symbolizes the freedom we have from fear of all sickness, disease, and disasters and accompanies the lamb shank and the egg.
The bone commemorates the lamb sacrifice made the evening that the ancient Hebrews fled Egypt. It also refers to the outstretched arm of the Lord, as He saved the Jewish people out of slavery.
The egg reminds us of the sovereignty of the Almighty God.
- The third is the Cup of Redemption and Healing Released. A blessing is said over the bread and the wine. “Blessed are You, LORD our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Blessed are You, LORD our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.”
- The fourth is the Cup of Praise. It is a time to proclaim God’s promises written in Exodus 23.
As we remember that wine flows throughout God’s Word in numerous ways of remembrance, we can also look forward to the prophecies of how wine is used in the restoration for the Hebrew nation.
The Lord promises restoration of the land, and also the filling of the desert with vineyards that would provide wine and fruit for His people.
Israel Will be Restored…
“‘On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom,
and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’ says the Lord who does this thing. ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them,’ says the Lord your God.”—Amos 9:11-15
When we sow seeds of restoration into the Jewish people and their land, we are proclaiming a belief in the covenant promises of the Lord. In biblical times, vineyards were incredibly important to people. It was part of their livelihood. God’s Word show that this act of harvesting will come full circle and that He will plant the Israelite people back in their land.
Partnership in Restoration…
In the book of Isaiah, there is a picture of God clearing away the stones and planting choice vines on a fertile hillside. It is God here doing the work, asking His people to partner with Him.
Because of this blessed partnership, the Lord would bless, sustain, and be a watchtower to His people. He has asked us to partner with Him throughout history and into the future.
Vineyard Restoration Is Part of Prophecy…
The prophecies of Amos 9 are being put into action now. My Olive Tree has been blessed to plant olive trees, and now you have an opportunity to participate in the next part of the convent—to restore unto the Jewish people their vineyards.
God holds His promise to restore all things. Will you be a part of this biblical prophecy, and plant a vine in the Negev this Passover?
During this appointed time of the Passover Feast, you have an opportunity to embrace the symbolic significance and biblical prophecies of grapes, vineyards, and wine.
