Understanding Lag BaOmer in the Omer Season
If you are following the journey from Passover to Pentecost, there may be something on the calendar that catches your attention.
At some point, you will likely notice Lag BaOmer and wonder what it is all about.
It takes place on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot.
For many believers, that raises an important question: What is Lag BaOmer, and does it have any real meaning for followers of Jesus?
To answer that, it helps to step back and see where this day fits within the larger story God is telling.
Understanding Tradition in Light of Scripture
Lag BaOmer is not found in the Bible. It comes from Jewish tradition, shaped over time through the experiences and teachings of the Jewish people.
That distinction is important, but it does not mean the tradition lacks value.
Scripture is our foundation. It is where we anchor our faith. At the same time, Jewish tradition often reflects how the people of Israel have wrestled with Scripture, lived it out, and remembered God’s faithfulness across generations.
When we approach tradition with discernment, it can deepen our understanding. It can give us language and perspective that help us see the biblical story more clearly.
Lag BaOmer is one of those opportunities.
A Pause in the Middle of the Journey
As Rabbi Jason often emphasizes, the Counting of the Omer is a journey from redemption to revelation. It begins with Passover and leads to Shavuot, which many Christians recognize as Pentecost.
Lag BaOmer sits in the middle of that journey.
In Jewish history, this day came to be associated with relief after a period of hardship. Tradition speaks of a plague among the students of Rabbi Akiva that ended on this day.
Rabbi Akiva was a highly influential Jewish teacher who lived in the first and early second century, not long after the time of Jesus. He played a major role in shaping early rabbinic Judaism and is still widely respected in Jewish tradition today. Because of this association, Lag BaOmer became a day of joy in an otherwise reflective season.
There is something important about this.
God often builds pauses into the process of growth. He brings us out, and then He leads us forward over time. Along the way, there are moments when He invites us to step back and recognize what He has already done.
Lag BaOmer reflects that kind of pause. It reminds us that even in seasons of growth, there is space to breathe, to reflect, and to receive encouragement for what is still ahead.
Light in the Middle
One of the most well-known elements of Lag BaOmer is the lighting of bonfires.
In Israel, it is common for large groups within Jewish communities to gather and build massive bonfires. These gatherings are often filled with music, food, and a strong sense of shared celebration.
In Jewish tradition, these fires are connected to the idea of spiritual light. They point to the belief that God reveals truth and brings clarity where there was once uncertainty.
That imagery is deeply biblical.
From the beginning of Scripture, light is associated with the presence of God. It speaks of revelation, guidance, and hope.
For followers of Jesus, this theme is very personal.
Jesus describes Himself as the light of the world. He brings clarity to what is hidden and direction to what feels uncertain. He not only teaches truth. He reveals it in a way that transforms how we see and live.
When we encounter the imagery of light in Jewish tradition, it can serve as a reminder of that reality. It draws our attention back to the God who reveals Himself and leads His people forward.
A Pattern That Still Speaks
The journey from Passover to Pentecost is not just a recollection of past events. It is a pattern that continues to shape the life of faith.
Passover speaks of redemption. It reminds us that God brings us out of bondage.
Pentecost speaks of revelation and empowerment. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit is poured out on the very day of Shavuot. What began at Sinai with the giving of God’s Word continues through the giving of His Spirit.
But between those two moments is a journey.
The disciples lived in that space after the resurrection. They had encountered the risen Messiah, but they were still waiting for what would come next. Jesus told them to wait, to prepare, and to be ready.
That waiting was not wasted time. It was part of God’s preparation.
Many believers today find themselves in similar seasons. God has done something real, but the next step is not yet clear.
Lag BaOmer reminds us that God is present in the middle of the journey, not just at the beginning or the end.
Joy Along the Way
One of the most practical lessons from Lag BaOmer is the reminder that joy has a place in the process of growth.
It is easy to think of spiritual growth as something that must always feel intense or demanding. But God does not only call us to press forward. He also invites us to recognize His faithfulness along the way.
Lag BaOmer gives space for that.
It is a moment to pause and say, “God, I see what You are doing. I see how You have carried me. I see the ways You have brought clarity and strength.”
That kind of reflection builds trust. It strengthens our ability to keep moving forward with confidence.
What This Means for Us
Lag BaOmer is not a biblical command, and it is not something believers are required to observe.
But it can serve as a meaningful invitation.
It invites you to pause in the middle of your own journey and take stock of what God is doing.
Where have you seen growth?
Where has God brought clarity?
Where has He been more present than you first realized?
These are simple questions, but they help us stay connected to the process of transformation.
Staying Connected to the Full Story
One of the challenges many believers face is seeing Scripture as a series of disconnected moments rather than a unified story.
The biblical calendar helps bring that story together.
The same God who moved at Passover is the God who moved at Pentecost. And He is still moving today.
Lag BaOmer sits in the middle of that story. It reminds us that the space between those big moments matters.
When we pay attention to those spaces, we begin to see that our faith is not only about where we have been or where we are going.
It is also about what God is doing right now.
An Invitation to Pause
If you are in a season that feels unfinished, take a moment to pause.
Ask the Lord to show you where He has been faithful.
Thank Him for the ways He has brought light into your life.
Let that awareness renew your strength.
Then continue the journey with confidence and shalom.
God is not finished. He is still revealing, still forming, and still leading you forward.
And even in the middle, He is at work.
Love the insights. Reflecting on the pause of Lag BaOmer the 33rd day, makes me think of the 33 years Y’shua was here on there Earth with us. I don’t think it a coincidence. Built in by G-d for us to pause, reflect and celebrate.
I love these in-depth explanations. I am going to try to print them out so I can put them in my “Appointed Times” book and keep everything together. Also the one about Counting the Omer”. It’s just too much to hear once and remember! I am very big on Traditions, so this is right up my alley. Thank you.
Shalom ,and thank you Rabbi for this in-depth explanation for Lag BaOmer. In these last few months I have been thinking about how God is always with us blessings us in all the seasons of our lives not matter what the challenges and situations occur. I have been thanking God more through all these seasons which also helps me to have more confidence about the future and to be encouraged. I absolutely appreciate the Jewish tradition of Lag BaOmer and again I am so thankful I have a teacher like you to be there for all of us, Jews and Gentiles to give us these deep, transforming teachings and also in this case Jewish tradition. I do alot of pastoral care and I am meeting with someone who got out of the hospital recently but is now in physical therapy which is challenging and sometimes a long road. She just texted me saying she wants to see me because she needs “encouragement”.
I am excited that I will explain Lag BaOmer. We can then talk and end in prayer!!!! Baruch HaShem, Rabbi, look how I am better fulfilling my purpose by enlightening others via your teachings which God has equipped you to do. Baruch HaShem. I appreciate and love you my teacher and brother in Christ.
ps. It’s been my prayer to be closer to Messiah and go deeper to know him and obey him for years. He answered by prayer..
Thank you Jason for these writings. They help me when I think of and talk with the Jewish people in my life who have not yet come to faith in Messiah Yeshua.