Importance of the Feast
We are approaching the final cluster of Holy Days of the annual reminder of God’s plan of salvation. Days set aside for us to consider God’s great plan and man’s part in that plan.
Ancient Israel had the opportunity during the Feast of Tabernacles to reflect upon the time God brought them out of Egypt and their sojourn in the wilderness on their way to the promised land.
“You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 23:42-43).
It was a “temporary dwelling” on a specific journey on which God was taking them. The word tabernacle, “sukkah”, which they were to dwell in during the seven days of the feast reminded them that God protected and provided for them during all the years of their wandering. God was center to their being. God also dwelt in a tabernacle.
“I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God” (Exodus 29:45-46).
The temporary nature of the tabernacles was a type of a more permanent dwelling of God with His people.
“… and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also will be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Ezekiel 37:26-27).
This indicates a future time when God would permanently dwell with His people.
These factors are there for us to think about as we observe the Feast of Tabernacles. This life for us is temporary as we look for a permanent relationship with God. There is a lot of understanding behind these words and we should dig a little deeper each Feast.
“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1-2).
We acknowledge God’s guidance and provisions in this temporary life by keeping the Feast of Tabernacles. The Holy Days provide a window into the spiritual reality God is working out.
“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).
The Feast of Tabernacles is not ancient history. It is a powerful reminder of our temporary life now, and the permanent spirit life that God has in store for us. Let’s put some thought into our keeping of these days – they are very important.
Brian Orchard
