Leviticus 23:34-36 NKJV

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.

This feast is also known as Sukkot, which means booths or tents in Hebrew. It happens 5 days after the day of Atonement, at the time when the fall harvest has been completed. The children of Israel celebrate this feast for 7 days and during this time they construct makeshift tents just like their fore fathers did while they travelled through the wilderness after being liberated from slavery in Egypt. This feast begins and ends with a Sabbath day’s rest. During this feast, they recognise God’s salvation, shelter, provision, and trustworthiness. It is during the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles that all Jewish men are required to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

For us today, this feast is a reminder as well of God’s provision and salvation. Just as God delivered Israel out of Egypt and journeyed with them through the wilderness, He has delivered us from the slavery of sin and journeys with us through life. The Israelites had make – shift tents because they kept moving, looking forward to settling in the promised land. In the same manner, we should not hold on to the things of this world because it is not our permanent dwelling, we are just passing by. This feast points us to a future time when Christ will come back to dwell with us forever.

Revelation 21:3-4

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Reflections.

• Have you ever gone camping and slept in a tent? How was the experience?
• Do you have a testimony of Gods provision and shelter?
• What does Christ dwelling with us physically forever mean to you?