Leviticus 23: 1-2
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.
When God sets the children of Israel free from slavery in Egypt, he takes them on a journey of discovery through the wilderness. This journey was tough, but through it God had designed a way for Israel to know him, worship him and walk with him from one generation to another.
One way God did this was by commanding the children of Israel to observe certain feasts throughout the year. God said that these were his feats, a holy convocation which means a holy calling together a holy assembly and a holy reading. The word feast in the Hebrew text means an appointed time, place and meeting. It also means an appointed season and sign.
Why did God put these feasts in place?
First, this was a great reminder of their past. These feats became part of their culture, being passed from one generation to another. When they observed these feats, they retold the story of their Journey with God from Egypt, their place of slavery to their land of promise. Through the feasts, each generation was reminded and told this story, meaning their history and His story were well documented and observed.
Every time they celebrated these feasts, they honoured and worshipped God. It was God who instituted the feasts, when they were to be observed and how they were to be celebrated. Every time they did so, it was an act of worship to God and also a reminder if they were going a stray.
The feasts were and still are a prophecy of the future that was to come. Through the feasts, God has hidden his plan of redemption through Christ. Through the feasts, God was declaring the good plan that he has for mankind.
These feasts should be a reminder of God’s love and plan for us because he is the same yesterday today and forever.
Reflections
- What day do you celebrate the most and what does it mean to you?
- Why was it necessary for God to set up the feasts, their names, the seasons they were to be celebrated and how they were to be celebrated?
- What do you know about the 7 feasts of Israel?
