There is a “Happy End” to the story… Feast of Booths
God said to Moses, “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord seven days ... And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days … You shall dwell in booths … that your generations may know that I … brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 23:39-43)
History, as we say, is actually “HIS-STORY,” and many Messianic and Christian believers see the story of the human family, from the Garden of Eden all the way to the New Heaven & Earth, expressed in the seven Biblical Feasts of God.
These Feasts are a “blueprint” pointing to God’s plan to heal and redeem humanity, while Jesus, Yeshua our Savior, is the central figure in all of them.
Remember when Yeshua (Jesus) told His followers “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to FULFILL” (Mathew 5:17)? He is the Word made flesh, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of our story; and He is the heart of God’s seven feasts.
In His First Coming, Jesus has fulfilled the first four feasts of God. He is our Passover Lamb; He is our Unleavened (without sin) Bread from heaven; He is the First Fruit from the Dead in His resurrection, and He poured upon us HIs Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The remaining three feasts of God; Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Booths shall also be fulfilled by Him as the earth prepares for His Second Coming.
“Trumpets” will be the warning blasts of cataclysmic events, calling many to wake up.
The “Day of Atonement” will be the spiritual rebirth of Israel as recorded in Zechariah 12 when God pours out the Spirit of Grace and Supplication upon the house of Judah and Jerusalem.
And the “Feast of Booths,” the seventh, the final, the longest and the happiest of all the biblical feasts, will usher in Messiah’s glorious Kingdom to earth when He Himself comes to reign and rule the world for 1,000 years from Jerusalem.
Starting in a few days on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Hebraic biblical year, the Feast of Booths brings to a conclusion the story of God’s salvation plan for humanity, reflected in the agricultural cycle of Israel and fulfilled in Messiah.
His perfect life, sacrificial death, burial, resurrection, ascension, spirit outpouring, the redemption of Israel and His soon return, are all spoken of in the seven feasts.
Who doesn’t love a happy ending to the story? There is no fasting involved in the Feast of Booths, no special restrictions or unusual foods, and no rigid protocols other than dwelling in festively decorated booths, enjoying a sabbatical from work, bringing our offerings to our Heavenly Father, and rejoicing!
No wonder the kids in Israel love this Feast and the children in our family are already excited about the fun, fun fun they are going to have in the booth with everyone they love gathered together over festive meals, songs, stories and games.
The gospel of John tells us that it was during the Feast of Booths that Jesus lifted up His voice and shouted in the Temple courts, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to ME and drink. He who believes in ME, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37–39).
No doubt, He referred to the water ceremony the priests performed in the Temple during the feast celebration while the congregation was singing, “… Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3).
And Zechariah, while prophesying about the great international worship gathering during the Kingdom age said that “… it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.” (Zech 14:16).
This Feast will be celebrated for a long time when the nation of Israel is fully redeemed and spiritually revived; her enemies are overwhelmed by God’s power; and all nations are summoned to worship the Lord in Jerusalem each year! No wonder, we enjoy this “great rehearsal,” the Feast of Booths, each time it comes around.
Stay blessed, and we look forward to seeing you in Israel very soon.
Reuven Doron