Part 3 of 3 – Draw Close to God

Having gone through the New Year (Rosh Hashanah), the Days of Awe and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), we are now ready to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).  The celebration of Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration lasting eight days that will begin this year at sundown on Sept. 30th.

You may want to review Leviticus 23:34-43 about this feast.  The Jewish people are told to build a special temporary structure called a sukkah and live in it for seven days.  It is a time to remember that the Israelites had to live in tabernacles when God brought them out of Egypt.  It is a celebration of God’s glory living among His people as they dwelt in tabernacles.  It is a celebration of harvest.  In many ways it is the Jewish Thanksgiving.

There is so much that you can do as a family to embrace this season.  Have fun with your children and build a “tent” in your living room with a sheet and furniture, or set up a tent in the yard.   Learn what the sukkah looks like and decorate your temporary structure. Picnic in it, celebrate Jesus in it, worship the Lord in it, study His Word in it.  Google the word “Sukkot” and you will learn much about this special time of year.

But most of all learn from it, as Dr. Hiedler says, “that God Tabernacles with His people.  ENJOY the FUN of celebrating with God.  Ask God to tabernacle with you and EXPECT His presence to visit you and your family.”

Know that Jesus gave us a very important promise on the last day of Tabernacles.  “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.’ “ (John 7:37).  He is our personal Savior!!

Come to Jesus during this fall season and enter into the time of the high holy days.  Jesus did not come to end the Jewish feasts but rather to fulfill the Scripture.  We can grow much in our walk with Jesus as we enter into the purpose of each of the three major holy days: Praise our God, Confess our sin, and Draw Close to God – allowing Him to transform us and renew us.

Blessings and Happy New Year,

Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Material used in developing this devotional:
God’s Appointed Times by Barkney Kasdan
The Messianic Church Arising by Dr. Robert Heidler