Celebrate His Harvest

By Cathy Irvin
CBN Staff Writer

CBN.com - This is the time of year that many think about reaping a harvest. Farmers expect their crops to be plentiful and hope for warm weather and just enough rain.

It is also another special time of year on the Jewish calendar. Many are celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles which is a time to gather fall harvests and thank God for His abundance of blessings.

In the book of Exodus the Israelites wandered in the desert or wilderness and lived in booths also called tabernacles. These were temporary dwelling places to live as God's chosen people were on their way to the Promise Land. The tabernacles represented God’s protection and His faithful promises to them.

Today more and more people take interest in these special Holy days to learn the deep truths about God and His love for His people, both Jew and Gentile. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I know He has come to tabernacle among us.

We are reminded in John 1:14:

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (NIV).

Studying these observances is a wonderful way to reflect on how these Biblical events bring us closer to understanding of what the Lord has done for us. The Old Testament uses symbolic-types to shadow and show us truths in the New Testament.

God provided a pillar of light for the Israelites. Today Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world.” In the Old Testament, the Israelites put up their booth in the wilderness and cried out “Hosanna,” worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They addressed God as a Holy God. We too must never lose our reverence for God as He watches over us.

Scripture tells us in the New Testament In John 12 that five days before the Passover and before Jesus was to be crucified, that He rode through the streets on a donkey. The crowd shouted “Hosanna,” and waved their palm branches. They did this to recognize Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

We too must never lose our reverence for God as He watches over us. As we serve an awesome Holy God may we worship Him more and more and reflect on God’s abundant blessings and celebrate during this time of the Feast of Tabernacles.

"Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field" (Exodus 23:16, NIV)

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