The Blessings of the Fall Feasts

​God's three main feasts--Passover Pentecost, and Tabernacles--are shadows of Messiah. The Fall Feasts prophecy the Lord's second coming and paint a picture of Christ's return to bring His Bride unto Himself.  Each feast has a specific spiritual transaction for us that draws us closer to God.  Passover brought redemption, Pentecost brought the Holy Spirit, and Tabernacles looks forward to the second coming of the Lord.
 
The cycles ordained by God are for rest and refreshment and increasing intimacy with the Lord.  All of them are wrapped around the number seven and occur weekly, monthly, and yearly.  As we align ourselves with God's cycles of life, His blessings are poured out upon us. When we keep God's divine appointments we will walk in a blessed lifestyle.  Let us keep in mind that God's intent is for His church to celebrate His feasts forever.  Leviticus 23:37 talks about the fall feasts and says, "This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live."  Sadly, many Christian churches today have moved far away from God's appointed times of rest and celebration except for the weekly one.  Is it not time for us to change our mindset?  Paul gives us advice in Romans 12:2.  "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
 
Just as the Church has Advent, a time of preparation to celebrate the birth of Messiah, the high holy days of the Fall Feasts begin in the sixth month on the Hebrew calendar, called Elul.  From the beginning of Elul until the 10th day (Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement) in the seventh month called Tishrei, there is a time of preparation for meeting the King.  Preparation includes repentance, forgiveness, and submission to the Lord.  The first day of Tishrei begins the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) or "The Head of the Year."  At the beginning of this New Year the shofar will be blown to announce the year 5782 and the beginning of the Sabbatical year called The Shemitah.
 
The importance of the number seven in God's world is demonstrated by the times of rest that He appoints for His people.  Like our rest on the seventh day of the week, we are also to rest and celebrate during the Fall Feasts in the seventh month of the year.  Once every seven years a Sabbatical year occurs where God directs His people and their land to rest.  There is a dual purpose in this year to improve the condition of the land and to increase the faith of those who follow God.  It is so appropriate that the meaning of the seventh year of rest, Shemitah, is release.  Here are some of the benefits of releasing the land and our care to the Lord:  When the farmer "fallows" (leaves bare) his field, he is setting it up to produce a healthier and larger crop in the season to come by increasing the nutrients in the soil, increasing moisture in the sub-soil, and disrupting the life cycle of pathogens.  As we follow God's directions in Scripture by resting at His designated times, we also set ourselves up for an increase in faith and trust in the Lord. I find it interesting that Genesis 22, the story of Abraham's obedience to God when he was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, is read at the celebration of Rosh Hashanah.  This story introduces us to the concept of substitutionary atonement for those who trust in God to provide for every need.
 
The Jews will be celebrating the New Year 5782 beginning at sunset on September 6.  They will rest from their daily work to celebrate the faithfulness of God in their lives and in the lives of their ancestors.  Their time will be spent in contemplation, repentance, and prayer.  Through the grace of God, Gentiles have been grafted into "The Vine," God's family.  Romans 11:17 confirms this:  "...Though a wild olive shoot, you have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root…” Joining in this celebration could only be a blessing for us.  If we position ourselves before the Lord to follow HIs times and seasons listed in the Old Testament, there will be an increase in intimacy with Him, and He will help us determine a direction for the year to come.
 
God still calls us to remember what He has already done through His Son, Jesus, and to rehearse for what is yet promised.  We have an opportunity to prepare for the Jewish New Year and pray for the fulfillment of God's promises that all Israel will be saved, and that the world will come to know our Messiah as Savior.