WORD FROM ZION: The Fall Feasts of the Lord

WORD FROM ZION

THE FALL FEASTS OF THE LORD

Soon, your Joseph Project Int’l staff and recipients will be observing the Fall Feasts of the Lord here in Israel. It is during this time that the Humanitarian Relief & Emergency Preparedness support that you help provide makes a huge difference. These holidays, which come in quick succession, are Trumpets (also known as Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. The weather is getting comfortable as summer turns into fall, and the season is filled with worship services, family gatherings, festive meals, and much joy. During this special season, the work of Joseph Project Int’l brings comfort, encouragement, and hope to many who suffer during this time of hardship and war.

God gave the people of Israel seven national holidays that stretch between the Spring and the Fall of the year. And though these Seven “Feasts of the Lord” (See Leviticus 23) were closely related to the agricultural cycles of life in the ancient world, they also carry a profound spiritual message pointing to our Savior, Jesus the Messiah, and to His work of redemption and reconciliation.

PE’SA’CH – Passover speaks of deliverance and rescue from bondage through the blood of a perfect Lamb. Introducing Jesus to the world, John the Baptist said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1)

MA’TSOT – Unleavened Bread speaks of the sinless life of Jesus who said concerning Himself, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…” (John 6)

O’MER – First Fruits marks the exact day of the Lord’s resurrection. “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week (the first Sunday after the Passover), He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” (Mark 16)

SHA’VOO’OT – Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks after First Fruits, marking the day the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the Upper Room and birthed the new faith community. “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind… and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2)

These four feasts (out of seven) have already been fulfilled in the life and work of Jesus. He is our Passover Lamb. He is the Living Bread of Heaven. He is the First Fruits from the dead. And He has sent us the Holy Spirit as was promised. The remaining three feasts that are just around the corner are yet to be fulfilled in human history. They are:

TE’ROO’AH – Trumpets (traditionally called Rosh Hashanah) is a national wake-up call marking the start of this intense and holy season, calling the people to repentance and retrospection. “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.” (Leviticus 23)

YOM KEE’POOR – The Day of Atonement arrives ten days after Trumpets. It is the only day on the biblical calendar when Israel’s High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and apply the blood of a sacrifice on the Mercy Seat, atoning for the sins of the entire nation for the coming year.

SOO’KOT – Tabernacles is the final, the longest, and the happiest of the Feasts of the Lord, celebrating the conclusion of the harvest, freedom from oppression, and the coming Heavenly Kingdom.

Each year, as Israel enters the fall season and prepares to observe these last three Feasts of the Lord, we know that we are rehearsing God’s great promises for the end of the age. Trumpets is our wake-up call to repentance and self-reflection. The Day of Atonement reminds us that one day “All Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11) and reconciled to our Heavenly Father. And Tabernacles fills our hearts with hope and expectation for the final harvest and the coming of God’s Kingdom to earth.

These holy convocations are called MO’A’DEEM in biblical Hebrew. The root word, MO’ED, means “appointed time” or “fixed day” and refers to the holidays set by God as special times to encounter Him. These are opportunities to draw near to God, to remember His works, and to recall His promises. We pray that as Israel celebrates the Fall Feasts of the Lord, you too may draw nearer to God and find refuge in His amazing grace.

Thank you for standing with Israel. Thank you for supporting the work of Joseph Project Int’l.

Reuven Doron
Director of Public Relations
Joseph Project International

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”  Proverbs 19:17