Oh how we wanted to be in Jerusalem this feast. As we began to prepare the children with questions and readings about the exodus they began to ask how we would celebrate. It is a wonderful thing to respond to that question directly from the word of God.
What does the word say about this feast, we will start there. My thoughts this year were different from the past two years. Before, I focused on Jesus being our sacrifice and how I receive salvation through this gift. This year I thought more and more about how the Israelites felt in Egypt and how they decided to obey the instruction given through Moses.
One of the first hebrew words our family learned was Sh'ma. Translated it means, listen, consider, obey. We translate it in our blessing as Hear.... Hear oh Israel, YHVH our God, YHVH is one. Blessed be his glorious name forever world without end.
The Israelites that night had to Sh'ma. I again felt the Lord asking me to listen, consider and obey his word.
That is why we began to celebrate the feasts. We know only a few who keep the feasts but it seems that they began with understanding what the feasts meant and how they pointed to Jesus as our Messiah. I started to celebrate because I knew that Jesus kept the feast and I see the instructions right there along with the ten commandments. I think the feasts are very important to God and although these feasts were not passed down to me as a tradition, he did allow me to live in America where Bibles are plentiful. He has put in my heart a longing to worship him in spirit and truth and a desire to search out his ways.
This Passover changed my life. I felt like those Israelites who still wanted a piece of Egypt. They were slaves but remember, they were strong and were settled in this land. They began to miss the stability of Egypt. Wow, this is how I feel. Can I just be a simple Christian with simple ways? Can I stop where I am, take my salvation and just endure until the end? Well, yes but again I ask what kind of bride is God looking for? Do I look like the land I live in or do I look like the bride of Christ? This question keeps me pursuing righteousness.
I want to be the Israelite that did not look back. I want to run from my Egypt in full sprint to the Promised Land.
I want the important events in my life to be the same as the important events in the life of Christ. He was our Passover Lamb. He said to do this in remembrance of him. He also told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem. I remembered Jesus this Passover and I am anxiously awaiting as the disciples did. I look forward to my next feast with him.... the feast of Shavout/Pentecost. Great things happen through obedience. Knowledge is necessary but God wants an obedient people. He is looking to pour out the Holy Spirit on all who show up in obedience. My prayer is that I would count these 50 days to Shavout and catch a glimpse of his harvest.
So as we sat on the floor with the kids and reminded them that God brought the Israelites out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm I found myself telling them to just obey God. He will fill them up with his holy spirit and many will come to know the Messiah through their obedience. What a great lesson that we learn in feasting with God.
What does the word say about this feast, we will start there. My thoughts this year were different from the past two years. Before, I focused on Jesus being our sacrifice and how I receive salvation through this gift. This year I thought more and more about how the Israelites felt in Egypt and how they decided to obey the instruction given through Moses.
One of the first hebrew words our family learned was Sh'ma. Translated it means, listen, consider, obey. We translate it in our blessing as Hear.... Hear oh Israel, YHVH our God, YHVH is one. Blessed be his glorious name forever world without end.
The Israelites that night had to Sh'ma. I again felt the Lord asking me to listen, consider and obey his word.
That is why we began to celebrate the feasts. We know only a few who keep the feasts but it seems that they began with understanding what the feasts meant and how they pointed to Jesus as our Messiah. I started to celebrate because I knew that Jesus kept the feast and I see the instructions right there along with the ten commandments. I think the feasts are very important to God and although these feasts were not passed down to me as a tradition, he did allow me to live in America where Bibles are plentiful. He has put in my heart a longing to worship him in spirit and truth and a desire to search out his ways.
This Passover changed my life. I felt like those Israelites who still wanted a piece of Egypt. They were slaves but remember, they were strong and were settled in this land. They began to miss the stability of Egypt. Wow, this is how I feel. Can I just be a simple Christian with simple ways? Can I stop where I am, take my salvation and just endure until the end? Well, yes but again I ask what kind of bride is God looking for? Do I look like the land I live in or do I look like the bride of Christ? This question keeps me pursuing righteousness.
I want to be the Israelite that did not look back. I want to run from my Egypt in full sprint to the Promised Land.
I want the important events in my life to be the same as the important events in the life of Christ. He was our Passover Lamb. He said to do this in remembrance of him. He also told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem. I remembered Jesus this Passover and I am anxiously awaiting as the disciples did. I look forward to my next feast with him.... the feast of Shavout/Pentecost. Great things happen through obedience. Knowledge is necessary but God wants an obedient people. He is looking to pour out the Holy Spirit on all who show up in obedience. My prayer is that I would count these 50 days to Shavout and catch a glimpse of his harvest.
So as we sat on the floor with the kids and reminded them that God brought the Israelites out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm I found myself telling them to just obey God. He will fill them up with his holy spirit and many will come to know the Messiah through their obedience. What a great lesson that we learn in feasting with God.
