Happy New Year! No, it’s not January 1st (at least, it’s not as I am writing this) but on the Hebrew Calendar, tonight is the first of Tishri, known as Rosh HaShana or ‘the head of the year.’ So why should you care that it is the first day of the year on a calendar you likely don’t use? Beyond that, so few people in the world use it at all so why should we waste our time considering it? What if I told you that God uses this calendar and has set appointments throughout the year that He meticulously keeps whether we pay attention or not? I don’t want to miss an appointment with God, do you?
God set aside a people, a land, and a calendar through which He could reveal Himself to the whole world. That was His plan from the start and that is exactly what He has been doing and will continue to do until His final appointments are fulfilled at the end of this age. Regardless of whether we agree with these things or approve of the people, land, or timing of how God executes His plan, it doesn’t change the fact that for over 5,000 years this is exactly what He has been doing. And I believe He will continue to do this through His people, His calendar, and His land, Israel. We can either debate these things endlessly, or we can examine the claims for ourselves and see what, if any, life-impacting truth can be found. I am confident enough to say that if you will honestly look, you will be blown away by what you find. I have been. (Click Here To Read My Post ‘Why Christians Should Celebrate Passover: Or is That Easter?’)
What Are The Fall Feasts and Why Should I Care?
To be succinct, the Fall Feasts of Israel are the Holiest Days on the Hebrew Calendar starting on Rosh HaShana (starting tonight as I write this), including the Day of Atonement 10 days later and then 5 days after that the most joyous festival of the year, the Feast of Tabernacles. These days are called the ‘Days of Awe’ or the ‘High Holy Days’. Starting on Rosh HaShana people begin to examine their lives and prepare for the soon coming Day of Atonement. On this day, Jewish people believe their names will either be written in the Book of Life or not. It is a season of repentance and reflection culminated on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This season ends with the Feast of Tabernacles where God’s faithfulness to the Hebrew people during the Exodus is remembered, where the fall harvest is brought in, and where God’s presence is celebrated. This is going to get good… hang with me.
So what do the Fall Feasts have to do with you and why should you care? In the Bible, Rosh HaShana is called ‘The Feast of Trumpets’ but there isn’t much description as to why trumpets (shofars) are to be blown and what it is supposed to signify? Because of this (and many other reasons) Jewish leaders focused on the day more as a start of the new year than as the Feast of Trumpets. However, in the New Testament we see much about trumpets announcing the Return of Jesus! Maybe you don’t realize Jesus fulfilled the Spring Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First-fruits and Pentecost on the exact days of the Hebrew Calendar through His Death, Burial, Resurrection and pouring out of His Spirit? Could it be that He will fulfill the dates of the Fall Feasts of Israel through His Return (Feast of Trumpets), atoning for the lost in Israel (Day of Atonement), and then ‘Tabernacling’ among His people in the New Jerusalem when He initiates the new heaven and the new earth (Feast of Tabernacles)? I believe there is a strong case that He will! I spoke on this topic at a Together For Israel event a few years back if you’d like to hear more. (Click Here To Watch My Teaching ‘Will Jesus Return During the Fall Feasts of Israel’)
So What Should I Do?
The Bible tells us clearly that no man knows ‘the day or the hour’ that Jesus will return. But I believe we can know the season. Paying attention to God’s calendar gives us insight into how to live our lives, how to pray, and for what to watch. Much like we would not expect the flowers to bloom in November because of the rhythm of the seasons, we should also be able to see how our relationship with God can mature by keeping His appointments on His calendar. In His wisdom and humility He has been revealing much about Himself for ages and centuries through His calendar but most of us simply have not been interested or haven’t been taught to pay attention. I believe God is waking many people up to mature in their relationship with Him and learn to take note of the things which He calls noteworthy. I’m not offended if you disagree with me as I don’t claim to have everything figured out. That’s not even my goal. I simply want to know Him and care about the things He cares about with a pure heart. Pray for insight into these things. Ask the Lord how you should participate or respond. (Click Here To Read My Post on ‘Why Christians Should Celebrate Purim’)
I have found that in any relationship, if you want to know the other person better, start by taking an interest in the things in which he/she is interested. The same applies in our relationship with God. He wants to be known and has done much to ‘put Himself out there’. Will you take an interest and pursue the One who has been pursuing you all along? I started that journey years ago and I’m still blown away by all He is revealing about Himself. George Washington Carver, the famous inventor and ‘father of the peanut’ said, “Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough.” He said that in reference to his multiple discoveries and creations surrounding the peanut. How much more valuable should our relationship with the God who formed us in our Mothers’ wombs be? It is an exciting journey and what better times to start then here at the ‘beginning of the year’. Let’s go on it together.
From The Bible
The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. – Leviticus 23:1-2 NIV
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God… – Hebrews 6:1 NIV
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (spoken by Jesus) – Matthew 5:17-18 NIV