Mon.’s Devo - The Festivals of the Lord

Read: Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27 God gave the Israelites three festivals to celebrate - Unleavened Bread which celebrated their departure from Egypt; the Festival of Harvest which celebrated their first harvest of crops; and the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the year when they brought in their end-of -the-year harvest. At these three times the men were to come before the Lord to worship him. They were to always bring a sacrifice of blood as well as the best of the produce from their harvest. God was sending an angel to watch over them and help them take their land but he would not forgive their rebellion. The angel would drive their enemy out little by little with fear as long as they obeyed him. They were not to make any treaties with the enemy. Moses was to go back up the mountain and bring Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders. The were to worship at a distance but only Moses was allowed to come near to the Lord. The people said they would obey all the instructions the Lord had given him. Moses wrote the instructions down for them to have. He built a fire and set up 12 pillars, one for each tribe and the young men presented burnt offerings and sacrifices on them. They took the blood and after Moses had read the Book of the Covenant to them, he sprinkled the blood on the people sealing their covenant with God. Moses took the men and climbed up the mountain. They saw the Lord in his glory and ate a meal in his presence. Then, Moses was called to come up higher on the mountain. Moses left Aaron and Hur in charge of the people. He and Joshua climbed up the mountain and stayed for forty days and nights. God gave Moses and Joshua a list of things the people could donate to the Lord. These would all be used in the Tabernacle they would make to worship the Lord during their travels. First, they were to make an ark of wood and cover it with gold. It was to have four rings of gold attached two to a side to slide poles through to carry the ark. The poles were to be made of wood and covered with gold. Two seraphim were to be carved from gold to sit on the top. This would be the mercy seat where God would meet with them. The tablets God was going to give them would be kept in this piece of furniture. Next, they were to make the table of shewbread with dishes and spoons and bowls. It was to be make of wood and covered with gold. A menorah was to be fashioned out of pure gold. It was to have bowls at the top of each of the branches for the oil to burn. It was to look like an almond branch with buds and flowers. Moses was shown the real pieces in heaven that they were to mirror here on earth. They were bringing heaven to earth. These pieces were in God’s sanctuary in heaven. In Matthew, Jesus was still explaining the last days and the end of days. In the end the sun and moon will be darkened. The stars will fall from the sky. The people will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven. He will send out his angels to harvest the whole earth. Jesus told them that they would see this scene happen: two men will be working in the field and one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill and one would be taken and the other left. This scene actually happened in their day when the Assyrians came and took Jerusalem. This scene would happen again when at the end of time. It sounds to me like the ones taken are taken to death and the ones left are left to carry on God’s plan on the earth. During Noah’s time it was the ones taken away in the water that perished because of their rebellion against God. Noah and his family were left to carry on the earth. Jesus gives a parable about a master and a servant. If the servant did well he would be allowed to stay and eventually be given all the master owned but if he did evil, he would be sent to the place where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Lord, help us to remain faithful to the destiny you have given us. May we finish all that is in our book to do on the earth. May our lives bring you glory.