Fri.’s Devo - The Feasts

Read: Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27 God told the people they were to keep a feast to him three times a year. The first season would be the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was to be kept in the month of Abib also called Nissan. It would last for 7 days representing the time when they came out of Egypt. (During this time they would also celebrate the Passover and the Feast of First Fruits.) *** The next feast would occur fifty days later and was called the Feast of Harvest (also called Feast of Weeks or Pentecost). The last group was in the end of the year and it was called the Feast of Ingathering. These were all times when they were harvesting different crops from their fields. The first was the barley harvest, then the wheat, then the fruit. *** The men were to appear before the Lord these times during the year with the first fruits of their harvests. *** They were not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. This commandment is given several times in the law. I believe spiritually it means that you are not to kill the baby for the mother’s sins. I’m sure there was a reason for why they were told this. *** God said he was sending his angel before them to guard them on their way and bring them to the place the Lord had prepared for them. When they got there, they were not to bow to their enemies’ gods. If they served the Lord only, he would bless their food and water and take sickness away from them. They would not miscarry or be barren. They would live out all the days of their lives. God would cause their enemies to fear them so that they would be confused. He would drive them out with hornets. He would do this slowly so they would have time to inhabit their land. They were not to make any covenants of peace with them because if they did, they would end up serving their gods. God called Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu and the seventy elders to worship him from afar. Then he called Moses to come near to him. Moses wrote down what the Lord told him and and would come and tell the group. They agreed to obey his words. *** Early in the morning, Moses built an altar to the Lord with 12 pillars representing the 12 tribes. He sent young men to offer burnt offering and sacrifices on the altar. Moses took half of the blood and threw it on the side of the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant he had written and read it to the people. They agreed to do all that it said. Then the Lord sprinkled the rest of the blood on the people. *** Moses and his appointed group went up and saw the Lord on a pavement of sapphire stone and saw a glimpse of heaven. They also saw that God did not harm Moses. *** God called Moses back on the mountain so he could give him the tablet of stone with the law and commandment written on them. He left Aaron and Hur in charge of the people. Moses took Joshua and went up the mountain. The mountain it was overshadowed by a cloud because of the glory of God and appeared to be on fire. *** God told Moses to let the people contribute things to make the tabernacle. He would need gold, silver, bronze, etc. (25:1-8). With all the metal, gems, yarns and skins, oils and spices, they were to make the tabernacle like he showed him in heaven. The tabernacle would be a replica of what was in heaven though much smaller. *** God gave Moses the exact measurements and how to make the ark to hold the covenant and the mercy seat that would rest on top of the ark with the two cherubs on it. This was where the Lord would meet with him. *** He was to make a table along with gold plates and dishes for incense, and cups and bowls to pour drink offerings in. *** He was to make a gold lamp stand (menorah) with a main branch and three branches on both sides. On the branches would be almond blossoms and a cup to hold the old for lighting. *** In Matthew, Jesus was explaining the last days. After the tribulation time, the sun would be darkened and the moon would not give light. The stars would fall from heaven and the sign of the Son of Man would appear in the clouds. God would send out his angels with a loud trumpet call and they would gather his elect from the four winds and from heaven. According to Jeremiah 49:36, these four winds are the four quarters of heaven. Ezekiel 37:9 tells us that the ones from the four winds are those who were slain. So the Lord is calling the dead to rise and join him. We will not be able to see this from earth. On September 23, 2017 the sign of the Son of Man appeared in the sky. This day was also the Feast of Trumpets. We just read where God would sent out his angels with a loud trumpet call and then they would gather those who have been slain. We could only saw the sign in the sky. *** Jesus tells us it will be the same as the days of Noah where they had no idea what was about to happen, even though Noah preached and told them it was coming. That is the way it is now. Only those awake know the day we are living in. The rest of the world is going on with their daily living, unaware. They didn’t know till the flood swept them away and that will be the same now. Those swept away will be taken while we will be preserved on the earth. *** Jesus called us to be faithfully doing his work when this happens. When the evil see that they are getting away with all their crimes they will not repent, but they will not get away with their evil. They will be taken and face their judgment. They will be thrown into the pit where they will weep and gnash their teeth. *** Both our Psalm and our Proverb mention Sheol, the place of the dead. This is where the evil will end up. *** Lord, thank you for the promise of eternity with you. Thank you that your Word is true and every jot and tittle will be carried out before all this is done. May we be awake and aware of what you are doing and not be afraid. We rest with assurance in your arms.