Observing The Feast Days (16:1-17)
Neal Pollard
God was concerned with His people not forgetting Him. He knew that they needed to stay tethered to worship and sacrifice in order to maintain the relationship He wanted with them. One who had given them so much and continued to provide for them was One who deserved their offerings and praise. This chapter provides the high points of the three annual feast days–the Passover (1-8), the Feast of Weeks (9-12), and the Feast of Tabernacles (13-17). Moses gives the date, the time involved, and the specific requirements and activities of each festival.
Passover (1-8). Of course, this commemorated their freedom from slavery in Egypt (1). It would occur in the month Abib (March/April) and no one was exempt from observing it or from traveling to God’s dwelling place (first, Shiloh, and ultimately Jerusalem) to sacrifice it (5-6). The seven days of unleavened bread was to be observed throughout the entire land to reflect their hasty departure from Egypt (3-4). The last day of the festival, with the solemn gathering and no work, would fall on the Sabbath (8). This was a memorial feast, the foundation upon which the Lord’s Supper would be built (Mat. 20:20-29).
Pentecost (9-12). “Pentecost” is a transliterated Greek word, literally meaning 50 days (Lev. 23:15-16). Again, there is a tie to Egypt (12)–this feast called for showing gratitude for freedom granted by God. They observed this feast by making a freewill offering to show thanks and by celebrating (10-11). As solemn as the Passover was, Pentecost was to be that exuberant! Think about God’s purpose and providence through Christ, how solemn the Passover was when Jesus, the Passover Lamb, was slain (1 Cor. 5:7). Then, how jubilant the following Pentecost was when the plan of salvation was shared and 3,000 gladly received the word (Acts 2:41).
Sukkot (13-15). Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths, this celebratory feast is described in detail in Leviticus 23:34-44. On the 15th day of the seventh month, they were to do no work. This was the first day of the feast and was followed by seven days of sacrifice at the end of which was a special day of offering and another sabbath. This was a day of celebrating harvest, but was also in commemoration of their camping in tents or booths as they fled from Egypt. It also was a remembrance of the successful accomplishment of their work (15).
Isn’t it remarkable that God, knowing the human spirit, would construct these days in such a way that there was remembrance but even more celebration and thanksgiving? This is a stark reminder that while life has its share of sorrow (Job 14:1), so much of life is lived in the sunshine of God’s good things (Js. 1:17). God provided Israel with collective opportunities to acknowledge the source of their blessings and to reciprocate through worship and freewill offerings (17). He provides the same opportunity for Christians under our better covenant. Every Sunday, we acknowledge the fount of every blessing in worship a part of which is our giving. God wants us to freely and cheerfully give back to the One who gave His very best to provide our escape from spiritual bondage!
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