For most of us around the world, the Christmas and New Year's festivities are over. People have gone back to work. Many students are back in school. People will be going to doctor appointments. Pursuits set aside for a few days, will be picked up again. Some who, through the love and care of others, were able to forget their lot in life temporarily, will once again, find themselves struggling to survive -- be it financially, physically, emotionally, relationally, or spiritually.
In short, life goes on as they say for all of us, no matter our lot in life. Whether that lot becomes an exciting journey or the following a rut created over time will depend on how well we realize and rely on the fact that true joy and hope cannot be based on our circumstances, but on our personal relationship with God.
Here is the passage of Scripture I studied today and some thoughts on it:
Exodus 34:21-24
"You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.
"And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.
"Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.
"For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God."
Thoughts on the Passage
I don't know about you, but I was to work hard, especially while there was work to do. And I certainly tried to pass that on to my children. However, as I read this passage, I realize that I may have been all wrong. Clearly, God is saying to His people that one day a week they must rest "even during. . . harvest". And He is emphatic about it, saying, "you shall rest". We need to rethink our attitude towards "workaholism". I'm not saying God wants us to be slouches or to avoid work. No, not at all. He Himself is a God of Creation and active involved in the lives of His people. But what God is saying is that He knows how He created us and we need periodic rest. Ignore that advice from Him, and you'll soon find yourself in bed, or worse still, in a casket, unable to do any work.
And the Israelites were to celebrate The Feast of Weeks and the Feast of the Ingathering which is also known as the The Feast of Tabernacles. It is also known as Sukkot.
We can get all caught up in the intricacies of all these special feasts, many of which Jesus himself participated in later on, and we can also argue as to whether or not they are for New Testament Christians after Christ's Resurrection. Instead, I suggest we just focus on the fact that some of these various feasts had as their purpose to remind the Israelites Who it is that supplies all their needs. And it seemed that, in a farming economy, the end of harvest after all the reaping is completed is a great time to stop and give thanks. This is not unlike our more modern-day Thanksgiving Day celebration that was started by the Pilgrms to America.
We can do this once a year at Thanksgiving, or we can do it monthly, or weekly. Some of us do it every time we thank God when we eat.
But here is the most interesting part of the passage. Next, God tells the Israelites that all their males are to appear before Him three times a year. And I think the emphasis is indeed on all. That means no male is to be left to act as guards from the enemies, or to attend to other work. Otherwise, why does God make a point of saying that no one will 'covet' or take their land while they are doing this. God will protect their property.
In short, life goes on as they say for all of us, no matter our lot in life. Whether that lot becomes an exciting journey or the following a rut created over time will depend on how well we realize and rely on the fact that true joy and hope cannot be based on our circumstances, but on our personal relationship with God.
Here is the passage of Scripture I studied today and some thoughts on it:
Exodus 34:21-24
"You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.
"And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.
"Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.
"For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God."
Thoughts on the Passage
I don't know about you, but I was to work hard, especially while there was work to do. And I certainly tried to pass that on to my children. However, as I read this passage, I realize that I may have been all wrong. Clearly, God is saying to His people that one day a week they must rest "even during. . . harvest". And He is emphatic about it, saying, "you shall rest". We need to rethink our attitude towards "workaholism". I'm not saying God wants us to be slouches or to avoid work. No, not at all. He Himself is a God of Creation and active involved in the lives of His people. But what God is saying is that He knows how He created us and we need periodic rest. Ignore that advice from Him, and you'll soon find yourself in bed, or worse still, in a casket, unable to do any work.
And the Israelites were to celebrate The Feast of Weeks and the Feast of the Ingathering which is also known as the The Feast of Tabernacles. It is also known as Sukkot.
We can get all caught up in the intricacies of all these special feasts, many of which Jesus himself participated in later on, and we can also argue as to whether or not they are for New Testament Christians after Christ's Resurrection. Instead, I suggest we just focus on the fact that some of these various feasts had as their purpose to remind the Israelites Who it is that supplies all their needs. And it seemed that, in a farming economy, the end of harvest after all the reaping is completed is a great time to stop and give thanks. This is not unlike our more modern-day Thanksgiving Day celebration that was started by the Pilgrms to America.
We can do this once a year at Thanksgiving, or we can do it monthly, or weekly. Some of us do it every time we thank God when we eat.
But here is the most interesting part of the passage. Next, God tells the Israelites that all their males are to appear before Him three times a year. And I think the emphasis is indeed on all. That means no male is to be left to act as guards from the enemies, or to attend to other work. Otherwise, why does God make a point of saying that no one will 'covet' or take their land while they are doing this. God will protect their property.
On a personal or individual scale, this suggests we can trust God with our property at all times, but especially when we go to appear before Him and worship Him. On a national scale, this suggests that if we have our priorities right, putting God first, God will bless a nation. David Guzik suggests that these three times are those that are referred to in Exouds 23:14-17 where God commanded that at three feasts each year (Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles), each Israelite man should gather before the Lord. And in this passage, Guzik continues, God even promised a supernatural protection for an obedient Israel when they went to these feasts.
We can only pray that our political leaders would call and ask for such an action for all the males in our nation. But we can pray and actually do something about it in our churches. And even more at home, we can encourage the men in our families to do so. If we are the man of the family, we can resolve to do it.
Recently, we noted again what God would do even today if His people actually turn to Him and pray for something. This happened in December 2017 -- after five years of no rain in Israel, thousands prayed at the Western Wall, and God answered big-time. What will God do for you? Your family? Your church? Your city? Your country? The World? -- What will He do in the days ahead? It all depends on what you and I are willing to do in obedience to Him.
Please share your own thoughts on this passage or on my comments above. If this blog helped you at all, please feel free to tell others about it.
It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.
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