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I. The reason for Sukkot and background
As Rabbi Loren explained, one of the primary purposes of Sukkot – the Holiday of Booths/Shelters is to remind us of the temporariness of our wandering in the Sinai those 40 years, as well as to remind us of God’s gracious provision, and, that it wasn’t our home – He had something so much better waiting for us: Eretz Yisrael, the Land He promised to our people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And wouldn’t you agree we need such reminders, since in our fallen nature we are so prone to forgetfulness and ingratitude?
II. The grand prophetic panorama of Sukkot
But Sukkot isn’t only a holiday that beckons us to reflect on the past. It is prophetic in nature. It looks to the future; the nearer future, the distant future, and even on into eternity. You see, the sevenfold character of this greatest of Feasts has meaning for all mankind, not just Israel. The 70 sacrifices offered during Sukkot when the Temple still stood, were thought to represent the full number of the nations of the world. In other words, all mankind would eventually come under the shelter of Adonai.
Ironically, we find hints of that glorious future in the distant past. Two passages of Scripture that come to mind are Genesis 9 and Isaiah 56.
In Genesis 9, Noah and his family, having survived the catastrophic worldwide Flood, emerged from the ark. Noah plants a vineyard, and one day gets drunk and falls asleep uncovered. His son Ham finds him naked, but rather than taking measures to preserve his father’s dignity, goes and tells his brothers about it. Shem and Yefet (Japheth) cover their father with a blanket, making it a point not to look at his nakedness.
Noah awakes, realizes what has happened and, through the Holy Spirit, prophesies over them. And of particular interest is the prophecy in verses 26-27. Noah declared: May God extend the territory of Japheth; and let him dwell in the tents of Shem. (Gen. 9:27).
Shem, of course, became the progenitor of all the Semitic peoples, including the Jews. But there is a play on words here. The name Yefet is built on the verb Patah, meaning ‘spacious’. Yefet’s territory indeed extended greatly. He became the progenitor of the European and Asiatic peoples. So, when Noah prophesies, saying, “May Yefet dwell in the tents of Shem,” we should understand that this isn’t just about the two brothers; it’s about their descendants.
The imagery is wonderful, if you understand the big picture of the Gospel. The prophecy calls for Yefet’s descendants (Gentiles) to come under the tent of Shem’s descendants (Jews). It is a hint that God intended to bring Jew and Gentile together. But note that it isn’t Shem dwelling in Yefet’s tent; rather it is Yefet dwelling in Shem’s tent. In other words, Gentiles coming under the covering (the sukkah, if you will) of the Jewish people! How would such a thing happen, you ask? The Jewish Messiah Himself would bring them. In fact, He will bring both Yefet’s and Ham’s descendants into that great tent!
In Isaiah chapter 56, God declared, Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from His people…” the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants… even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, “Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.”
Messiah Yeshua quoted the last part of this prophecy when He rebuked those who had disgraced the Temple by setting up their merchandising in the court of the Gentiles, effectively crowding them out and preventing their participation. They were defying God, who desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2).
III. Yeshua’s celebration of Sukkot
Since we’re on the subject of Yeshua, He said some remarkable things about Himself during Sukkot. On Hoshanah Rabah, which means ‘The Great Salvation’, which is the last (7th) day of Sukkot, during Nissuch HaMayim, the Water Drawing Procession, Messiah Yeshua cried out for everyone to hear, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water (John 7:37-38).
Also during Sukkot, each night the Temple was illuminated by four 75’ high magnificent candelabra standing in the court of the women. The light that shone down on the Temple, making it visible everywhere in Jerusalem, symbolized the glory of God, and the hope for the coming Messiah, who would fill the world with His light. It was at that time that Yeshua declared, “I AM the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life!” (John 8:12).
IV. Sukkot in the Millennium and on into eternity
According to the prophet Zechariah (ch. 14), during Messiah’s thousand-year reign on earth, all the nations of the world will be required to send delegations to Jerusalem to worship the King, and to celebrate the Holiday of Booths. Do you see it? Japheth coming to the tents of Shem, and everyone, Jew and Gentile, coming under the shelter of Adonai!
And Sukkot causes us to look ahead to eternity when God will make His abode in our midst. Listen to and rejoice at the words John wrote about God’s sukkah: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them (Rev. 21:1-3).
He will build His sukkah, His tabernacle among us, and will make all things new – which is why I believe God commanded Sukkot to last seven days plus one. Sukkot is the culmination of God’s commanded biblical feasts. It is the seventh feast and falls in the seventh month. And if seven is the biblical number of completion and perfection, then eight represents a new beginning.
John went on to write, And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev. 21:4-5a).
V. That’s then, but what about right now?
I suppose it would have been much easier if God had just taken us right out of Egypt, and immediately transported us into Canaan. But He knew better; He knew there were lessons to be learned, work to be done, and moral character to be developed. And the wilderness was the ‘proving grounds.’
And I suppose it would be much easier if God would just supernaturally reveal to every human being that Yeshua is the Messiah, and take us all up into heaven immediately. But He knows all things. He knows there are lessons to be learned, work to be done, and moral character to be developed. And this fallen, wilderness-like world is our ‘proving grounds.’
The lessons to be learned are those of obedience. Jesus told us to go into the harvest of humanity. In John chapter 4 He said to His disciples, “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest!”
And again, in Matthew chapter 9, He said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
And after He rose from the dead, He gave them (and us) marching orders, saying, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28)
Wake up! Look around! Get to work making disciples!
VI. What part will you play in God’s great plan?
Every organization, every institution, every army, has a chain of command, defined tasks, priorities and principles. And every member of that organization, institution, or army, has an essential part to play. Likewise, the Kingdom of Heaven has a chain of command, defined tasks, and priorities and principles. And every child of God has an essential part to play. If God’s overarching purpose across all of eternity is the salvation of human beings, you need to examine yourself and ask Him, “What do You want me to do?” But you already know the answer. You just need to do it. Today, or tomorrow at the latest, make that phone call; pay that visit; say what needs to be said to that friend, co-worker or loved one. Set up a date to begin reading the Gospel together.
The prophet Daniel wrote, Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. (Daniel 12:3)