Thread by @GPrater85015

#GeraldsDevotional
The First Jewish Festivals

Up until now we have explored the basic history and background of the seven Jewish Festivals and how the Lord commanded the children of Israel to follow and observe them. Today we will examine and consider the first two festivals. Before jumping into these first two, let’s take a

high-level view of all seven festivals (a simple list). They are:

The Passover
Feast of Unleavened Bread
First Harvest (First Fruits)
Feast of Weeks (Festival of the Harvest)
Feast of Trumpets
Day of Atonement
Feast of Shelters (Tabernacles)

Again, today we will examine the

first two festivals which will be unique on several levels. You see, these are the only two festivals that we will cover in the same devotional. We will do that because they are explained together in the bible, even though they are two very distinct events. Although distinct,

they occur very close to each other in the historical timeline.

At this moment in Leviticus when the Lord is telling Moses to instruct the people of Israel to observe the Passover on this certain day during the first month of the Jewish calendar (which happens to be April for

us), they will no doubt associate it with the recent event that they had just experienced in Egypt. Following His instructions through Moses, they had painted lamb’s blood over their doors and the Angel of the LORD passed over their homes when destroying the first born in Egypt

before liberating them. However, they were probably unaware that this event (like so very many others in the Old Testament) was also a prophetic symbol of events yet to come. When we closely examine the last days of Jesus before His crucifixion, we see that He was knowingly

operating on a very tight schedule that revolved around the Passover (remember the Last Supper).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the very next day. Leaven in bread represents sin in our bodies and this very next day the Jews were to begin this seven-day celebration of this

feast. Without doubt, they did not understand it at the time, but this would represent a celebration of how on the day after Passover (remember how these two festivals occur one day apart), Jesus would die to provide a way to eliminate the leaven from the lives of everyone in the

world. This would indeed be the cause of a tremendous celebration. Moses and the people at the time did not understand all of this or why they were being told to do it, but God knew. Also, at His command, they began (and continue) to celebrate this and the other festivals every

year.

As you can see here, God did not establish these seven festivals for the simple entertainment of His people. They all have a very important purpose. That purpose is much bigger than a simple annual religious ritual or exercise. He’s telling a story and inviting us all to

lean in, pay attention and consider these things. Follow the map.
Now, let’s take a look at what He says about these first two festivals in Leviticus 23:4-8:

4 “In addition to the Sabbath, these are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the official days for holy assembly that are to

be celebrated at their proper times each year.

Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread
5 “The Lord’s Passover begins at sundown on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6 On the next day, the fifteenth day of the month, you must begin celebrating the Festival of

Unleavened Bread. This festival to the Lord continues for seven days, and during that time the bread you eat must be made without yeast. 7 On the first day of the festival, all the people must stop their ordinary work and observe an official day for holy assembly. 8 For seven

days you must present special gifts to the Lord. On the seventh day the people must again stop all their ordinary work to observe an official day for holy assembly.” - Leviticus 23:4-8
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